Gloria Della Selva Schoolfield passed away at home surrounded by her family and beloved cat, in Hamden on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, she was 96 years old. She is survived by her daughters: Susan Schoolfield (Tony Hines) and Marguerite Compton (Richard Martino), treasured grandmother to Melissa and Benjamin Osborne and Tyler and Matthew Compton; step grandchildren Tony Hines Jr, and Jillian Oakes; three step great grandchildren; and beloved nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Professor George C. Schoolfield, parents Anthony and Lillian Della Selva, sister Marguerite Cipriano and brother Raymond Della Selva. Gloria was born on July 23, 1925 in West Haven Connecticut, graduated from Albertus Magnus College, and attended Princeton University for graduate work in Biology. She married her husband George in 1949 and lived all over the world with him supporting his academic career while raising their two daughters together. She worked as researcher in Genetics at Yale University School of Medicine from 1975-2000. She was very active in volunteer organizations: serving as President of The Yale University Women’s Organization from 1998-2000 she helped provide scholarship opportunities for women in continuing education. From 2003-2005 she served as President of the Yale New Haven Auxiliary at New Haven Hospital. She was known for her kind heart, wit and love of music, art, and will be greatly missed by many humans, and animals alike.
Friends are invited to pay their respects at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue from 9:30-11:00 am, Monday, April 18th. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in Devine Mercy Parish at St. Rita’s Church, Hamden at 11:30 am honoring Gloria’s life. Interment to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamden. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gloria’s name to The Animal Haven 89 Mill Road, North Haven Ct 06473, or the National MS Society PO Box 4527, New York, NY 10163