Madeleine Cecilia Tantillo Meyerson

July 17, 1949 - March 5, 2020

Madeleine Cecilia Tantillo Meyerson,70, of New York City, NY,entered into rest March 5, 2020. In consideration of the extraordinary circumstances associated with the Coronavirus, the family will hold a private funeral service for Ms. Meyerson on Saturday. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date. Madeleine Cecilia Tantillo Meyerson was born on July 17th, 1949 in Augusta Ga. to parents Clara Punaro Tantillo and Anthony Tantillo. She was the 3rd of nine children Nina, Thomas, Antoinette, Teresa, Angela, Anthony, Mario, and Augustine. She was named after her maternal grandmother Madelene Campiglia Punaro. She graduated from Our Lady of Peace School in 1963 and from Aquinas High School in 1967. She received a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Augusta College in 1971, now Augusta University. Having studied voice with her dear Aunt Teresa in her formative years, she was awarded a music scholarship to Memphis State University to study with the renowned opera singer Mignon Dunn from 1971-73. She went to Europe, where she studied voice under Aldo Azzali at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan in Italy. In 1977, she moved to New York City and received her master’s degree in English from Hunter College. She married Richard Meyerson in 1986 and they had two children, Chloé and David Meyerson. The newest member of her family is Miya Takama, a loving daughter-in-law. Madeleine taught English as a second language and was an academic counselor for over 25 years at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC before retiring to Charleston, S.C. with her caring companion of 7 years, Morton Tender. Madeleine played many roles in her life, daughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, wife, mother, mother-in-law, and teacher. She always considered her greatest accomplishment being the mother of her two wonderful and loving children. In every endeavor, she demonstrated a keen intellect, fierce independence, a strong work-ethic, generosity, moral courage, and compassion for her family and everyone in her life. She will be forever remembered for many wonderful characteristics; her physical and spiritual beauty, her skilled musical voice which graced us all through life, her love of family and its holistic contribution to her life, her daring for adventure and travel, her biting wit and sense of humor and most of all the endless purity of her generosity to all no matter who. She will be greatly missed and forever cherished. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart Cultural Center, 1301 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901 or The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, 720 Telfair Street, Augusta, GA 30901.