Obituary: Jo Marchisotto, Former East Brunswick Teacher & Volunteer

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Jo Marchisotto, a former teacher and community volunteer in East Brunswick died on Feb. 24, her family said. She was 93.

Marchisotto lived in East Brunswick for more than 55 years. She taught fifth grade at Irwin Elementary School, and then mathematics and computer science at the high school. She retired from the Marlboro Township Public School District as principal of Defino Central School in 1998.

During her time in East Brunswick, Marchisotto was president of the Memorial School PTA, a member of the East Brunswick Women’s Political Caucus and an early member of the EB Human Relations Commission.

After retirement, she took to mentoring young principals, especially those whose own parents were immigrants, her family said. She also volunteered to help seniors file federal and state tax returns in the AARP program at the EB Senior Center.

She worked for many years with her son, Rob, in his shop Amber Lion Antiques, in New Brunswick and her daughter, Denise, at her business, Serenity Day Spa, in East Brunswick.

Born in the Bronx, New York to John Guaragna and Francesca Termine, Marchisotto was the only member of her large, extended family to graduate college. She graduated magna cum laude from Hunter College in three years, where she joined Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Mu Epsilon, the math honor society.

She later earned two master’s degrees from Rutgers University and was accepted into Mensa International. Marchisotto enjoyed travel, bridge, dancing and reading.

She leaves behind her children, Denise, Rob, Laura and her husband George, her grandchildren Robertino, Andrew and Alessandra, and many students and colleagues with whom she worked over her long career in education.

There will be a celebration of Marchisotto’s life on Saturday, May 7, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Airy Presbyterian Church, 39 Mt. Airy Village Road, Lambertville.

The church recommends but does not require masks. Feel free to wear festive, bright colors to celebrate Marchisotto rich and long life. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Hunter College High School Endowment at https://hunter.cuny.edu/give/.

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