DeLuca Elementary School honors longtime paraprofessional

Christina Puglisi and her husband Sal are joined by fans and supporters at the event honoring her for her service to children of the William DeLuca Elementary School in North Babylon in photo below. At left, she is shown with her husband Sal.

Christina Puglisi began her relationship with William E. Deluca Elementary School in 1967 when she registered her oldest son Anthony for kindergarten. But, back then the school was known as Parkside Elementary School. Some of you may still recall the lyric's to the song: "The school we love is Parkside, its colors white and blue..." A little older and 40 years later Christina Puglisi is still walking through the doors of William E. Deluca every day. Christina is the trusted, afternoon school security officer who forces everyone to identify themselves before coming into contact with our students.

During the past forty (40) years, Christina has worked within the school district in many different capacities. She has been a school crossing guard, a one-on-one "paraprofessional helping disabled students, a lunch room aide and she has even worked the concession stand at Phelps Lane Pool.

However, the PTA did not nominate and bestow this prestigious award upon Christina Puglisi because of her longevity with the school or her daily enforcement duties as our afternoon security guard. More importantly it is Christina's dedication to the children of Suffolk County which clearly pushed her nomination to the top of the list and best exemplifies what this Founders' Day award stands for.

Since 1976, Christina, and her husband of 46 years Salvatore Puglisi have been the foster parents to over 50 Suffolk County children. The children were all either abused, neglected or abandoned. Many were filthy, hungry and injured. Some were born drug addicted or disabled. On average the children would be in her care for less than a year. The children would then either be returned to their biological parents or be adopted by waiting families. Be assured that during their stay at the Puglisi home these children were given the best medical attention, clothing, religious values and Italian food that they had ever received in their lives.

T h e r e were, however, a few children who lingered in foster care for four to five years at the Puglisi home... DO NOT feel bad for these kids! They were the lucky ones. They were adopted by Christina and her husband Sal. Sal and Christina Puglisi now have ten children ranging in age from 12 to 44 . When you add to that her son-in-laws, daughter-in-laws and 14 grandchildren, Christina's immediate family totals 32 . As a testimony to the closeness of this family, everyone still gathers for Christmas Eve at Christina's home and all live within a fifteen mile radius of each other. They are students, teachers, carpenters, lawyers, nurses, physician assistants, moms and dads.

In total Christina Puglisi has been either the mother, mother-in-law, grandmother or foster mother to over 80 people. So the next time you leave through the doors of this school, instead of saying:"good bye," say:"Thank you!" Because it is quite possible that someone who has touched your life in a special way, was, at some point in their lives, cared for by Christina Puglisi.

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