YARMOUTH PORT, MA- Albert T. Viola, of Yarmouth Port, died Tuesday, December 15th in the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. He leaves his wife of 39 years, Helen Pallas-Viola; two brothers, Dr. Frank Viola, Pat Viola, and two sisters, Eleanor Godfrey and Mary Viola, all of San Antonio, TX; his sister-in-law, Katherine Labovites and her husband James of Worcester; his brother-in-law, Chris Pallas and his partner Fred Goepfert of Rancho Mirage, CA; nephews Matthew Labovites and his wife Karen and Ted Soter and two nieces, Joanne Isperduli and Penelope Wolocz and her husband Gene, all of Worcester; a nephew Chris Viola of Austin Texas and a great nephew, David Farnell and his wife Lawrenz of Toronto, Canada; and his precious Godchild, Effie Economou, also of Worcester. His sister, Norma Caiazzo predeceased him.
Mr. Viola was born in San Antonio, TX, the son of Pat and Leonora (DiBono) Viola. He was a graduate of Southwestern University and attended City University of New York. Mr. Viola was a teacher in the Independent School Network for 20 years, most recently serving as Director of the Richard L. Swig Arts Center and Director of Performing Arts at the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ, until his retirement in 2000. He was also a playwright, author and composer and was recently commissioned to put the books of Edgar Allen Poe into stage form. Mr. Viola was a member of the Ibsen Society of America and the Dramatists Guild of America as well as the writer-in-residence at Harwich Jr. Theater in Harwichport, MA.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, December 20th from 4 to 8 pm in O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue. Funeral services and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.