Gloria Passidomo (Massaglia) Talis

Gloria Passidomo Talis (née Massaglia ) , 92, of Naples passed away peacefully on May 22, 2017.  She was born on December 4, 1924 in New York, New York.

Gloria was predeceased by her beloved husband of 57 years, John Passidomo, the former Town Supervisor/Mayor of Harrison, New York and New York State Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.  They were married in June, 1947.  She was remarried in 2011 to Dr. George Talis, who also predeceased her. She was the cherished daughter of the late Emil and Josephine Massaglia and sister of the late Edward Massaglia, also of Naples. 

Gloria is survived by five Passidomo children, John, (Kathleen), Janet (Gregory Presley), Laura (Robert Rosenthal), Paul and Peter (Rita); 10 beautiful grandchildren, Catarina, Francesca, Gabriella, Michael, Josie, Lia, William, Andrew, John, and Alex; and 2 great grandchildren, William and Apollo.

She will be remembered for her infectious enthusiasm and irrepressible spirit. While born in the heart of Greenwich Village, her family soon moved to a suburban neighborhood in the northern Bronx.  Her “tomboy” youth was spent riding bikes and climbing trees.  She often recounted the time an alarmed neighbor called to ask her mother, “Do you know that Gloria is jumping out of trees?” As a teenager, she cheerfully endured a daily subway commute to Manhattan to attend Cathedral High School for Girls and later was one of a small coterie of women to graduate from Fordham University, where she met her soon to be husband, John. 

Gloria worked briefly for the Edward L. Bernays Public Relations firm in New York and later managed the dental office of Drs. Flynn and Stafford in Scarsdale, New York. After starting a family, Gloria became an avid volunteer, initiating a Meals-on-Wheels program in Harrison, joining the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Agnes Hospital, and enthusiastically managing her husband’s campaign headquarters through 10 re-election cycles -- all while raising five children.   

She adored her ten grandchildren and thoroughly enjoyed her time with them.  As one grandchild mentioned, she made the mundane special, elevating her simple fried chicken cutlet to the “elegant” crispy chicken!  Her energy and joy in life will be sorely missed. 

A Memorial Service will be held at St. Anthony’s Church in West Harrison, New York. Date and time will be announced, please check back soon

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