Joseph Nicholas Macaluso Sr., Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, a retired U.S. Army colonel, college professor, counselor, musician and businessman, died of natural causes on Sept. 29, 2024. He was 96½ years old, surrounded by his loving family. He was a native New Orleanian and a recent resident of Boerne, Texas.
His parents, Frances Mary Calabrise Macaluso and Nicholas Joseph Macaluso Sr., and brothers, Ephen Joseph Macaluso and Nicholas Joseph Macaluso Jr., preceded him. Also, his wife of 35 years, Genevieve Zelie Viering Macaluso (daughter of Hon. Henry P. and Zelie Maguire Viering, former mayor of Gretna, Louisiana). Also by his wife of 30 years, Sarah (Sally) Reynolds Macaluso.
He is survived by his son, Dr. Joseph N. Macaluso, Jr. daughter-in-law Bette Renée Langston Macaluso, of Boerne; granddaughters Christina Macaluso Hammock (Christopher; and great-grandchildren Sophia Renée, Julia Michelle, and Connor Henry Michael Hammock) of Boerne, Texas; Elizabeth Macaluso Barrabee (Matthew; and great-grandchildren Luke Joseph and Nicholas Matthew Barrabee) of Broomall, Pennsylvania; and Emily Frances Macaluso Mertes (Michael) of Chicago, Illinois;
Sister-in-law Anne R. Macaluso; stepsons, Jeffery (Roxanne), Michael (Suzi), Timothy (Evelyn), and Paul Scott (Darlene); stepdaughters Kathleen Scott Kotch (Greg) and Maureen Scott; step-grandchildren Brandon, Kelly (Brent), Rachel and Joseph Scott, Matthew Benjamin Kotch, George Paul Scott, Ryan Rasco and step-great granddaughters (twins) Stella and Norah Murch, Greeleigh, and step-great grandsons Dillon Walter Scott and Henry Murch.
He is also survived by his nephews, Michael (Staci), Tim (Tracey), and Nicholas (Janine) Macaluso; nephews Steve (Lisa) Viering; and nieces Paulette V. Carlin (Robert), Carol V. Hourcade (Steve), and Sandra Massey (Lloyd); 1st cousins Mary Louise Catanese and Lena Mae Catanese Delger, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A native of the New Orleans Westbank (Algiers), Col. Macaluso served on active duty at the end of World War II as a Yeoman 3rd Class in the U. S. Coast Guard. In 1949-1950, he was a member of the Louisiana National Guard's 39th Infantry Division Band. In 1951, he received his U. S. Army Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant from Loyola University.
He was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served in Korea as a 1st Lieutenant and a military police security officer with the 8th U. S. Army and with the United Nations Command-Military Armistice Commission (UNC-MAC) at Panmunjom, Korea. He served in the U. S. Army Reserve after the Korean War in the 389th MP Bn and as Provost Marshall of the 1190th TCU.
His last assignment before retirement was as Commanding Officer of the 1190th DCU (Deployment Control Unit) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and as Intermediate Commander for the 122nd Army Command in Little Rock, Arkansas. As Intermediate Commander, he oversaw the administration and training for six USAR units throughout Louisiana.
He retired in 1981 with 34 years of military service as a military police security officer and an official U.S. Army logistician. Macaluso was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, the Defense Strategy Seminar at the Army War College, and the "National Security Management Course" of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (Washington, D. C.) and numerous Military Police and Transportation Basic and Advanced Courses.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, WW II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation in Korea, and the Korean War Service Medal.
Macaluso was an educator, attended Belleville (Edna Karr as principal) and Behrman Elementary Public schools in Algiers, and graduated from St. Aloysius High School (1945, under principal Brother Martin). He received a bachelor's degree of music, master's degree in counseling, and an educational administration degrees from Loyola University and a doctorate in philosophy in educational administration/leadership from the University of Southern Mississippi.
He taught in the public school systems of St. Charles, Plaquemines, and Orleans parishes for 25 years, serving as band director, choral director, social studies teacher, counselor, curriculum coordinator, and assistant principal. Upon retiring in 1977, he was the owner and president of Campo Music Westbank and later Macaluso Music Inc. in Terrytown until 1987.
