Born in Pelham, New York, Tita Monti began playing the piano as a child and performed at Carnegie Hall when she was only 11. As her singing voice matured into that of a dramatic soprano, she gave up the piano to study and coach voice at Manhattan’s prestigious Julliard School of Music. There she met and married fellow coach, Joseph Monti, a tenor. Mrs. Monti taught school for a decade and then raised three children – Carolyn, Don, and Richard.

   Throughout the years, philanthropic dedication has been paramount in Mrs. Monti’s life. Her major interest and involvement, however, is the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation which she and her husband founded in 1972 following the tragic death of their 16-year-old son, Don of myeloblastic leukemia. Tita and Joseph Monti personally underwrite all administrative costs of the Foundation. Mrs. Monti’s door is always open to speak with patients and their families. She can be found working in her office at North Shore University Hospital five days a week.

   Since then, the Foundation has raised more than $20 million to support research, education, physician fellowships, and patient care at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset where the Don Monti Division of Oncology/ Hematology, the Don Monti Memorial Research Laboratory, and the Don Monti Adult Bone Marrow Unit are located. Most recently, six more Don Monti Cancer Centers have been created at North Shore University Hospital at Plainview, Glen Cove and Forest Hills, as well as at Huntington Hospital, Southside Hospital, and Franklin Hospital Medical Center.

   In addition to the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation, Mrs. Monti is a patron of the Metropolitan Opera, a benefactor of Long Island University’s Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, a member of the International Executive Board of Boys Town and Girls Town of Italy, a member of the Board of Directors of La Salle Center, and President of the Don Monti Memorial Research Foundation and actively works with the Don Monti Division of Medical Oncology at North Shore University Hospital.

   In honor of her outstanding service, Mrs. Monti has been made a Benefactor (S.F.S.C.) of the Christian Brothers of Rhode Island, and received the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; the Great Neck Service Award for outstanding Community Service; the Theodore Roosevelt Award from the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council; Mrs. Monti worked on Governor Cuomo’s Volunteer Service Commission in Albany and was then awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award from New York State presented by former Governor Mario Cuomo. She also received a special award for dedicated service from Boys Town of Italy on the occasion of its 35^th anniversary and was presented with a Presidential Award from North Shore University Hospital to mark its medical school affiliation. Mrs. Monti has been very active within the Greek community throughout the years. The Long Island Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives has honored Mr. and Mrs. Monti as Long Island’s 1989 Outstanding Philanthropists.

   Mrs. Monti has been nominated and selected to receive the 1998 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award – a Medal which is presented to outstanding American citizens from all walks of life who have distinguished themselves among their specific ethnic groups, Mrs. Monti being of Greek heritage. She will accept the award at a ceremony on May 9, 1998. On May 10, 1998, the Monti’s will be receiving honorary doctorates from Long Island University in recognition of their contributions to cancer care research, education and philanthropy.

   The Montis are residents of Sands Point, Long Island, New York for the past four decades. They are the proud parents of Caroline Monti Saladino and Richard Monti, and have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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