Silvio Latassa was born in Fabrizia, Italy, in August of 1932 and emigrated to the United States in 1947. After serving in the U.S. Army, he received his bachelor's degree in teaching from Iona College and his master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

In 1962, Silvio was hired by the William Floyd School District to teach foreign languages. He eventually became head of the department, a position he held for many years. While he was certified to teach many different languages, Latin was his first love. William Floyd’s hallways took on a Roman flair on the Ides of March, as he was known to give extra credit to students who wore a toga to class that day.

In 1965, Silvio, along with nine other teachers, founded the William Floyd Teachers Union, and he was proud to serve as its first president. 

Silvio introduced soccer to William Floyd, creating the first boys’ team in 1974. He served as head coach until his retirement in 1988, earning several championships as well as “Suffolk County Coach of the Year” honors several times.

Silvio and his wife, Virginia, were a part of the local community for more than 30 years. Silvio was a Venerable at the Sons of Italy Lodge and Virginia was one of the founding members of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library. In this community, especially at William Floyd High School, they both made lifelong friends. Teachers, staff, and students became not only friends, but family.

Silvio retired from William Floyd High School in 1988 and spent several happy years with Virginia at their lake house in VA before her passing in 1993.

After marrying Antoinette Delfino, Silvio spent his last 25 years enjoying life with her big, Italian family. Silvio passed away in January 2020 and is missed by everyone who knew him, including his daughter, Judith Ann and her husband Rick, Silvio’s wife, Antoinette, and her children Anthony, Dawn, Donna, Rocky, Cindy, Domenick, Lucretia, and Joe, along with all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.