Dr. Joseph James DeLucia

Dr. Joseph J. "Joe" DeLucia, 87, who served as Superintendent of Schools in Ellington from 1980-1995, passed away peacefully while surrounded by his family on November 19, 2023, in Palm Coast, Florida. Joe received a B.S. in Biology from St. John's University in Jamaica, New York (1957), a Master's in Education from Hofstra University (1962), and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Connecticut (1974). Joe started out teaching high school biology and chemistry in Long Island, New York, and relocated to Connecticut in 1963 where he held a variety of positions: chemistry teacher at Coventry Junior-Senior High School (1963-68); principal at Greenwich High School (1969-72); and principal of Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham (1973-77). He was the principal of Arlington High School in Pleasant Valley, New York (1977-80) before returning to Connecticut in 1980 to serve as Superintendent of Schools. Joe spent 15 years in Ellington, where he led advances in special education and created programs for gifted and talented children. In a 1995 article in the Courant about his retirement, it was noted that Joe provided educational leadership and vision to a community undergoing significant economic pressure, but that the recession of the early 90s, as well as a lack of taxpayer will, led to painful spending cuts in many of the programs that he created. Joe retired from Ellington in 1995 to become the Executive Director of the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools in Philadelphia, where he could focus full-time on education policy. The role also took Joe, and frequently his wife Ann as well, to places such as Morocco, Madagascar, Egypt, and Turkey, in connection with accreditation visits for American schools abroad. Joe finally retired for good in 2003, and he and Ann split their time between Florida and a house they built on Lake Ashuelot in Washington, New Hampshire.

Joe was a voracious reader with a dry sense of humor. In addition to baseball, he enjoyed civil war and ancient history; carpentry; traveling with Ann; walking on the beach; enjoying good food; his dogs, Dudley and Zoe; and keeping up with the St. John's basketball team. Most of all, Joe loved his family. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, and a doting grandfather.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Ann (Ryan), of Palm Coast, Florida; two sons, Christopher (Wei-Jei), of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and Matthew, of Farmington, Connecticut; a daughter, Joanna (Christine) of Silver Spring, Maryland; and four granddaughters, Krystin (Philip), Evelyn, Alexa, and Ariel. He is also survived by his sister, Bernadette Merlo of North Massapequa, New York; his sister-in-law, Joan Pederson of Smithtown, New York; and other relatives and friends.

Calling hours will be Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 9:30am to 10:30am at McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home in Farmingdale, New York, followed by a memorial service at 10:30am. Burial will follow in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the educational charity of your choice in Joe's honor. For more information or to leave a memory for the family, please visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/flagler-beach-fl/joseph-delucia-11544805