Teresa Lupoli Russell

Teresa Lupoli Russell, 73, of Prudence Island, R.I. passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, July 13th 2018.Growing up in East Boston, MA, she was the daughter of the late Nicola Lupoli and Rita Glynn. She was the wife of Thomas Russell for 51 years.Teresa graduated from Fitton Central High, East Boston. Teresa then received Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Massachusetts College of Art. She then applied her education first in the Riverside Unified School Department, California and later in the Providence School Department in Rhode Island, as an art specialist at the E.W. Flynn Model School. She then received a Master of Arts in Education degree from Rhode Island School of Design. During which time she participated in the Interrelationships of the Arts, an experimental program based in the Netherlands uniting art, music, theatre and dance studies. This experience would shape Teresas many program achievements over a 30 year teaching career. As a R.I.S.D. professor of art education and critic teacher, she trained aspiring art teachers in her Flynn School classroomActive in Rhode Islands Art community she was co-founder of the Society for Education through the Arts, serving as vice president and president. During her tenure she sponsored Green Spaces for People a public forum on art in the parks resulting in Sunday concerts, annual arts festivals and childrens days. As a member of the Rhode Island Art Teachers Association, she was state chairman of Start with Art promoting public awareness for childrens art. Teresa was also instrumental in initiating television programs especially for children Art Train and Allamaze. School and community pride programs include The Litter Critter Campaign. Most notable among her many achievements was the creation of the Flynn Sculpture Garden Project, transforming a rarely used asphalt courtyard into a sculpture filled, beautifully landscaped garden for inner-city children. During the last decade of teaching she co-ordinated the Adopt a School Program between E.W. Flynn Model Elementary School and Woman and Infants Hospital.Funding for her many projects came as grants from the R.I. State Council on the Arts, the R.I. Foundation, the City of Providence and in-kind assistance from local agencies and individuals.In all these efforts, Teresa endeavored to synchronize art room lessons and activities with other discipline programs throughout Flynn School in order to provide support, continuity and success to all class teaching and to promote synergy among administration, staff, students and community.Upon retirement she and her husband became year round residents of Prudence Island. Active in the community she served as president of the Prudence Island Quilters Guild and supported many island causes. Teresa enjoyed travels through out Europe especially Italy, returning every 5 years with her husband to commemorate anniversaries. She dearly loved her growing family, gifting, hosting gatherings, dinners and friend days on Prudence Island. This after many years of 4th of July parties while living in Bristol.In all things familial, social and professional, Teresa celebrated life, radiating her warmth, compassion and generosity to everyone around her.In addition to her husband Thomas, she is survived by her her sisters Lillian Grady and her husband Kenneth Grady, Mary Jean Matarazzo and the Late Steven Matarazzo, and Roseanne Ankiewicz and the Late Stanley Ankiewitz, her brothers Nicola Lupoli and his wife Deborah, and Dana Lupoli, sister in-law Joanne Poland and her husband David Poland, Brother in Law James Russell and his wife Ann Russell and aunts, cousins, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her brother Dominic Lupoli.Calling Hours will be held on Tuesday July 24 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM at Connors Funeral Home 55 W Main Rd Portsmouth, RI.A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday July 24 at 11:00 AM at St. Marys Church 330 Wood Street Bristol RI 02809A graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery in Clinton, MA on Wednesday July 25th at 11:00 AM.Memorial donations can be made to the Prudence Island School Foundation at prudenceislandschool.org, Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department at www.pivfd.org and the Prudence Conservancy at www.prudenceconservancy.orgFlorist by Daisy Digins, Flowers and Gifts, daisydigins@aol.com.