NRPL Foundation Announces $666,000 Bequest

On Sunday, December 11th members of the New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees and NRPL Foundation gathered to announce a meaningful bequest to the NRPL by Dr. Ed Pasciuti: His generous gift of more than $666,000 will support services and programs for children and teens at the library’s main branch as well as the Huguenot Children’s Library.

To thank Dr. Pasciuti for his significant gift NRPL Trustees Corey Galloway and Rhiannon Navin and Director Tom Geoffino announced that the main library will rename the teen section on the second floor The Pasciuti Teen Center.

Dr. Pasciuti spoke about how grateful he is to have grown up in New Rochelle, with the love and guidance of his parents Jeanette and Charles Pasciuti. A product of the New Rochelle public school system, young Ed graduated from Princeton and then, as he recalled, faced an important choice: Although he had job offers that were more financially rewarding, he told his parents what he really wanted was to become a teacher – and so he did. Dr. Pasciuti went on spend 40 years as a much loved and respected teacher and guidance counselor in the New Rochelle schools.

“Meeting Ed Pasciuti was inspiring,” said Chris Selin, President of the NRPL Foundation. “He has such gratitude for growing up here in New Rochelle, and such vivid memories of going to “his” library, the Huguenot branch, which is now the Huguenot Children’s Library. It’s remarkable to meet someone with that much dedication to young people.”

Linda Kelly, former Superintendent of Schools, attended the event and remembered Dr. Pasciuti as “a brilliant guidance counselor who was beloved by his students.” Ms. Kelly, who worked as a teacher and an administrator at New Rochelle High School before becoming the district’s Superintendent, was a colleague of Dr. Pasciuti’s for 20 years and praised his “stellar reputation. Ed really cared not only about each of his counselees but about every student at New Rochelle High School as well as the entire community of New Rochelle.”

Tom Geoffino, the Director of the New Rochelle Public Library, said "The New Rochelle Public Library applauds Dr. Ed Pasciuti 's life of purpose and meaning supporting the youth of New Rochelle in his career as an educator in the New Rochelle School District. We commend him for his generous gift that will continue to enhance the lives of New Rochelle children and young adults long into the future."