Obituary of Felicia "Phyllis" G. Martino

Felicia (Phyllis) Gloria Martino passed away on November 6, 2017 at the age of 89.  She was born in Stamford, on October 6, 1928 and was the only daughter of the late Vito Bafundi and the late Teresa Della Corte Bafundi.

            As a young girl growing up in Stamford, Felicia attended Stevens School, Cloonan School, and graduated from Stamford High School in 1946. 

            After high school graduation, Felicia continued to further her education by attending New York University, from which she graduated and earned a B.S. Degree in English in 1950.  She continued to pursue her education and earned a Masters Degree from Columbia University, where she majored in Educational Psychology.

            Felicia spent a generous portion of her life as a public school teacher in Stamford, having taught grades 2,3,4,5, and 6.  She began her teaching career in 1952 and retired from the Stamford Public School System in 1986. 

            After retirement, Felicia gave much of her time caring for and nurturing her home and family; and enjoying her freedom to choose what to do with her time.

            Felicia belonged to three professional teaching associations, the ARTC, the SFCTRA, as well as the Stamford Federation of Teachers.  She loved the theatre and the arts, and frequented Broadway shows with the Nutmeg Theatre Group. 

Felicia was also a member of the Stamford Woman’s Club, and was Chairman of the Scholarship Committee for six years, a work she truly loved because it was an integral part of teaching.

            Felicia very much enjoyed reading, especially non-fiction. She was logical, articulate, and always enjoyed a good and vigorous philosophical debate. 

            Besides family and friends, the other great love of her life was her love of music.  She studied piano from the age of 12, and loved all music from the ‘golden oldies’, to classical, to opera; and especially, the old time Neapolitan music that she was brought up hearing on the radio, by her beloved mother.

            Felicia was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, where she was Baptized, made her Communion and Confirmation, and was married in 1962 to her late and beloved husband Vincent.

            Besides her many friends and relatives, she is immediately survived by her beloved sons, Anthony and Robert, and her devoted daughters-in-law, Stephanie and Danielle.

            Calling hours will be on Saturday November 11, 2017 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, at The Lacerenza Funeral Home, 8 Schuyler Avenue in Stamford.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated immediately following at 12:00 noon at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Ave. in Stamford.

Entombment will follow the Mass, at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Darien.

            Contributions in Felicia Martino’s name can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN  38105, 1-800-306-1799.