Celeste Coruzzi

Celeste Coruzzi, 65, left this world on June 14, 2024 in NYC. Adored wife of David Kupiec and devoted mother to Giovanna, Lucia and Olivia Coruzzi Kupiec. Cherished sister of Laura and Gloria Coruzzi; loving sister-in-law to Robert Schneider, Douglas Daly, and Marli Rupe. Beloved aunt to Eva Schneider and Nick Cassab-Gheta; Aidan, Shelby, and Zelda Daly; Kim and Krista Rupe. Celeste was the force uniting the Coruzzi, Sarro, Schneider, Daly, Kupiec, and Fordham families.

Born on March 31, 1959, Celeste, the youngest daughter of Hugo and Lucy Coruzzi, completed a trio of pearls: Laura, Gloria, and “Celeste the best.” Known for her energy and fun-loving spirit, Celeste met Dave at Fordham in 1980. They shared 44 years of life and love, and raised three celestial daughters who excel in careers spanning the environment, event production and law.

Celeste earned a PhD in Psychology from Columbia University and had a distinguished career as a Corporate Consultant, working with executives at NASA, IBM, the BBC, British Airways, and other Fortune 500 firms. She began at Warner Burke Associates, moving to partner roles at PwC, Mercer Delta, and Pearl-Meyer. She founded three independent consulting companies and was Adjunct Full Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at Columbia Teachers College.

Celeste lived and loved music. She attended Henry Street Music School, the High School of Music and Art, sang in Fordham’s choral group, and formed the Satin Dolls, singing standards at NYC clubs. Celeste’s Country/Western repertoire graced any campfire, where Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson ruled! She passed the gift of music to her three girls.

Since 1994, Celeste found her second home at Yankee Lake, and it was always the place that gave her peace, quiet, beauty and nature away from the bustle of New York City.

A Celebration Mass will be held on June 19 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 25 Carmine Street, NYC, 10014. Celeste wished for donations in her memory to be made to CureSearch for Children’s Cancer research (https://curesearch.org).