Marie T. Costanzo
Marie T. Costanzo–longtime secretary in the Department of Music and mother of three
Skidmore alumnae–died May 21, 2009, at the age of 76.
Born May 21, 1933, in Brooklyn, Marie was a daughter of the late John and Christina
Stalzer and the widow of Anthony M. Costanzo.
A communicant of St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn, where she was christened
and confirmed, Marie attended St. Brigid’s Grammar School. She was a graduate of St.
Joseph’s Commercial High School in Brooklyn, where she earned a diploma with Regents
Honors in 1951 and was a member of the school’s chapter of the Leo Honor Society of
the Diocese of Brooklyn.
After high school, she worked in the office of the registrar of The Cooper Union and
later in the research department of Grant Advertising in New York City.
She married Anthony M. Costanzo in 1958; a decade later, they moved to Saratoga Springs.
They were the parents of four daughters, three of whom graduated from Skidmore. Anthony
died in December 2008.
Marie joined the staff of the Music Department in the fall of 1971 and worked there
22 years, retiring in 1993. Professor Emerita of Music Isabelle Williams, who chaired
the department from 1979 to 1985, remembered Marie’s efficiency and willingness to
embrace new challenges.
Said Williams, “When I was chair, the College launched the Filene Music Competition,
and there were so many details and deadlines surrounding the start of that new initiative.
Marie handled them all so capably. She had a number of traditional secretarial responsibilities
as well as extras, like the concert box office, and she was so efficient. It was the
same when computers were introduced in our office. She learned the skills necessary
to do her job in a new way, and managed beautifully. It was wonderful to have her
as a colleague.”
Music Professor Charles M. Joseph, who joined the faculty in 1985 and became chair
of the department a year later, recalled Marie’s friendly manner and willingness to
assist. “She was the person who educated me about the Department of Music,” said Joseph.
“I came to rely on her to introduce me to staff and aspects of the department.”
He continued, “She was always one step ahead of me. She would anticipate needs or
see problems before they developed. I cannot remember how many times I would start
a sentence, ‘Marie did you…’ and she would place a file folder in my hands. I found
that invaluable.”
Continued Joseph, “At every turn she was direct and professional. She knew the students
and had a near-encyclopedic knowledge of faculty and curriculum. I really enjoyed
working with her.”
Marie was a communicant of St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church and a member of the
Saratoga Film Forum.
She is survived by daughters Paula of Queens; Christina Costanzo Neuner ’83 of Long
Island; Anita ’84 of Everett, Mass.; and Andrea ’86 of Saratoga Springs. Additional
survivors include a sister, Dorothy DeRosa of Great Kills, Staten Island; and sons-in-law
Charles Neuner and Alan Edstrom.
Interment was at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.