He was born and raised in Queens, and moved to Staten Island in 1967, settling in Grasmere for 35 years. He relocated to Todt Hill 15 years ago.
Mr. Spilotro graduated from Long Island City High School, and earned an undergraduate and master's degree from City College of New York. He continued his education with post-graduate studies in history at New York University.
He was employed as a New York City public school teacher of social studies at the High School of Graphic Communication Arts in Manhattan for 37 years. He then served as executive director of the Italian-American Labor Council after his retirement in 1991.
He was the first United Federation of Teachers district representative for Manhattan high schools, and was a founding member of the UFT Italian-American Studies Committee, as well as a member of its Irish-American and Hispanic American Studies Committees. He was an instructor in Italian opera for the UFT Retirees Learning Center, and also lectured in history and Italian-American culture at local universities and colleges.
In the early 1980s, Mr. Spilotro wrote "A Study Guide on Italian-Americans," the 386-page book that was adopted by the New York State Department of Education and incorporated into the mandatory curriculum. In recognition of this accomplishment, Italy's president conferred upon him the rank of Cavaliere in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy. In 2003, Mr. Spilotro was promoted to the rank of Ufficiale for his continuing work in the Italian-American community.
"Everyone loved him, especially his high school and adult students," said his wife of 46 years, the former Mary Pometto. "He lived by a rule of character, and the most important thing for him was honor. He valued family, faith, and food. He enjoyed cooking, and everyone liked his Italian sauce with meatballs, meatloaf, and lentil soup with pancetta."
Mr. Spilotro enjoyed reading history, politics, and spy fiction and nonfiction.
He was a member of the Jewish Labor Committee, Sons of Italy, the American Committee on Italian Migration, and the speakers bureau of Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, and a parishioner at St. Teresa's R.C. Church in Castleton Corners.
Surviving, in addition to his wife, Mary, is his sister, Gloria Donnigi.
The funeral will be Monday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 10:45 a.m. in St. Teresa's Church. Arrangements include cremation.
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