Giorgio Perissinotto

Our Father, Husband, and Friend, Giorgio Perissinotto left us too soon on September 22, 2018. He was born in Trieste, Italy in 1942, the son of Giovanni and Maria Perissinotto and brother of Franco Perissinotto. Like many before them, Giovanni and Maria hoped for a better opportunity for their family, risked it all, and immigrated to Utica, NY in October 1959. Giorgio and Franco eventually settled down and retired in Santa Barbara, CA. Giorgio will always be remembered as a loving, intelligent, selfless, witty, accomplished, and well-respected Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Brother-in-Law, Uncle, Cousin, Colleague, and Friend. He dedicated more than 50 years of his life to linguistics, specifically phonetics, and the history of the Spanish language and Mexican culture. He was proud to be Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara. His academic accomplishments are numerous and evidenced by the friendships and colleagues he maintained over the life of his career throughout the world, at Syracuse University, Columbia University, Stony Brook University, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, El Colegio Nacional and Colegio de Mexico. He is also remembered for his incredible cooking, especially paella, and his love of sailing, cars, clocks, bonsai, reading, writing, and listening to opera and classical music. He was also particularly fond of inquiring about the academic achievements of any potential suitors for his daughters. Giorgio was an extraordinary, humble and accomplished man who gave so much of himself to others and never asked for anything in return. He respected people and only hoped for the same in return. He was proud of his family and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. Giorgio is survived by his wife Gloria of 50 years, two daughters Francesca and Carla, sons-in-law David DeMartino and Joshua Felciano, his Sister-in-Law Livia Perissinotto and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. Papi, in the end, it is true, you planted a tree, you wrote a book, and you had a child. And, though the obvious is not always superfluous, you left the world with so much more than it gave you. You’ve left an irreplaceable impression on more people than you realize and we know that you are at peace and with Franco and others who preceded you. Siempre estarás en nuestras vidas, nuestro corazón y nuestro mundo. Anche se sei lontano, sarai vicino da noi. His family will host a Celebration of Life on October 27, 2018. For details, please contact his daughter Francesca DeMartino at fmdemartino@gmail.com or on her personal Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations can also be made to UCSB, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Honoring Professor Perissinotto.