Lucille Dawson Ceruti, a longtime resident of Eastport, died on February 3. She was 92.
The organist at the United Methodist Church in Westhampton Beach for more than 50 years—from 1942 to 1995—she played at hundreds of weddings and funerals through the tenure of six ministers. She also taught many students as a piano, organ, and dance teacher. Her piano and organ pupils numbered more than 800, and she traveled to their homes in Eastport, East Moriches, Westhampton, Remsenburg, East Quoque and Riverhead.
During World War II, Ms. Ceruti was trained by RCA, in International Morse Code and radio technology, to become an operating technician at the receiving station in Riverhead. Classified signals and information from Europe, vital to the war effort, were received there. With so many men, including her future husband, William Tracy Ceruti, gone to war, it was the first time women were hired for this work at RCA. Even with the receiving station in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Ms. Ceruti still played the organ Sunday mornings, even after working a 4 p.m. to midnight or midnight to 8 a.m. shift.
The birth of her daughter, Marion, in 1951 and a son, Raymond, in 1954 also offered no excuse to miss playing the organ the next Sunday, survivors said. The solution was to bring them to the service in a basket, just 3 to 5 days old, and then nearly every Sunday after until they were 18 and departed for college.
Ms. Ceruti also taught ballroom dancing through adult education programs at various high schools over the years, and she always made certain to schedule these classes on any day other than Thursday evenings, which were reserved for choir rehearsal. As always, she gave first priority to God and church duties. She also worked at the polls each Election Day.
Survivors said Ms. Ceruti loved boats and cruise ships, having enjoyed many cruise vacations.
She is survived by her children, Raymond Ceruti and Dr. Marion Ceruti; granddaughters, Laura and Carolyn Ceruti; and two great-grandchildren, Alex and Anthony; as well as many friends.
on Feb 9, 2015