Nicholas T. Falco

Nicholas T. Falco, 87, of Batavia, a lifelong educator in Batavia died Friday, June 4, 1999 at United Memorial Medical Center, North Street. Mr. Falco was born December 26, 1911, in Batavia, a son of the late Anthony and Angela Maria Paolino diFalco.

A 1931 graduate of Batavia High School, he received a bachelor of science degree , summa cum laude from Niagara University in 1935. He served as county supervisor for the National Youth Administration before returning to Niagara to obtain a master’s degree in education in 1937. He also completed post graduate work at the University of Buffalo. He began his career in education as a mathematics and science teacher at Jackson Junior High School in 1940.

Drafted into the US Army in 1942, he served with the Signal Corp until April of 1946 at which time he advanced to the rank of captain. For two years, he served in the South Pacific, including Australia, New Guinea and Philippines.

After his discharge, he became dean of boys and science teacher at the Junior-Senior high school on Ross Street. From 1951 until the school was converted to elementary only in 1953, he served as principal of JacksonJunior High School.

With the change at Jackson, he returned to Batavia High school as a mathematics and science teacher and in 1959 was appointed dean of boys. Later, in 1963 he was appointed assistant principal. Mr. Falco retired in 1976 with the distinction of having served his entire educational career in only one school district – his own.

During that time, he worked with six different principals and four superintendents. He also taught citizenship classes at Jackson Junior High, his mother being in one of his classes, to obtain her citizenship. In the 1950’s, he taught Italian in night school and at the senior high school.

A recipient of the Paolo Busti Foundation’s “Excellence in Education” award in 1993, he also received tributes from the Batavia Lions Club in 1976 in recognition of 36 years in the service of youth and again in 1986 when he received the Clark W. Hale  Outstanding Senior citizen Award. He was a former president of the City Youth Board and was on the Richmond Memorial Library from 1979 to 1995, serving as president twice.

He was a member of Kiwanis Club and member and past grand knight of the Monsignor William C. Kirby Council No. 325 Knights of Columbus as well as the Fourth Degree Assembly. He was a member of St. Mary’s Parish and past Eucharistic minister, usher and parish council member. He was active in the Nocturnal Adoration and Holy Name Society, and in a yearly retreat at St. Columban’s Derby on the Lake for almost 50 years.

A life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and St. Nicholas Club, he was a former member of the Moose Lodge, a Red Cross bloodmobile volunteer and Chamber of Commerce tourist booth volunteer.

Also, he was a member of the New York State Retired Teachers Association, the Genesee County Retired Teachers Association and the teachers’ bowling league, and an avid golfer.

His wife, Lucy Orlowski Falco died in 1992.

Surviving are a daughter, Ann Mary Falco of Batavia, a sister, Mildred Della Penna of Batavia; sisters in law, Valerie Falco, Annette Forsyth and Dorothy Orlowski, all of Batavia, and Anne Orlowski of Oakfield; a brother-in-law, Jerome Pickert of Batavia; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was a brother of the late John, Joseph, and Sebastian Falco.

Friends may call from 1 to 5 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Gilmartin Funeral Home Inc. 329 West Main St. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Church, with entombment in St. Joseph’s Mausoleum. Memorials may be made to the family for distribution to local charities.

From the 1931 Batavian when Nicholas Falco was a senior: