Alphonse "Al" F. Saulino, Jr.

Alphonse F. Saulino, Jr., 88 years old, of Fall River died on St. Patrick’s Day with great dignity in the presence of his family and under the compassionate care of the staff of the Clifton Rehabilitative Nursing Center in Somerset. He was the husband of Helen D. (Stewart) Saulino who preceded him in death on January 30, 2004.

Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Alfonso F. Saulino, Sr. and Carmela A. (Sisca) Saulino and a lifelong resident of the Columbus Park neighborhood. He was a proud and lifelong communicant of the former Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church, now the parish of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, and had served as chairman of various committees and campaigns of the parish as well as an usher, collector and was a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

He graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School in 1940 and received an Associates Degree from Vermont Junior College, now Norwich University, in 1947. In 1953 he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Bridgewater State Teachers College, now Bridgewater State University, and received a Masters Degree in Education from Bridgewater in 1955. He also had attended Springfield College and the University of New Hampshire.

After completing his first year of college, he enlisted in the United States Army on November 23, 1942 and was a proud veteran of World War II having served with the 82nd Airborne Division in the German Theatre of War. Together with several others members of his company, he was captured by German soldiers on September 18, 1944 and was held captive at Stalag 2A Neubrandenburg Mecklenberg until his liberation by the “Russian White Army” on May 1, 1945. Among other commendations, he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

After the war, he pursued his college education. Following the sudden death of his father, he returned to Fall River to assist his family and operate the family business, Alfonse Saulino Mill Supply Company. Upon his graduation from college, he was employed by the Massachusetts Department of Welfare office in Fall River. Subsequent to his graduation from Bridgewater he began a career in education that spanned nearly forty years. He was first assigned to the former James M. Aldrich Elementary School and then taught sixth grade at the former Davis Grammar School, both in Fall River. In 1959 he was appointed the Assistant Director of Curriculum for the Fall River Public School System and in 1972 he was appointed the Director of Learning Resources for the system, a position he held until his retirement in 1991. In this capacity he oversaw the creation and expansion of libraries and media centers at all levels in the Fall River School system.

Throughout his career in education, he belonged to and served on, various committees, associations and professional organizations having served as chairman or president of many of these including the Fall River Grade Teachers Association, the Fall River Administrators, the Massachusetts and National Educational Media Associations and supervised the National Teacher’s exam in this area for many years and also taught for many years at Calvin Coolidge College of Education at its former location in Fall River.

He was well known as a civic leader and organizer of various causes and worked diligently for many throughout his lifetime. He was a member of the Italian American War Veterans Post # 10 in Fall River and had served as Commander of the Post. He also served as Junior Vice-Commander of the ITAM Vets of Massachusetts and served as the National Education Officer of the organization. Locally, he was a member of the Loggia Vittorio Veneto, Order Sons of Italy in America, # 1035, and served as Venerable of the Lodge and in other offices and capacities for over 60 years. He also served the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, OSOIA, as a member of its Scholarship and Charity Commissions for several years. For the past 15 years he served as the Chairman of the local scholarship committee. For many years he was a member of the Columbus Day Celebration Committee and had served as its chairman and in other capacities as well. He also assisted many Italian-American families in pursuit of their immigration to the United States by assisting them in translating various government documents from Italian to English and vice-versa.

He had also served as the Education Chairman of the United Way of Fall River, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, Rheumatism and Arthritis Foundation and ward captain for the Heart and Cancer Funds. For over twenty-five years he was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society and passionately supported its programs and assisted with fundraising in the schools and the community at large. Together with his late wife, he was instrumental in the organization of the Joseph C. Saulino Jingle Bell Walk, named in memory of his son. During the twelve years that the walk was held nearly $ 500,000.00 was raised for the American Cancer Society to assist local residents afflicted with the disease. The walk received a project award from the American Cancer Society in 1994 in recognition of the success of the annual event. He was also a member of the William S. Greene Post # 118, Disabled American Veterans and a member of several Ex-POW organizations, the Over the Hill Gang, the Fall River, Bristol County and Massachusetts Retired Teachers Associations, and the Norwich University and Bridgewater State College Alumni Associations. In 1998 he was recognized by the Fall River Chapter of the Providence College Alumni Association for his support of the college and his extraordinary volunteer service to the community. In 2004 he was a recipient of the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from St. Anne’s Hospital for his contributions and work on behalf of the hospital and its mission.

He was a lifelong sports enthusiast and played several sports in his youth and on the collegiate level. He was a die-hard New York Yankees fan and was well known for wearing his Yankees hat year round. He also was instrumental in the organization of the Columbus Park Little League and served as the coach of the Clippers for many years. He was a member and served as past President of the Holy Rosary Boys Club Alumni. He was a longtime member of the Swansea Country Club. For many years he also bowled with both the City Hall Bowling league and the ITAM Vets Bowling league. For many years he was associated with Boy Scout Troop 127 and had served as its chairman. He had also served as Deputy Director of Civil Defense for the City of Fall River for many years under several mayoral administrations in the 1970’s and 1980’s. In November, 1999, his longtime community service on all levels was recognized when he was named a recipient of the Hometown Hero Award by BankFive.

He is survived by his sons, Alphonse F. Saulino, III, and his wife, Leonora, Michael S. Saulino and Attorney John E. Saulino. He was the father of the late Joseph C. Saulino. He was the proud grandfather of Attorney Peter A. Saulino and his wife, Julia S. Saulino, Justin A. Saulino, PharmD, and Amanda N. Saulino. He was the brother of Mrs. Ralph M. (Rose C.) Sasso and the late Mary Saulino Ponte, Ferdinand G. Saulino and Florence P. Spear. He also is survived by a niece and a nephew.

His funeral will take place on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 9:00 o’clock from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Cherry Place, 178 Winter Street, Fall River, MA followed by his concelebrated funeral mass at 10:00 o’clock in Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church, 120 Beattie Street, Fall River. Committal prayers and interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

Flowers are welcome or donations in his memory may be made to the FLY FOUNDATION, Inc. c/o Saulino and Silvia, P.C., 550 Locust Street, Fall River, MA 02720. (Financial Lift for Young Adults) The FLY Foundation is a registered non-profit organization in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, providing support to young adults in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, aged 19-39, who have been diagnosed with cancer and was founded by his grandson Peter and his wife Julia. Donations may also be made in his memory to the Sons of Italy Scholarship Fund, c/o Mario Lucciola, 54 Chavenson Street, Fall River, MA 02723.