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Charles G. Isola
Charles G. Isola of Remsenburg died at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead on June 1. He was 83. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on June 6, 1928, he was the first of two sons born to John and Winifred Isola. Mr. Isola spent most of his formative years in Manhattan, graduating from Murray Hill High School. He served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force during World War II. Mr. Isola then continued his education at Plymouth State College in New Hampshire, graduating with a degree in education and later earned two master’s degrees, one in American history and one in labor and industrial relations.
He married Lillian Pagliari on July 30, 1960, and settled in Island Trees, where they raised four children. Mr. Isola spent most of his years teaching and mentoring special education students. During summer vacations from teaching, Mr. Isola worked for many years as a New York State Parkway police officer at Jones Beach State Park. He then went on to become an assistant principal and then a principal. The love of teaching special education students pulled him back into the classroom until his retirement in 1985. Mr. Isola then became an adjunct professor at Dowling College and Suffolk County Community College until 1987.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Isola was a 44-year member of the Knights of Columbus and a charter member of the Father Joseph Slomski Council No. 7423 in Westhampton Beach. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose since 1979, and an Island Trees Library Trustee. Mr. Isola was also the director of The Center for Special Education Children in Levittown, and a labor law mediator for the New York State court system.
Mr. Isola loved the New York Yankees and actually tried out for the team. His love of the beach led him to the Swordfish Club in Westhampton Beach, where he was a member for 37 years. He loved big band music, singing and dancing, and was an avid reader. He read The New York Times, The Daily News and Newsday daily. He enjoyed spending time at the Hampton Bays Senior Center. He was most happy when he had his family all around him, survivors said.
Mr. Isola is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lillian; a daughter Lu-Ann and her husband Gene, three sons, Vincent and his wife Bonnie, Chuck and his fiancée Sophia Polk, Christopher and his wife Laurie; five grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Dayne, Eva, Anthony and Isabella; and a brother, John Isola of Petaluma, California, and many other relatives and friends.
The family received friends at the Follett and Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on Sunday, June 3. A funeral Mass was held on Monday, June 4, at The Church of the Immaculate Conception on Quiogue; interment followed at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton.
on Jun 25, 2012