Henry S. Cembalisty, 91, of New Bedford, died Thursday, April 16, 2015 at St. Luke's Hospital. He was the husband of the late Pauline (Soltys) Cembalisty and the son of the late Stanley and Sophie (Gorczyca) Cembalisty.
Born in New Bedford, Mr. Cembalisty graduated from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and New Bedford Vocational High School. Upon completion of his service to his country during World War II, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Education from Fitchburg State Teachers College and his Master's of Education Degree from Columbia University. He completed many summer programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Boston College and Wellesley College.
Mr. Cembalisty worked as a teacher and supervisor in education for over 40 years. He taught at Normandin Junior High School and New Bedford High School. He helped organize, and was the first principal of New Bedford Evening High School. He was recruited to become the Science Department Head at Seekonk High School and subsequently served in the same position at Attleboro High School. He went on to become the principal of East Bridgewater High School and the Academic Coordinator at Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical High School. Mr. Cembalisty's last position was that of Academic Supervisor at the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School from which he retired in 1987.
Mr. Cembalisty served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Private First Class in the Hawaiian and Caroline Islands, including Peleliu.
He was a lifelong communicant of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and served as a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist for many years.
Survivors include his son Richard H. Cembalisty and wife Clara of Rochester, NH; his son Michael S. Cembalisty of Taunton, MA; his sister Barbara Dziuba and her husband Joseph of Rochester, MA and his sister Dorothy Barton and her husband William of Freetown, MA. He is also survived by five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister Reneta "Renee" Baker.
His Funeral will be held on Tuesday at 9:30 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 10:30 AM. Burial with military honors will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Bernard's Parish Men's Group, P.O. Box 370, Assonet, MA 02702-0370. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.