Tina Santella, Devoted Educator/Mother

Tina Santella died peacefully at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, Florida on August 3 ^rd from Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.  She was 87.  Tina was born and raised in Augusta, Maine, the only child of George and Genie Calzolari.  She attended Simmons College in Boston, where she met her husband of 63 years, Andrew J. Santella (deceased 2016).  They soon settled in Andy's hometown, Norwalk, Connecticut.  In 1963, Tina and Andy adopted their only child, Christopher Lee, who would be the apple of her eye forever after.  After completing a Master's in Education, she began teaching Business Education at Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut; later she assumed responsibilities as Department Head for Business Ed at Darien High School.  Tina and Andy retired in 1990, and for 15 years, split their time between East Boothbay, Maine and Vero Beach.  They made Vero their full-time home in 2004.  In her retirement, Tina was an active volunteer, assisting at many organizations, including the Boothbay Harbor Library and Indian River Shores Public Safety; at IRSPS, she helped secure a grant for a patrol boat.  Tina and Andy enjoyed travel, especially cruising the Mississippi River system on paddle-wheel steamships and visiting their granddaughters in Portland, Oregon.  Tina was a passionate hockey fan, and a devotee of the New York Rangers…though they seldom justified her devotion!  (In high school, she had been captain of Cony High School's field hockey team, which went on to become Maine's state champion under her leadership.)  Anyone who knew Tina can attest to her inner-strength, intelligence, positive outlook and willingness to help others.  Tina is survived by her son Chris, daughter-in-law Deidre and granddaughters Cassidy and Annabel.   Condolences may be shared on this memorial page.