Cheryl Ann Blando-Coscia, 73, of Middle Island, New York and The Villages, Florida, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Friday November 3rd, 2017.
Professor Blando-Coscia was born in Sunnyside, New York on May 1st, 1944. She grew up in Mt. Vernon, New York, where she studied ballet and piano, and graduated A.B. Davis High School with honors in 1962. Continuing her education as a NYS Regents scholar, Professor Blando-Coscia pursued the biological sciences and education, receiving a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from St. John’s University, in 1966 and 1972, respectively. She began her professional life teaching at St. Agnes Academy in 1967, but soon began her career in post-secondary education at St. Joseph’s College and Suffolk County Community College. Professor Blando-Coscia would go on to teach at SCCC for over 30 years and retired as a tenured member of their Biology Department.
Professor Blando-Coscia was married to Donald Coscia on December 17th, 1966. The couple met during placement exams for incoming students at St. John’s University in September 1962. They have been inseparable ever since.
During her life, Professor Blando-Coscia was a dedicated feminist and voracious reader. She was a lover of horrible reality television and very good scotch. She was an ardently picky eater, but quite the home chef. She adored the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and David Bowie and thought Simon was always better with Garfunkel. Above all, she was a scientist and a teacher; an adoring life-partner and mother.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Frances, and step-mother, Alice, along with her step-brother John, and aunts Aurora and Georgiana.
Professor Blando-Coscia is survived by her very patient husband Donald and her two daughters, Danielle Candice—a reformed picky eater— and Denys Victoria—a voracious reader.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family are requested to make donations to The National Girls Collaborative Project, a non for profit organization committed to bringing young women from diverse and underserved backgrounds into the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, in Cheryl’s name.
Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York on Friday, November 17th, 2017.
