Obituary: Guy Corriero

Guy Corriero

LEWES, Del. – Guy Corriero (Guido Salvatore Corriero Jr.) was born on July 7, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York, and died peacefully on July 17, 2026, in Lewes, Delaware. He was the eldest of three children, born to Dr. Guido Salvatore Corriero Sr. and Evelyn Corriero, and was followed by his brother, William, and sister, Letitia.

Guy spent his early childhood in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood, cheering on the Brooklyn Dodgers and proudly claiming that a visiting Babe Ruth once patted him on the head. When his family later moved to Long Beach, Long Island, he found the place that would shape him for life. Summers were spent working as a lifeguard, getting into harmless mischief with his lifelong best friend Larry Elovich, and developing a deep love of the ocean that never left him.

After graduating from Long Beach High School, Guy pursued his passion for art at the School of Visual Arts, The Arts Students League of New York City and C.W. Post College on Long Island where he studied painting under Jules Olitski and sculpture under Pierre Bourdelle. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where his artistic gifts found an unexpected home as an illustrator for the Marine Corps Gazette, the professional journal of the U.S. Marine Corps. Guy remained immensely proud of his service to the country he loved.

In 1959, Guy married his first wife, Anita Leone, in the Marine Corps Chapel at Quantico, Virginia. Together they welcomed two children, Guy Jr. and Gina. Though the marriage did not last, it gave him children he adored.

After completing his military service, Guy began a career as a commercial artist in New York City. During that time, a chance encounter on a summer afternoon on Long Beach changed the course of his life. Guy met Sharon Collins of Silver Creek, N.Y., and despite Guy forgetting his wallet on their first date (a story she loved to tell), she was besotted by the handsome young artist. They were married on Aug. 8, 1964, beginning a partnership that would span more than 60 years.

Guy later earned a master’s degree from Hofstra University and then joined the faculty of SUNY Farmingdale. Soon afterward, he accepted the position of Associate Professor of Art at Herkimer County Community College, relocating to the Mohawk Valley and the town of Ilion, N.Y., where he and Sharon raised their three children: Theodore (Ted), Timothy (Tim), and Amanda (Mandy). During his distinguished career at HCCC he inspired many students and was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1991.

In 2004, Guy and Sharon retired to Portland, settling into a small condominium in the Deering neighborhood. Their quiet cul-de-sac soon became affectionately known by their grandchildren as “Circle Town.” Every summer it transformed into the heart of family life – filled with Grandpa’s pancakes in the morning, takeout from favorite local restaurants (especially Amato’s), children wandering in and out, lively conversations, and laughter gathered around the old oak table.

Their adventurous spirit also led them to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where they purchased a second home to escape the long Maine winters. Guy embraced the city’s vibrant artistic community and enthusiastically attempted to learn Spanish – a goal that always remained delightfully just out of reach.

Art remained the constant thread running through Guy’s life. He painted prolifically, in oils and watercolors and was a proud member of The American Watercolor Society, the Knickerbocker Artists and The Central New York Watercolor Society.

Inspired by Frederick Waugh’s seascapes, he traveled to Monhegan Island, to experience the challenge of painting en plein air. Monhegan’s rugged cliffs, endless ocean, and close-knit community became his lifelong muse. For more than 40 summers, Guy returned to the island to teach painting workshops, sharing not only his considerable talent but also his infectious enthusiasm for seeing beauty in the world. This summer, in a fitting tribute to his remarkable career, the Lupine Gallery have honored him with a one-man exhibition at the Island Inn – an honor Guy knew about and deeply appreciated.

Guy’s interests were as varied as they were wholehearted. Whatever captured his imagination, he pursued with boundless curiosity and determination. He became a licensed amateur radio operator, mastering Morse code and erecting a two-story radio tower in his backyard – much to Sharon’s chagrin. He loved cross-country skiing, spending nearly as much time meticulously waxing his skis as he did gliding through the snowy woods of upstate New York. He spent years trying to perfect his pie crust. Never one to stop learning, he returned to piano lessons as an adult and proudly performed alongside his children at their recitals. He earned his pilot’s license and delighted in flying solo in Cessna airplanes, once again testing Sharon’s nerves. He even hosted local PBS fundraising broadcasts, an experience that inspired him to create a series of educational painting videos to help others discover the joy of art. He took up the guitar later in life, faithfully practicing for years until aging hands reluctantly slowed him down.

Above all, Guy was a man of deep Catholic faith. His love of Christ was evident not only in his words but in the kindness, generosity, humility, and joy with which he lived. Every parish fortunate enough to count him among its members benefited from his quiet service and unwavering faith.

Guy lived with extraordinary enthusiasm. He met the ocean head-on, diving into waves well into his 80’s. He loved to paint and, perhaps even more, loved teaching others to paint. He treasured lifelong friendships, maintaining relationships from every season of his life, and those friends loved him in return. Most of all, he adored his family – especially Sharon, the love of his life, who predeceased him by just one year.

His absence leaves an immeasurable void, but his legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the students he inspired, the paintings he created, the friendships he nurtured, and the countless stories that will continue to be told for years to come.

Guy is survived by his children, Guy Corriero and his wife, Ana Vilarrasa, of New York City; Gina Corriero Kendrick and her husband, John, of Jacksonville, Vermont; Ted Corriero and his wife, Patricia, of Milton, Delaware; Tim Corriero and his wife, Kate, of Novato, California; and Amanda Corriero Gahr and her husband, Matt, of London, England. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren: Katie, Christopher, Andrew, Joseph, Alejandro, Belén, Lucas, Aidan, Audrey, Lexie, Sofia, Ava and Madeline.

A funeral Mass and celebration of life will be held in summer 2027.

To view Guy’s memorial page or to leave an online condolence for the family please visit http://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com.

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