Joseph G. Pulitano

Joseph G. “Joe” Pulitano, 84, of Marblehead, passed away on Friday, August 27, 2010. He was the husband of Grace (Talarico) Pulitano with whom he shared 57 years of marriage. Born in New York City, he was the son of the late Pasquale and Conchetta (Insalaca) Pulitano.

An artist since the age of 15, Joseph won several national art awards in competitions sponsored by the Boys Clubs of America. His most notable win was on an entry of a small painting of the Head of Christ that still hangs in his Marblehead home.

During World War II Joseph enlisted in the Navy where he served on the USS Chase Destroyer in the Atlantic. From there he was posted to various places around the globe with a final outpost in Portland, Maine.

After he was discharged from the Navy he worked in Maine at several odd jobs including potato picking and running a hot dog stand on Old Orchard Beach. He also attended the Portland Museum of Art and the Portland School of Hairdressing

After graduating he moved to Boston where he met his wife Grace.

It was in Boston that Joseph owned and operated a beauty salon in the Fenway area of Boston. He also enrolled in Massachusetts College of Art and won the Clairol National Art Contest for hairdressers three years in a row.

His career as a hairdresser ended at age 56 when he was asked to become Art Director of the School House Gallery in Sanibel Florida. It was there Joseph’s art become a focus of the Southwest Florida art community and dozens of people from all over the world, including Alfred Mott, descendant of Mott’s Applesauce, started to collect his works.

He and his wife Grace ran the Schoolhouse Gallery until 1996 when they moved to Marblehead to be closer to their children and family.

He is survived by his wife, Grace Pulitano, a daughter Gina Pulitano and her partner Michael Williams of Marblehead, MA a son Joseph Pulitano and his wife Evelyn Fowler of Belmont, MA, a brother Patrick Pulitano, sisters Caroline Squillace and Rosalie Laudicina all of Long Island, NY. He was the brother of the late George Pulitano and Leonard Pulitano, from Long Island, NY. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

A funeral mass was celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead on Tuesday, August 31 at 10AM. Burial with military honors followed in the Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. After the burial a reception was held at the Boston Yacht Club in Marblehead.

If desired, donations may be made to The Boys Clubs of America, 1275 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309-3506 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472.