New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Norine Polio
Norine Ann Polio, 77, of New Haven, Connecticut, passed away at Yale New Haven Hospital on September 12, 2024. Norine was born in New Haven in 1947 and was raised in the Italian Section of New Haven, where she attended Saint Boniface Elementary School and Saint Mary’s High School. Later she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Albertus Magnus College, a Master’s in Spanish Literature from SCSC and continued her advanced education studies at UCONN. She enjoyed studying in Salamanca, Spain, and had numerous Fellowships with the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute.
A celebrated and passionate educator, Norine taught and nurtured each student with open arms and a unique spirit for 41 years. For most of those years, she taught English for Speakers of Other Languages, where she worked with, guided and supported students from 40 countries who spoke 70 languages. Her diverse group of students were always accepted for who they were and welcomed to the table.
Before teaching Norine enjoyed a career as a costumer and milliner at the Opera Company of Boston under Sarah Caldwell and was a milliner at The Yale Rep. One summer she helped restore Russian ballet hats in the MET’s collection. For two years she also had a private preschool in a Boston store front.
She was a devoted daughter, sister and wife and could be found bringing family and friends together with food and music. She was renowned for her famous dinners that took place in her basement “Italian Country Kitchen.” Many Sunday sauces were prepared and consumed on her family’s heirloom table while her mother played piano and everyone sang. Some years she would prepare three Thanksgiving Dinners in a week so her students could experience a new American holiday.
For decades she was a board member of New Haven Sister Cities and enjoyed working on the Amalfi Committee, especially when she could promote her family’s Lemon Pasta Recipe.
Norine loved traveling, art, culture and her cats. Her unique irrepressible and caring nature will be missed.
Norine was preceded in death by her mother, Carmel D’Onofrio, her father John Polio, stepfather Michael D’Onofrio, sister Carolyn Polio, Carolyn’s life partner Ray Martino, stepsister Marie D’Onofrio, stepsister Joy Apuzzo. Norine is survived by her husband Peter Nuhn, stepsister Barbara DeFelice, and stepsister Anna d’Onofrio and husband Ken Kraus.
A Wake will be held September 17, at Iovanne Funeral Home from 4—7 p.m., 11 Wooster Place, New Haven. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 18, at Saint Michael Church, 29 Wooster Place, New Haven CT. Burial will follow at the Saint Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven, CT.
The family would like to thank all her doctors, nurses and others who took extraordinary care of her at the Yale Multiple Myeloma Program and her dear friends —”Team Norine.” Donations in her name may be made to IRIS, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services or New Haven Sister Cities. Share a memory by visiting Norine’s tribute page at www. iovanne.com .