New art center in Lockport will honor Nunzio T. Maiorana, long-time Medina educator
Photo courtesy of Maiorana family: Nunzio T. Maiorana was a popular teacher and school administrator at Medina as well as the athletic director.
LOCKPORT – DeSales Catholic School has announced plans to renovate an area on their campus to create the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center, in honor of a beloved alumnus who graduated from DeSales in 1958.
Maiorana was a highly respected leader in both education and athletics throughout Niagara and Orleans counties.
He was also an accomplished self-taught artist who specialized in pen and ink drawings of historic lighthouses and buildings from across the world. Each of his drawings was hand-drawn using jeweler’s glasses and each art piece contained over 500,000 fine lines and dots. He won his first art show in 1957 sponsored by the Lockport Industrial Management Club.
After graduating from DeSales High School, Maiorana went on earn his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Detroit. He began his teaching career at the Diocese of Detroit at St. John Berchmans School. In 1963 he came back home to WNY to teach at Medina Senior High School.
This was followed by multiple roles throughout his tenure in Medina starting as a teacher and retiring as superintendent of curriculum and finance. He started in Medina in the fall 1963. His career spanned over 36 years until his retirement in 1998.
At Medina, Maiorana taught pre-vocational studies, English, and history; served as an assistant high school football coach, assistant principal, director of athletics, director of maintenance, grounds, and transportation; principal of Wise Middle School; and superintendent of curriculum and finance. He also sat on state and national committees for athletics and academics to ensure safety, wellness, and rigorous academic instruction for all students.
He remained an influential educator up until the day he passed away on Jan. 22, 2018.
“My father was without a doubt a great individual, a gregarious man with an infectious smile and great sense of humor,” said his son, David Maiorana. “He was a dedicated professional who was on a mission to provide his students with the best possible education, and his determination, temerity, and self-discipline made Dad a mentor we profoundly looked up to. It didn’t matter who you were, everyone knew him and everyone loved him!”
Ann-Marie Towell, Nunzio’s daughter, commented; “The devotion and leadership of our father inspired many students, adults and school communities, and we will continue to work together to sustain and build upon his legacy. We are honored to recognize his inspirational example as we dedicate this new art center for the children of DeSales Catholic School in his name.”
This rendering shows the layout for the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center at DeSales Catholic School in Lockport, where Maiorana graduated in 1958.
This beautiful new facility will enhance educational opportunities and further develop a rich environment for learning art at DeSales.
Construction of the Nunzio T. Maiorana Art Center will break ground on June 27 and is expected to be completed prior to the start of school in September. The costs are estimated to be in the range of $125,000. His wife of 56 years, Charlotte Palisano Maiorana, has committed a significant amount to kick off fundraising for the project.
Donations toward the Nunzio Maiorana Art Center at DeSales are being sought. If you would like to make a donation you can do so by going online by clicking here, calling (716) 433-644 ext. 407 or mailing a check to DeSales Catholic School, 6914 Chestnut Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 14094. In the memo section of the check, please write Nunzio Maiorana or include a quick note that the gift is made in Nunzio’s memory.
