Board Members

Remembering Dr. Salvatore Febbraio

AAA Governing Board Member
Chairman Faithe Deffner - Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner
Member of the Carrozza Scholarship Committee
Chairman of the AAA Nominating Committee

Dr. Salvatore M. Febbraio of Mt. Vernon passed away at home on November 27, 2010, after a courageous fourteen years battle with prostate cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Febbraio was born April 30, 1935 in Mt. Vernon to Gaetano and Else Febbraio.

Dr. Febbraio attended local schools, pursued his career at Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music, Fordham Graduate School and NYU Graduate School; where he earned many degrees including his Ph.D and M.M.Ed. He was the founder and executive director of the Febbraio School of Music since 1956. Over the years he shared his gift by influencing many students to go on to a musical career and influenced many in their appreciation of music. Many former students recall his wonderful teaching ability in music and life experiences. He was very influential in numerous civic affairs one being on the Mayor's Senior Citizens Advisory Board; where he played at the first Advisory Board Luncheon and continued this performance for 64 years. He was also past president and present member of the board.

He is survived by his loving wife Antoinette Aurichio Febbraio, who he married on December 2, 1956, two devoted sons Guy Anthony Febbraio, Gregg M. Febbraio and his daughter in-law Brigitte, three grandchildren Nicole, Monique and Gregg S. Uncle of Lisa Gabrielli and Thomas and David Febbraio. His faithful caregiver Olga. Predeceased by his brother Thomas.

Donations may be made to either:
1. Prostate Cancer Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, NY 10065, 866-815-9501 email:developm@mskcc.org
2. Calvary Hospice, 1740 Eastchester Rd., Bronx, NY 10461, 718518-2077 email:avalitutto@calvaryhospital.org avalitutto@calvaryhospital.org
3. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Foundation, CurePSP, Executive Plaza III, 11350 McCormick Rd, Suite 906, Hunt Valley, MD 21031, 800457-4777 https://give.psp.org/

Advisory Council

Remembering Aldo J. DeRossi

Aldo J. DeRossi, 93, of Fairhaven died Tuesday November 30, 2010 at home. He was the husband of Ida M. (Pires) DeRossi; they had been married for 65 years.

Born in Springfield, the son of the late Emil and Julia (Laurenti) DeRossi, he moved to New Bedford at the age of three. He lived in New Bedford for most of his life before moving to Fairhaven.

Aldo took up playing the accordion in his teens and became an accomplished performer, composer, and teacher. In 1939, he opened DeRossi Accordion School in Downtown New Bedford. The school was expanded to include other instruments in the 1970s.

Over the years, thousands of DeRossi Music School students performed and competed in state and national competitions, winning their first national title in 1949 in New York City. This was followed by over 200 national and state band and solo championships. Over the years, Mr. DeRossi's students performed at a variety of venues which included Carnegie Hall, Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., the New York World's Fair, and the American Accordion Association National Championship held at the Springfield Civic Center where they achieved the only "perfect" score ever given to a band in any national accordion competition.

In addition to being a successful accordion teacher, Mr. DeRossi was also a noted composer. He composed over ten original compositions, many of which have been used as required competition pieces in states across the country. These include "Trickling Keys" which sold over a million copies and the "Whaling City Concerto" which he composed in 1992 in honor of the City of New Bedford.

In addition to playing, composing, and teaching, Mr. DeRossi was the founder of the Accordion Teachers Association of Massachusetts, an organization that is still very active today and which sponsors the annual New England Music Competiton and Festival. He received a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the American Accordion Association, and had been honored by placement in the World of Accordions Hall of Fame in Superior, Wisconsin.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Steven A. DeRossi and his wife Catherine, and Barry J. DeRossi and his wife Judy; five grandchildren, Dr. Scott S. DeRossi and his wife Dr. Katherine Ciarrocca, Attorney Gina L. DeRossi and her husband Attorney Darren I. Goldberg, Kim Walecka and her husband Dr. Kevin Walecka, Todd M. DeRossi, and Jennifer daCosta and her husband Jason daCosta; five great-grandchildren, Noah Goldberg, Sofia and Evie DeRossi, and Benjamin and Lucas daCosta; and a niece, Joan Axtell Anderson.

He was the brother of the late Teresa Axtell.

Founding Members

Remembering Charles Nunzio

Charles Nunzio, 97, of Basking Ridge died on October 19, 2010. Born in Sicily, he came to the U.S. at the age of 8 where his parents settled in Newark. He became a world-famous accordionist, teacher, composer, and arranger. He had a music studio in Newark and later in Nutley where he trained many champion accordionists who became successful professional artists.

He made his debut in a recital at Town Hall in 1933, and an appearance in Carnegie Hall the following year. In 1938 Charles Nunzio became a founding Board member of the American Accordionists Association along with Pietro Frosini, Abe Goldman, Sydney Dawson, Anthony Galla-Rini, Charles Magnante, Pietro Deiro, Gene Von Hallberg, Joe Biviano, John Gart, Sam Roland and Byron Streep.

In the late 1930's he was doing an average of 35 radio shows a week on WOR, NBC, CBS and making commercial recordings for Decca, Victor, and Columbia. His 40-piece accordion orchestra won first prize at the 1939 New York World's Fair. He also performed with Guy Lombardo, Rudy Vallee, Meyer Davis and Lester Lanin.

During WW II he enlisted in the US Navy, where he played on coast-to-coast programs with the "Blue Jackets". Later, stationed at Bunker Hill Naval Air Station, Peru, Indiana, he assembled a six-piece orchestra, the "Melody Mates." They played three radio broadcasts weekly and all the dances for the Navy personnel.

A consummate performer, he received many awards, one of which summarized his 70-year career: "Presented to The Legendary Charles Nunzio in recognition of your contributions in developing the accordion's American Evolution as artist, teacher, composer, and innovator and as an inspiring idol to so many accordionists. The impact of your contributions will forever be felt."

He was predeceased by his wife Helen (Vitiello) Nunzio and is survived by two sons, John of Montville and Charles of Nutley, many nieces and nephews and long-time companion Jean Garzione of Basking Ridge.