Didn't Everybody Have Spanish or Latin With Mr. Santoro?
“Isn’t that duck soup?” Singing Solamente and other Spanish songs on Fridays. Struggling through Julius Caesar. “Oh fili mi boni belli”. These are just a few phrases and memories that generations of students link to George Lawrence Santoro.
George Santoro was born in San Marco, Sicily in September 1902. He and his family arrived at Ellis Island in 1912, when George was ten.
On February 14, 1942, he married Josephine Groasser of Oakland, California at St. Francis Xavier Church. The newly weds had their reception at the Ecorse High School Gym.
After working at the Whitman and Barnes Tool Company in Detroit, George attended Lawrence Technical School to specialize in Drafting. He attended St. Mary’s College of Ohio and graduated from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, earning both B.A. and M.A. degrees. At Ecorse High he taught English, languages, (including Spanish, Latin, French and Italian) and Drafting from 1940-1967. In his early teaching career he taught both day and evening classes, including some for indigent people. He was nominated teacher-of-the-year.
At St. Francis Xavier Church in Ecorse he led the choir, taught catechism, sang tenor in the choir and played the piano and organ at for the church.
He often toured many countries with his wife, Josephine. He enjoyed bringing back many slides of their trips and inviting students for a day of viewing them at his Stoney Point Beach cabin, “Josephine IV.” He was an avid gardener and according to his sister, Jo, his Allen Park home was “a floral show place.” During their stays at Ft. Meyers, Florida, George belonged to the Garden Club. He won many blue ribbons for his gigantic satin cream orchids.
George Santoro died in 1995, after suffering a number of heart attacks. But he lives on in his generations of students.
1942 Ecorse Advertiser Newspaper Story
G.L. Santoro Attends MEA Conference
George L. Santoro, represented the City of Ecorse district of the Michigan Education Association on Tuesday and Wednesday at the annual Leaderships Training Conference at the M.E.A. Camp on St. Mary’s Lake near Battle Creek.
Michigan Education Association district and regional council presidents meet to attend workshops and discussions with outstanding educators. The group reviews the organization of the M.E.A., oldest and largest professional organization in Michigan, and studies education problems and their solutions.
Programs for the year’s meetings are formulated and a library of materials available through the M.E.A. is placed at the disposal of those attending the workshop. These conference members, approximately 150 in number, are leaders in the field of education.
George Santoro was born in San Marco, Sicily in September 1902. He and his family arrived at Ellis Island in 1912, when George was ten.
On February 14, 1942, he married Josephine Groasser of Oakland, California at St. Francis Xavier Church. The newly weds had their reception at the Ecorse High School Gym.
After working at the Whitman and Barnes Tool Company in Detroit, George attended Lawrence Technical School to specialize in Drafting. He attended St. Mary’s College of Ohio and graduated from Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, earning both B.A. and M.A. degrees. At Ecorse High he taught English, languages, (including Spanish, Latin, French and Italian) and Drafting from 1940-1967. In his early teaching career he taught both day and evening classes, including some for indigent people. He was nominated teacher-of-the-year.
At St. Francis Xavier Church in Ecorse he led the choir, taught catechism, sang tenor in the choir and played the piano and organ at for the church.
He often toured many countries with his wife, Josephine. He enjoyed bringing back many slides of their trips and inviting students for a day of viewing them at his Stoney Point Beach cabin, “Josephine IV.” He was an avid gardener and according to his sister, Jo, his Allen Park home was “a floral show place.” During their stays at Ft. Meyers, Florida, George belonged to the Garden Club. He won many blue ribbons for his gigantic satin cream orchids.
George Santoro died in 1995, after suffering a number of heart attacks. But he lives on in his generations of students.
1942 Ecorse Advertiser Newspaper Story
G.L. Santoro Attends MEA Conference
George L. Santoro, represented the City of Ecorse district of the Michigan Education Association on Tuesday and Wednesday at the annual Leaderships Training Conference at the M.E.A. Camp on St. Mary’s Lake near Battle Creek.
Michigan Education Association district and regional council presidents meet to attend workshops and discussions with outstanding educators. The group reviews the organization of the M.E.A., oldest and largest professional organization in Michigan, and studies education problems and their solutions.
Programs for the year’s meetings are formulated and a library of materials available through the M.E.A. is placed at the disposal of those attending the workshop. These conference members, approximately 150 in number, are leaders in the field of education.