Obituary of Bridget R. Paolucci

Bridget R. Paolucci passed peacefully after a long illness on January 7, 2017, surrounded by her family. Bridget was a lecturer, writer and broadcaster who specialized in opera. For many years, she was heard as an intermission speaker on the Texaco Metropolitan Opera international radio broadcasts. She worked extensively for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, giving numerous pre-performance lectures each season, and as an interviewer of leading singers and directors. The Metropolitan Opera Guild has taped twelve of her lectures as part of its "Talking About Opera" series of audio cassettes and CDs. For twenty years she served as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions. She also gave pre- performance lectures at New York City Opera and Carnegie Hall. She was a writer for American Record Guide, a contributing editor to The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Recorded Opera, and the author of a biography of Beverly Sills, written for pre-teens. She was an interviewer for the Canadian Broadcasting Company and the Australian Broadcasting Company, and a music reporter for NPR. Among the luminaries she has interviewed are Luciano Pavarotti, Franco Zeffirelli, Renee Fleming, Bryn Terfel, Renata Tibaldi, Beverly Sills, Vivian Leigh, Arthur Miller, Barbara Streisand and Kurt Vonnegut. Bridget also helped found Mornings at Manhattanville, the adult education program at Manhattanville College. She was the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship to Rome and was honored by Manhattanville College with the Distinguished Alumni Award and by the Music Department for Significant Achievement. In her early career, she was a founding producer for educational television stations in Detroit and New York. Bridget attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Gross Point, MI, Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY and the U. of Michigan. She served a term as an alumna director on the Manhattanville College board. She was a member of St. Augustine's Church in Larchmont where she served as a Eucharistic Minister. A long time Larchmont resident, she loved Manor Park and Manor Beach. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Bert; daughter Anne Marie; and son John. Visiting Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at John J. Fox Funeral Home in Larchmont. Mass Wednesday 11:00 AM at St. Augustine Church in Larchmont. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Cancer Support Team or Chemo Comfort.