Doris Polastri

Doris Polastri, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Polastri, graduated from Branford High School in 1942, as salutatorian of her class. In addition to her academic achievement as a high school student, Doris was involved in many school activities, including the Glee Club, the Hornet and Beacon Boards and the Class Night Committee. She was also the recipient of the D.A.R. and Rotary Club Awards.
Doris was held in high esteem, not only by her teachers but also by her classmates who selected her as the most popular, most likely to succeed, most pleasing personality, most sociable, most dependable, most industrious and best sport, a total of seven celebrities in recognition of her scholarship and winning personality.
Upon graduation from Branford High School, Doris attended Albertus Magnus College, majoring in French and Italian. She was president of her class. In conjunction with the Italian Chapter at Yale, she played one of the leading roles in one of Pirandello's plays. Her class was also invited to Washington, D.C. for Verdi's, Va Pensiero. Doris completed her studies at Albertus, magna cum laude and continued her education by acquiring a Master's Degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, a prestigious school in the field of world languages. At Middlebury, she received the President's Award for Excellence. In addition to these scholastic achievements, Doris received a Fulbright Scholarship, which enabled her to study in Florence, Italy. She also studied at the Universitadei Stanieri in Perugia.
Doris taught Italian at Torrington High School for twenty-five years, including service as department chair. She also taught Italian at Albertus Magnus until her retirement and has had two of her poems published in a leading Italian journal.
Julia M. McNamara, Ph.D., President of Albertus, nominated Doris for induction into the Hall of Fame, saying, "Doris Polastri is an outstanding alumna of Albertus Magnus College." She recognized the great contributions that Doris made to the college as a teacher, saying, "Doris never let an opportunity go by to enhance the love of learning and the true purpose of academic life. I take this opportunity to celebrate her great career."
The Most Rev. Peter A. Rosazza, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, one of Doris' students at Torrington High School said, "She was one of the finest teachers I have ever had. Fresh from Middlebury College's Language Program, she spoke Italian in class and demanded that we attempt to do the same. In our senior year she introduced us to Carlo Levi's classic work, Cristo Si E Fermato a Ebola as well as Carol Manzoni's classic, Promessi Sposi. Now being able to speak Italian fluently, I realize what a fine teacher she was and I thank her for the education she gave me....Her love of Italian creativity in music, literature, science and art inspired her teaching and allowed her to transfer so much knowledge to her classes and friends. I grew in my appreciation of opera thanks to Ms. Polastri."
Even now, Doris continues to influence the lives of so many through her tutoring in the Italian language and through her volunteer work at Orchard House where clients have the opportunity to learn Italian as a new language or to refresh their memories of that language. They have also been introduced to the music and art of that culture.
Doris Polastri has generated a love of different cultures and of language study, thereby enriching the lives of all who benefited from her knowledge, experience and expertise.
Doris was held in high esteem, not only by her teachers but also by her classmates who selected her as the most popular, most likely to succeed, most pleasing personality, most sociable, most dependable, most industrious and best sport, a total of seven celebrities in recognition of her scholarship and winning personality.
Upon graduation from Branford High School, Doris attended Albertus Magnus College, majoring in French and Italian. She was president of her class. In conjunction with the Italian Chapter at Yale, she played one of the leading roles in one of Pirandello's plays. Her class was also invited to Washington, D.C. for Verdi's, Va Pensiero. Doris completed her studies at Albertus, magna cum laude and continued her education by acquiring a Master's Degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, a prestigious school in the field of world languages. At Middlebury, she received the President's Award for Excellence. In addition to these scholastic achievements, Doris received a Fulbright Scholarship, which enabled her to study in Florence, Italy. She also studied at the Universitadei Stanieri in Perugia.
Doris taught Italian at Torrington High School for twenty-five years, including service as department chair. She also taught Italian at Albertus Magnus until her retirement and has had two of her poems published in a leading Italian journal.
Julia M. McNamara, Ph.D., President of Albertus, nominated Doris for induction into the Hall of Fame, saying, "Doris Polastri is an outstanding alumna of Albertus Magnus College." She recognized the great contributions that Doris made to the college as a teacher, saying, "Doris never let an opportunity go by to enhance the love of learning and the true purpose of academic life. I take this opportunity to celebrate her great career."
The Most Rev. Peter A. Rosazza, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford, one of Doris' students at Torrington High School said, "She was one of the finest teachers I have ever had. Fresh from Middlebury College's Language Program, she spoke Italian in class and demanded that we attempt to do the same. In our senior year she introduced us to Carlo Levi's classic work, Cristo Si E Fermato a Ebola as well as Carol Manzoni's classic, Promessi Sposi. Now being able to speak Italian fluently, I realize what a fine teacher she was and I thank her for the education she gave me....Her love of Italian creativity in music, literature, science and art inspired her teaching and allowed her to transfer so much knowledge to her classes and friends. I grew in my appreciation of opera thanks to Ms. Polastri."
Even now, Doris continues to influence the lives of so many through her tutoring in the Italian language and through her volunteer work at Orchard House where clients have the opportunity to learn Italian as a new language or to refresh their memories of that language. They have also been introduced to the music and art of that culture.
Doris Polastri has generated a love of different cultures and of language study, thereby enriching the lives of all who benefited from her knowledge, experience and expertise.