Our beloved Italian American Alliance (IAA) Chairman, Dr. Domenic Amara, passed away Friday night after a long battle with cancer. This great man was one of the original founders of our IAA organization and served as President of the Pirandello Lyceum. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Dr. Domenic G. Amara, PhD, was the former Academic Superintendent for Middle and K-8 schools of the Boston Public School District. Prior to that role, he was the principal of the Warren Prescott K-8 School in Charlestown for 21 years after teaching science in the East Boston High School.

He was a Captain in the Massachusetts Guard, a former publisher of two weekly newspapers in Boston, a Science Department Head, and a Science Curriculum Developer with the Boston Schools and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Chemistry at Boston University, his Master’s Degree at the University of Massachusetts, and his Ph.D. in Science Curriculum Development at Boston College.

Since his retirement from the Boston Public Schools, Dr. Amara had become an international consultant to educators in over 30 countries. He is the co-founder of the Nené Aissatou Diallo School and Medical clinic in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa.

Dr. Amara has been awarded several public service awards including the Massachusetts Educator Award and the Shattuck Public Service Award.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.