Dr. Gerald N. Tirozzi, Esteemed Member of North Shore Animal League America’s Board of Directors, Dies at Age 83
North Shore Animal League America lost a caring, compassionate friend and a valued member of its Board of Directors when Dr. Gerald Tirozzi passed away on November 1, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“Gerry will be greatly missed as a friend and fellow animal lover. He was an incredible asset on our Board of Directors,” said J. John Stevenson, President & CEO of North Shore Animal League America. “His impressive knowledge and credentials in the field of education in the United States were extremely helpful in guiding the dissemination of our Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum, a social emotional learning program for students.”
In 2013, Dr. Tirozzi accepted the appointment to our Board. He was impressed by our reputation as a leader in animal rescue and our outstanding record of adoptions. Dr. Tirozzi understood the positive influence companion animals have in the lives of people. He believed that our Curriculum had great potential to promote awareness of shelter pets – an important step in our realizing our goal of a no-kill nation.
A native of Connecticut, Dr. Tirozzi was a nationally recognized leader in education reform and a champion of educational equity and excellence for all students. He was the Executive Director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) from 1999-2011. He held a variety of positions in the field of education including: Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education (1996-1999); Commissioner of Education in Connecticut (1983-1991); and Superintendent of New Haven (CT) Public Schools (1977-1983).
Dr. Tirozzi served on a number of educational advisory boards including the Education Testing Service, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and the USA Today Education Advisory Panel. He authored many articles on educational topics that were published in the education press and scholarly journals. When he retired in 2012, he continued writing articles and editorials on education. His book, “Stop the School Bus: Getting Education Reform on Track,” was published in 2013.
We know that Dr. Tirozzi had a big heart. He was proud of having a hand in saving the lives of homeless dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens throughout his years on our Board of Directors. He will be missed by everyone. Good Bye, Gerry.