Santo J. Pullara

Santo Joseph Pullara, age 99, of Carlisle, died peacefully on November 23, 2023 at CareOne of Concord.
Santo was born in Frankfort, New York, and was the son of the late Frank and Anna (DiGiovanni) Pullara.
Santo was raised in Rochester, New York. During his childhood, he undertook studying and playing the clarinet. He progressed rapidly in his competence with reed instruments and learned alto and tenor saxophone. His facility with sight-reading, transposition and arrangement made him a sought-after partner in high-school bands. Santo served as a model for his "kid" brother Frank, who took up clarinet and double bass and went on to play with noted classical and jazz orchestras and musicians.
Santo joined the Navy in World War II and was discharged as a Musician First Class. Upon discharge he attended Syracuse University where he undertook a sequence of degrees: a BA in business, an LLD, passing the New York bar exam, an MBA in Finance, and ending with a PhD in Economics. His PhD thesis focused on the future needs of retirees to supplement Social Security with income from investments. In 1952 Santo wed Rose DiSalvo, a fellow Syracuse University student.
In 1964 Santo accepted appointment to the then Lowell Technological Institute in the school of business as a professor. He, Rose and their three children made the journey to Massachusetts, settling in Chelmsford. In 1970 they moved to Carlisle. His academic career blossomed, and he retired in 1994 after having served as a leader in faculty of the now University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Business Administration. It was at this time that he began his post-retirement career as a clarinet player for a number of local jazz bands, focusing primarily on Dixieland jazz.
Santo is predeceased by his wife Rose, his parents, his sister Jennie M. Arena (and her husband Chuck Arena), and his brother, S. Frank Pullara. He is survived by loving daughters Regina Pullara-Smith, her husband Joe Smith of Stoneham, MA, Benita Pullara of St. Augustine, Florida, and Christine Pullara of Arlington, MA. He is also survived by beloved nephews, nieces and numerous grand-nephews and nieces. Santo is also survived by many wonderful friends from the Town of Carlisle, and his close friends from the Carlisle COA.
Funeral services will be private, concluding with burial at Green Cemetery in Carlisle, where Officers of the United States Navy will present military honors. A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date.
Donations in his name can be made to the Friends of the COA | Carlisle Council on Aging and Human Services.
Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.