DeSales Catholic School is deeply proud to announce plans to renovate an area on their campus to create the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center. Nunzio was a beloved alumnus who graduated from DeSales Catholic High School in 1958. He was a highly respected leader in both education and athletics throughout Niagara and Orleans Counties.
Nunzio was also an accomplished self-taught artist who specialized in pen and ink drawings of historic lighthouses and buildings from across the world. Each of his drawings was hand-drawn using jeweler’s glasses and each art piece contained over 500,000 fine lines and dots. He won his first art show in 1957 sponsored by the Lockport Industrial Management Club.
After graduating from DeSales High School, Nunzio went on earn his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Detroit. He began his teaching career at the Diocese of Detroit at St. John Berchmans School. In 1963 he came back home to WNY to teach at Medina Senior High School. This was followed by multiple roles throughout his tenure in Medina starting as a teacher and retiring as superintendent of curriculum and finance. His career spanned over 36 years and touched many lives. He remained an influential educator up until the day he passed away.
David Maiorana described his father, “My Father was without a doubt a great individual, a gregarious man with an infectious smile and great sense of humor. He was a dedicated professional who was on a mission to provide his students with the best possible education, and his determination, temerity, and self-discipline made Dad a mentor we profoundly looked up to. It didn’t matter who you were, everyone knew him and everyone loved him!”
Ann-Marie Towell, Nunzio Maiorana’s daughter commented; “The devotion and leadership of our father inspired many students, adults and school communities, and we will continue to work together to sustain and build upon his legacy. We are honored to recognize his inspirational example as we dedicate this new art center for the children of DeSales Catholic School in his name.”
This beautiful new facility will enhance educational opportunities and further develop a rich environment for learning art at DeSales.
Construction of the Nunzio T. Maiorana Art Center will break ground on June 27, 2019 and is expected to be completed prior to the start of school in September. The costs are estimated to be in the range of $125,000. His wife of 56 years, Charlotte Palisano Maiorana, has committed a significant amount to kickoff fundraising for the project.
Donations toward the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center at DeSales are being sought. If you would like to make a donation you can do so by going online at http://desalescatholicschool.org/Giving/Donate-Online, calling (716) 433-644 ext. 407 or mail a check to DeSales Catholic School, 6914 Chestnut Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 14094. In the memo section of the check, please write Nunzio Maiorana or include a quick note that the gift is made in Nunzio’s memory.
