Andrew Warde High School Community Mourns Passing of Former Headmaster Robert Genualdi

Robert S. Genualdi, a musician and retired educator who lived in Bridgeport, died Saturday, March 14, 2015, surrounded by his family at St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport. He was 84 years old.

Mr. Genualdi was born in Chicago to Biagio Genualdi and the former Elizabeth Doll. He was a conductor of the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras and a founding member of the Fairfield Country String Teachers Association and with his wife, Dorothy Straub Genualdi, helped run the P.T. Barnum Museum's Jenny Lind Competition for many years. He also gave private music lessons and composed music. He played string bass in the Miami, New Haven, Greater Bridgeport, and Greenwich symphonies.

Genualdi served as headmaster at Andrew Warde High School and Fairfield High School (at the former AWHS campus) from the Autumn of 1975 through the Spring of 1993. Mr. Genualdi also served as Acting Principal of Staples High School in Westport.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Genualdi is survived by his sons, Joseph Genualdi, of Kansas City, MO, and Robert and wife Rena Genualdi, of Danbury; daughter-in-law Cydne Gillard, and five grandchildren, Biagio Genualdi, Francesca Genualdi and husband Arturo Medina, and Sam Genualdi, of Chicago; Joanna Genualdi and fiancé Stephen Yannantuono of Sandy Hook; Robert Scott Genualdi of Danbury, and two brothers, Joseph Genualdi of Plant City, FL, and Martin Genualdi of Scottsdale, AZ.

His first wife, Mary Ellen, died in 1991; his sister, Rose Peters, died in 2003. A mass of celebration is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at 10 a.m. at Saint Ann's Church, 481 Brewster St., Bridgeport; interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, Music for Youth, Inc., the Fairfield County Children's Choir, the Connecticut Dance School or Saint Ann Church.

Paul