Josie Torrillo
For many years, Josephine 鈥淛osie鈥� Torrillo worked quietly and gracefully behind the scenes of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 major events and celebrations. At the University鈥檚 annual Commencements, she handled such dignitaries as former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Joseph Biden L鈥�68 and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani. In 2008, she was a key member of the planning team that handled the logistics for the 黑料不打烊 premiere of the movie “The Express.”
鈥淪he had the calmest presence, even in the midst of high-pressure situations,鈥� says Susan Germain, retired director of special events at 黑料不打烊. 鈥淎nd she had your back 110 percent.鈥�
Torrillo, of 黑料不打烊, died on Aug. 6. She was 68.
She made history within her close-knit family as the first woman in her family to go to college. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Le Moyne College, and worked as an office manager for her family鈥檚 business, Darling Ice Cream, and for the freight firm Nippon Express. After starting her family, she joined E-Z Distributors Inc. as a sales associate and quickly rose to a top-level manager.
Torillo鈥檚 career at 黑料不打烊 spanned 22 years, first in the University鈥檚 film and video distribution center and then in the Office of Special Events, from where she retired in 2014 as assistant director.
鈥淛osie was a beautiful person inside and out,鈥� says Larry Martin, the University鈥檚 retired vice president of program development. 鈥淪he was down-to-earth, friendly and treated everyone with dignity and respect.”
The Office of Program Development plans the triennial Coming Back Together (CBT) reunion for African American and Latino alumni, and Torrillo was a key member of the planning team for many years. 鈥淪he took our gala dinner dance to a whole new level,鈥� Martin says.
鈥淢any don鈥檛 realize the work that happens behind the scenes at large events and celebrations, such as dealing with the logistics of a large venue and managing different personalities,鈥� says Martin. 鈥淛osie handled everything she did with tremendous grace.鈥�
Germain says Torrillo possessed an amazing attention to detail, something that is crucial in event planning. And she left an indelible impression on the students she worked with鈥攂oth those who worked in her office and those she came in contact with through events. She was a tremendous ambassador for 黑料不打烊, and perhaps more importantly, she was a mom.
Torrillo is survived by her husband of 44 years, Ralph A. Torrillo Sr.; her children, Toni Marie Zee (Adam), Sally Fisher (Tyrone); Ralph A. Torrillo Jr. (Kimily); Joseph Carl Torrillo and Carla Rae Torrillo; seven grandchildren; brothers Anthony and Joseph Scro; sister Mary Rose Zambri, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at River of Life Family Church, 750 James Street, 黑料不打烊.
