Saturday, April 29, 2006

Joseph Spitale


From the Springfield Journal-Register today:

Joseph Spitale, 100, of Springfield died Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at Oak Terrace Healthcare Center. He was born July 27, 1905, in Calascibetta, Sicily, the son of Carlos and Caroline Chingotta Spitale. He married Elizabeth Nancarrow; she died in 1992.

Mr. Spitale graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1929, received a master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1933 and did his postgraduate studies at the University of Illinois, University of Colorado and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received the Allis-Chalmers Fellowship in Engineering in 1958. He was a science teacher and freshman football coach at Springfield High School for 43 years, retiring in 1972. He was the author of two zoology laboratory manuals.

He was a member of West Side Christian Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He served as a supply lay minister for 15 years. He also was a member of the National Education Association, Illinois Education Association, American Federation of Teachers and the Springfield Nature League.

Survivors: daughter, Nancy Brantley of Springfield; sister, Etherena Yuroff of Springfield; a niece; and a nephew. Private family services: Oak Ridge Cemetery, the Rev. Vaughn Beeman officiating. Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Isn't it sad that we learn about someone after his/her death? I just remember Mr. Spitale's pleasant personality and that he always had a smile on his face. It must have been "his light" shining through...100, wow! Janet Be.