The daughter of Italian immigrants, Margaret D'Ambrosio grew up surrounded by European culture — listening to Italian radio and reading Italian newspapers. D'Ambrosio became the first in her family to graduate from college, an accomplishment that shaped her life and career, her family said.

"She was quite a model for me," said D'Ambrosio's daughter, Mary D'Ambrosio, of Brooklyn. "She was a very sweet, selfless and sensible person who empowered her children's dreams."

D'Ambrosio died from dementia on Sept. 13 at the age of 96.

Margaret D’Ambrosio was born on Nov. 6, 1928, in New York. She graduated from Hunter College in 1950 with a bachelor's in Italian studies, and soon after began teaching middle and high school Italian in the Hicksville and Northport-East Northport school districts.

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