Anthony (Nino) Morreale, beloved music teacher dies at 90

Nino Morreale, 2010

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Anthony (Nino) Morreale, 90, of South Beach, whose joy in playing the music he loved was matched by his passion for teaching music to generations of New Dorp High School students who will never forget the huge part he played in their lives, died Thursday at home.

Born and raised in Bayonne, he graduated from Bayonne High School. A saxophone and woodwinds player, he led his own big band from the age of 16 in the Hudson County, N.J., area.

Mr. Morreale served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1946, stationed in Richmond, Va., and Newfoundland with the USAAF band.

After his military service, he earned a diploma from the Juilliard School, and later received his bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the Manhattan School of Music, both in Manhattan.

He began his exceptional career in the 1950s as a staff musician at ABC and was a member of the Band of America and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in the popular big-band era, also playing shows at venues such as the Rustic Cabin and Bill Miller's Riviera for singers and entertainers including Lena Horne and Sammy Davis Jr.

After moving to South Beach in 1955, he led the Nino Morreale Orchestra, playing and singing for dinner-dances, special occasions like the opening of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and countless weddings. He also was a longtime clarinetist for the Staten Island Musicians Society (SIMS) Band.

But Mr. Morreale's biggest personal satisfaction came from being a music teacher at New Dorp High School. He taught students there from 1962 until he retired in 1990, and the level of music was exceptional, with many future musicians emerging from his teaching. He often spoke of his love for his job and the students, and the admiration and love they felt for him were inspired by his teaching not only music, but important lessons about life.

"Nino touched the hearts and minds of every student at New Dorp High School while he was there," said Dr. Jerry Cammarata, a New Dorp alumnus. "He was not only a teacher, but a great human being. Staten Island has lost one of its greatest musicians, entertainers and teachers, and a beautiful person."

A recorded highlight of Mr. Morreale's career was his role as the band leader in the opening wedding scene of the film, "The Godfather," and he later performed and contracted the music for the feast scene in "The Godfather, Part II."

In retirement, he was an adjunct lecturer at the College of Staten Island, teaching saxophone. His final steady engagement as a musician was playing saxophone in the Ray Scro/Michael Morreale big band weekly at the former Cargo Cafe, St. George.

"He was the purest man I ever knew," said his son, Michael Morreale.

"I was blessed to play music with him every week for a time. He actually forced me to practice when I was young, and he was demanding, but he had high standards and he inspired me to follow in his footsteps."

Mr. Morreale's wife, the former Ann Dachille, also was a musician. The couple had been married for 64 years when she died in January.

Surviving Mr. Morreale, along with his son, Michael, are his son, Salvatore; his brother, Joseph (Peppi); three grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

The funeral will be Wednesday from the A. Azzara Funeral Home, South Beach, with a mass at noon in Holy Rosary R.C. Church, both South Beach. Arrangements include cremation and burial of ashes in St. Mary's Cemetery, Gramere.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.