STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — To commemorate the annual feast D=day of St. Teresa on Oct. 15, St. Teresa’s Parish will host a fundraiser celebration Sunday, Oct. 5 at LiGreci’s Staaten, beginning at noon.
Recognized for their commitment to the community and their devotion to St. Teresa’s R.C. Church and school, are Joseph Granello, Pat Ward and Greg Percoco.
During the commemorative luncheon, Monsignor William Belford, pastor of St. Teresa’s R.C. Church, John Lauria, and members of the St. Teresa Parish Feast Day Committee, will pay tribute to the late Charles LaGanga, who provided the impetus for a number of fundraisers. He died in 2023.
Tickets to the luncheon $125 per person and may be obtained by visiting www.stteresasi.org
Live entertainment, raffles, games of chance and gift baskets, will be incorporated into the annual event.
JOSEPH GRANELLO
Granello graduated from the College of Staten Island in 1964 and during the same year, at the Church of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus, he married Maryann Grace Tirelli.
Parents of two children, Joseph and Michele, they raised their family in the same parish and lived in a home built by Maryann’s grandfather in 1923.
In 1988 the first of six granddaughters arrived, followed by five great-grandchildren — four boys and a girl.
For 25 years, Granello worked for the Western Electric Company, retiring in 1989.
In 1990, he started his own telecommunications consulting company, JLG Associates, LLC.
In 2017 Granello retired after 53 years.
His wife, Maryann Grace, of 56 years passed away in 2020. Five years later almost to the day, on Aug. 17, 2025 their newest great-granddaughter, Grace Ann, was born.
PATRICIA GRACE WARD
Ward graduated from Monmouth College with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education.
She furthered her education at the College of Staten Island with a six-year professional certificate degree in administration and supervision which enabled her to become a school principal.
Her teaching experience focused on teaching special needs children stemming from her late brother Tommy, who had Down Syndrome and who inspired her, and volunteer work with the former Staten Island Aid for Retarded Children (now Community Resources).
Her career of 35 years was at PS 37.
In 1991 she was presented with the First Teacher of the Year Award by Senator Andrew Lanza for outstanding teacher performance at PS 37m where she taught since 1984.
In 1993 when the 24-hour adoration chapel opened at the Alba House, she became an adorer for all hours, which she continued for 27 years and eventually became a night time coordinator.
During that time, she was still teaching and was a caretaker for her father, mother, and special needs brother.
Upon her retirement she pursued teaching special needs children at Religious Education (CCD) at St. Teresa’s, which included training for communion and confirmation,
She’s a minister of holy communion for church masses, assists at Clove Lakes Health Care & Rehabilitation Center and for some homebound.
She is a member of St. Teresa Legion of Mary, on the board at Cross Road Foundation and has set up a Eucharistic Rosary Congress for seven churches.
GREG PERCOCO
A Mariners Harbor native, Percoco held a position at Heather Leasing Co., where he was responsible for large leasing projects involving aircraft and truck fleets.
In 1991 he joined a partnership in the wholesale Italian bread distributorship on Staten Island, in which he was involved until 1997.
In 1997 he started GP Italian Bread Distributors which services Central and South New Jersey which he continues to run until this day.
Percoco is the father of Danielle, Gregory, and Jessica, who have all participated in the St. Teresa YAA (Youth Activities Association), and three grandsons, Giovanni, Thomas, and Angelo.
In 2007 he married Isabella Giambrone, and with her two daughters, Annemarie and Joanne, they have expanded the family to seven.
In 1999 he registered his son Gregory in the baseball clinic and was asked to help run the project.
Since then, he’s continued running baseball intramural, basketball intramural, CYO baseball and basketball — to his present position as YAA president for the last five years. The basketball program has grown to the largest on the North Shore — consisting of 27 teams.