Selma Giovinazzo was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1925. In 1943, when FDR created the Cadet Nurse Corps, a program to ensure the country had enough nurses to care for its citizens at home and abroad during World War II, Selma quit her job as a factory worker and entered training as a nurse (RN).
This accelerated training program led to career in the U.S. Public Health Service which brought her to Marine Hospital on Staten Island. While taking courses at Wagner College in 1951, she met, and married, Jerome V. Giovinazzo, a policeman taking law school courses at night under the G.I Bill.
Her husband a renowned criminal defense attorney on Staten Island while Selma and he raised four children, Vincent J. Giovinazzo, M.D. (Rosemary), Ellen Lypen (Steven), Carol Tullo (Thomas), and Joseph Giovinazzo M.D (Lisa). Together, Selma and Jerome built numerous homes in Staten Island and Ocean County, New Jersey. Selma’s responsibilities included acting as general contractor, cook, and chief homework advisor for her children and eleven grandchildren.
Selma had a keen intelligence. If the job title of “Life Coach” had been available earlier she would have taught a master class, specializing in parenting. Her first answer to most problems with raising children was, “Love them more”.
She loved the acting of Jimmy Stewart and the music of Frank Sinatra; she interviewed Sinatra for her high school newspaper during one of his performances at the paramount Theater in 1942. And she could recite every line from every episode of Star Trek (TOS).
Funeral Monday from Harmon Funeral Home 571 Forest Avenue West Brighton. Funeral Mass 10:00 am St. Sylvester R.C. Church. Interment St. Peter’s Cemetery
Visiting Sunday 2pm to 6pm
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