Carmen Sagnella was born in Hamden, Connecticut, the oldest of Felice and Josephine Sagnella’s four children. Along with her younger sister and brothers, Carmen grew up surrounded by loving aunts, uncles and cousins. Although family was always Carmen’s first priority, she never married. Instead, she forged an exciting and fulfilling life as a career educator, leaving a legacy of which she was deservedly proud.
Carmen began the journey to her childhood dream of becoming a teacher when she graduated early from Southern Connecticut State University. She then earned an M.A. in Teacher Education from Columbia University, along with a Professional Diploma in Curriculum and Supervision. In 1960, she accepted an Air Force scholarship to complete Mathematics in Aviation at the University of Montana.
The highlight of her teaching career was her time in Europe, where she taught children of overseas military families. While teaching in Munich and Ausburg one of her favorite memories was the trips she chaperoned to introduce American students to their German counterparts. When the Department of Defense asked Carmen to stay for another term, she negotiated a post in Vicenza, Italy so she could spend time visiting her parents’ families in San Lorenzello. During her time at Vicenza High School, Carmen served as—of all things—the school’s football coach until a replacement arrived from the States. For those of us who know five-foot-one Carmen, we can only imagine that this was quite a sight! More in line with her background, Carmen was proud of the presentation on New Math that she gave at the Teacher’s Convention in Leghorn, Italy. Although she loved her time teaching in Europe—and traveled extensively while there, she returned home to care for her father and brother and continue her career in Hamden.
In 1984, Carmen retired from the Hamden school system and became an Adjunct Professor at Quinnipiac College, where she taught until moving to Florida 1995. She stayed professionally active with Delta Kappa Gamma and the Omega Chapter of the International Society of Teachers Retired and Active. In 2002 and 2004 she was honored by the American Association of University Women.
While her family has always looked up to and admired her career accomplishments, what we will miss most is her total devotion to family, that she was always a phone call away when you needed her, how she lit up a room in her beautiful outfits and matching glasses, her perfect grace as a hostess, meals that took three days to make and a full day to eat, her over-the-top fear of bugs, her complete abhorrence of butter, her world-famous pizza, and the best hugs any aunt ever gave.
Loved ones waiting to greet her include her beloved parents, brother Pep Sagnella, sister Mary Russell, and niece Sharon Klose. Left to honor her memory and remember her love are her brother Tony Sagnella, niece and nephew Lynn and Bill Covert, great-niece Angela Covert, nieces Angela Breen (Michael) and Roberta Feingold (Ed), nephew John Klose, great-nieces Stacey Newbold and Lindsay Fann, great-nephews Tommy Sagnella and Shannon Breen, and many loving cousins.
Friends are invited to join the family to celebrate her life at Serenity Funeral Home in Largo on Friday, April 26, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Largo. The family requests that donations be made to the American Association of University Women or Suncoast Hospice.
Carmen was a woman ahead of her time who brought a smile to everyone she met. We will miss her hugs, her smile, her stories, and her love.
