Obituary: Clorinda Graziano, Guilford High Grad

Information via Guilford Funeral Home

Guilford, CT—On December 17, 2016 Clorinda Graziano of Guilford CT and Phoenix AZ passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Clorinda was the daughter of the late Gilda and William Graziano. She was a graduate of Guilford High School and received her bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut and master's degree from Central Connecticut State University.

Ms. Graziano taught instrumental and general music in the Cartwright Elementary School District in Phoenix, AZ for more than 20 years after teaching in Messina NY and Maricopa AZ. She served in many leadership positions in the Cartwright Education Association. She received the O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award (1993) and the Raymond G. Vandiest Music Advocacy Award (2007). She was a member of Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority.

After retiring, Clorinda was elected to three terms as a Governing Board Member in the Washington Elementary School District in Phoenix AZ.

Clorinda's students were the only middle school band to be invited to participate in the London New Year's Day parade. Her students also performed in Italy and Scotland. She established a summer music camp program for students from the Phoenix area. Whether at concerts, festivals, music camps, after-school events,
field trips, fundraisers or private music lessons, Clorinda worked tirelessly to teach music to anyone who had the desire to learn. She taught numerous workshops for music educators at local and national music conferences.

Clorinda had an exceptional work ethic and tirelessly dedicated her life to her music students. She leaves behind a legacy of generations of students and friends whose lives were positively impacted from having known her. Clorinda will be missed by her brother Michael Graziano and his wife Pauline of Guilford, CT, sister Angela Graziano and her wife Lorraine Russell of Phoenix AZ, uncle Richard Graziano of Guilford CT, niece Melissa Graziano-Humphrey and her husband Matthew of Burbank CA, niece Regina Graziano of Anderson SC, nephew William Graziano of New York City, loving cousins, as well as thousands of music students, teaching colleagues and friends.

Friends may call Wed. Dec. 21 from 4 – 7 pm at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church St, Guilford. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford on Thursday, Dec. 22 at 10am. Burial will follow Mass in St. George Cemetery, Hubbard Rd, Guilford. In lieu of flowers; donations can be made to the Clorinda Graziano MusicScholarship Fund, PO Box 10101, 19801 North 59th Ave., Glendale AZ 85308-9998 or can be pledged at https://msgrazscholarshlp.corn