Olympia “Vicki” Gianelli, 92, formerly of Locust Valley and Garden City, died on Dec 9, 2011. Born in Bronx, NY, she was raised in Sea Cliff. She graduated with a B.A. from Adelphi College in 1940. She married Alfred Gianelli, who predeceased her in 1986, and they raised four daughters in Garden City. Olympia had a long career in education and taught kindergarten at Portledge School in Locust Valley for 20 years. She “retired” to Montclair, NJ, and became director of the Watchung Cooperative Preschool in Montclair. She went on to supervise student teachers at Montclair State University and tutor at Northeast Elementary School, also in Montclair. She is survived by her four daughters, Beatrice Gianelli, Barbara Ritter, Diane Roehm and Deborah Gianelli; her grandchildren, Scott and Geoffrey Roehm and Ashley and Andrea Ritter; her sisters, Helen Benson and Olga Stillman, and her brothers, Jerome and Joseph Vittoria. Her sister, Marie Young, predeceased her in 1998.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, Jan. 14 in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Monclair. Repast immediately followed the service. www.uumontclair.org or 973-744-6276.
