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Joseph Pugliese Obituary
July 3, 1928 - August 6, 2021
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 3, 1928, to Italian immigrant parents Giuseppe Pugliese and Felicia Peluso and one of 7 children, Joe passed away after a short illness on August 6, 2021.
Preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Jane Smith, Joe is survived by his partner of almost 4 decades, Gwen Souza; his children Christine (Steve Brown), Joanna (Albert Ferretti), Richard (Susan Kitani), and Elizabeth (Brian Conley); grandchildren Jessica, Alexander (Genelynn Usison), and Nicholas; great-granddaughter Madelynn; and brothers Richard (Ginny O'Byrne) and Robert (Marilyn Shockley).
Joe was a widely respected art historian, university professor, published writer, and expert on Renaissance and Asian art. He taught at UC Berkeley, Cal State East Bay, the San Francisco Art Institute, and summer terms in France and Italy. A Fulbright scholar and the drummer for the Studio 13 Jazz Band, he remained active in the east bay arts community and continued to teach drawing and present art history lectures to appreciative audiences until he was 91.
Adored by everyone whose life he touched, and loved for his self-deprecating humor, modesty, generosity, warmth, and intelligence, Joe was the rock of his family, to whom he was completely devoted.
A private family event will be held; in lieu of flowers, please send a donation to a favorite charity or environmental organization.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Pugliese
3 Entries
Catherine Campaigne
February 14, 2023
I was a student of Joe´s during the time when his wife died. Because I was an older student and had some experience with death I was able to be there for him to listen when he wanted to talk about her. This time developed into a deep but relatively brief friendship with him and Gwen after I graduated. I am so sorry I let that friendship fade as he was very special to me. I loved meeting Gwen and the two of them were the crackups at parties. I miss those days! My deepest heartfelt condolences to Gwen and the family on Joe´s passing. He was truly one of a kind.
Susan & Loren Stirling
August 26, 2022
Joe...
Susan Stirling
September 11, 2021
Offering heartfelt condolences to Gwen and the Pugliese family on Joe´s passing.
For over 50 years we were friends. I was an art student taking his classes at first, then later as a part time employee in the university´s art department slide library where I helped him prepare slides for his art history lectures. Joe brought to life the history of art with stories of the lives and foibles of the artists. He was voted favorite lecturer on campus many times. My continuing interest in calligraphy was inspired him early on...the letters we wrote were often scribed with pen and nib. Joe´s humor was wry, ironic and sometimes shocking but funny, I mean wet your pants funny. At times he was sad. There is so much more...many stories to tell. Joe was one of the lovely precious humans in my life.
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