[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 8, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE MEMORY OF LIFETIME EDUCATOR, MARY CALTAGIRONE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 8, 2022

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 
life and contributions of Mary Mortellaro Caltagirone, a beloved member 
of the Tampa Bay community, who passed away on April 7, 2022, at the 
age of 99 after a lifetime of service as a devoted mother, educator and 
community volunteer.
  A Tampa native of Sicilian decent, Mary grew up attending local 
public schools before leaving home to attend college, a rarity for a 
woman of her background at that time. Mary attended college at Florida 
College for Women, now Florida State University, and graduated in three 
years with a Bachelor of Science in Spanish and Math in 1943. In 
addition to this, she earned a certificate in Elementary Education from 
the University of Tampa and was a member of three honor societies. Mary 
took all of the education and experience she gained and brought it back 
home to serve her community in Tampa. She went on to teach for 40 years 
in Hillsborough County public schools at various grade levels and I am 
very grateful and proud to have been one of her students myself.
  Mary retired from teaching in 1983, though her promotion of education 
and her community involvement only grew from there. Honoring her 
Sicilian heritage and Ybor City roots, Mary was a founding member of 
Lucerna and its offshoot organization, Pan American University Women 
(PAUW), whose mission it is to unite women of Latin decent who are 
graduates of institutions of higher learning, to promote fellowship, 
encourage education and professional accomplishments and to provide 
charitable contributions to the Tampa community. Mary served as a four-
time president and was twice honored as PAUW Woman of the Year. Other 
community organizations and philanthropic involvements of hers included 
the Italian Club and their Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of Italy, St. John's 
Presbyterian Church, Spanish Lyric Theater, Judea-Christian Health 
Clinic and the Ybor City Museum, where she amassed over 1000 hours of 
service! Mary's incredible devotion to these groups was extremely 
appreciated by their community members. In 2005, she was presented with 
the Italian Woman of Excellence Award for Cultural and Civic 
Involvement and in 2007, she was named Person of the Year for 
Outstanding Service by St. John's Presbyterian Church.
  Mary was a truly selfless and loving individual, and her legacy will 
continue to live through her sons Sam A. and Vincent G. Caltagirone 
(Sue), former daughters-in-law, Norma Tomasello Caltagirone and Carol 
Bond Caltagirone, nephews Vincent and Douglas Mortellaro (Tracy), 
cousin George Garcia (Bonnie), grandchildren, great-grandchildren and 
many more extended family. Her memory will truly be a blessing for her 
family, her students and all in our Tampa Bay community who have known 
her, learned from her and worked alongside her.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of my neighbors in Tampa Bay and the 
citizens of Florida, I am proud to honor Mary Mortellaro Caltagirone 
for her lifelong dedication to education and for her demonstrations of 
service above self. All in our community are eternally grateful for her 
immense contributions. Her legacy will live on and inspire many others 
in the Tampa Bay community and beyond for years to come.

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