He was a full professor of education and business, Professor Emeritus, and coordinator of the Master of Educational Administration and Supervision Program at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans and an adjunct professor at Northwood University’s (Midland, Michigan) extension program at the Naval Support Activity in Algiers and Naval Air Station, Belle Chasse.
As a musician and trumpet player, he played with the Rene Louope Orchestra for several years for carnival balls and hotel dances, the Herb Tassin Orchestra, and with the Courtland Day Orchestra. For 38 years, he was one of the two official Herald Trumpeters for Rex and Comus Court meetings.
He also had a private music studio for many years. His most recent musical position was as a music teacher at the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts Music School in Mandeville and Covington.
In addition, Macaluso was a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who maintained a small private practice for mental health and a marriage and family therapist. He also supervised counselors and marriage and family interns working on their LPC and LMFT licenses. He also was an external evaluator of new teachers for the State of Louisiana in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany parishes.
Macaluso was a life member of the Reserve Officers Association, life member of the Knights of Columbus Council 9107, St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, member of the Westbank and Mandeville-NorthPark Rotary clubs, past President and member of Algiers Kiwanis Club and Vice President of the Jefferson Kiwanis Club; Contessa Entellina Society member; member of the Italian American Society of Jefferson and the Italian Heritage Society on the Northshore; member of the ROMEOs (Retired Old Men Eating Out) and the Abita Springs Men's Club; and member of the Mayor's Military Advisory Committee of Greater New Orleans, chairman of the Lifestyle subcommittee. The MMAC presented him with the Andrew Jackson Higgins Award for Exceptional Leadership in 2001, the Malcolm Schwartzenback Memorial Award in 2002, and Outstanding Service Awards in 1999 and 2002.
Macaluso was a member of the Association of Teacher Educators and Louisiana Association of Teacher Educators; American Counseling Association; Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA); and past President of LACES, the Louisiana Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors.
In 1991, he was selected as the LCA's outstanding division president and LACES president. Chi Sigma Iota of LCA named him an exceptional supervisor. The Contessa Entellina Society selected him for the Civic Award 2002 and the Double Eagle Award 2010.
He was past president of the St. Andrew the Apostle School Board, past president of the St. Andrew The Apostle Parish Council, and president of the Louisiana Association of Teacher Educators. In 1989, he received the Order of St. Louis Medal from Archbishop Schulte for his work in the Parish of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Algiers.
Macaluso was a devout Catholic who loved his faith, the Holy Eucharist, and the Word. He was an altar boy at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church in Algiers for 10 years and a CYO member at Holy Name of Mary. He boxed for the Holy Name of Mary CYO and was a CYO Drum & Bugle Corps member at Holy Name of Mary.
He was a Knights of Columbus Council no. 9107 member and a Eucharistic minister at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Algiers, Mary Queen of Peace in Mandeville, and St. Peters in Covington. He was a Word of the Liturgy lector for preschool children at Sunday's Mass for years.
Ebensberger Fisher Funeral Home in Boerne, Texas, will coordinate with Mothe Funeral Homes in New Orleans for services. Visitation will be at Mothe Funeral Home in New Orleans (Algiers) from 6-9 p.m. October 6, 2024; a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, New Orleans (Algiers). Visitation at the church begins at 9 a.m., followed by Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Cemetery, Gretna, Louisiana.
A Mass of celebration will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church at 5 p.m. Oct. 16, 2024, preceded by the Rosary at 4:30 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Morningside of Boerne on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, at 3:30 p.m.
The family wishes to thank the entire staff and administration at Cibolo House at Morningside in Boerne and Alamo Hospice for their outstanding care and concern during these difficult days.
Instead of flowers, donations are requested for: Manresa House of Retreats, Convent, Louisiana https://www.manresala.org/retreats/donations.
Dr. Joseph N. Macaluso, Jr. ’71 Family Scholarship, Brother Martin High School https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/30305/donations/new?amt=100.00.
The New St. Peter Catholic School Capital Campaign (Boerne, Texas) https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Form/49329d85-6fc0-4f5d-bf89-36b5ed375569.
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