During the Family Mass celebrated at Saint Joseph Basilica on Sunday, October 4, Saint Joseph School recognized Antonio “Tony” Marcuccio as the recipient of the 2026 Saint Joseph the Worker Volunteer of the Year Award.
Presented annually, the award honors an individual whose generosity, talents, and commitment have made a meaningful difference in the lives of students. Recipients embody the qualities of Saint Joseph through humility, service, faithfulness, and dedication to hard work.
Born and raised in Southington, Connecticut, Marcuccio moved to Killingly in 1992 and graduated from Killingly High School in 1996. He and his wife, Katie, now live in Thompson with their sons. Jacob graduated from Saint Joseph School in 2026 and now attends Marianapolis Preparatory School, while Johnny is currently in seventh grade at Saint Joseph School.
Marcuccio rarely misses a field trip, school play, athletic event, or opportunity to help. He began coaching intramural basketball in 2022 and continued for three seasons before becoming an assistant coach for the JV boys’ basketball team. He has also coached fall cross-country. When spring cross-country needed coaches, Tony and Katie immediately stepped forward. This year, Tony will serve as the varsity boys’ basketball coach.
“If you see Mr. Marcuccio at a Saint Joseph athletic event, he is usually wearing a hat,” said Athletic Director John Kottori. “As a volunteer in the athletic program, Mr. Marcuccio has worn many hats. Each hat is a sign of his dedication to supporting all of the students in our community.”
Kottori described Marcuccio as a “champion volunteer” and a role model whose selfless service strengthens the athletic program and demonstrates the school’s mission through his actions.
Marcuccio’s contributions extend well beyond coaching. He regularly assists with setting up and breaking down intramural games. Drawing upon his 28 years of experience in the construction industry, he repaired large openings left in the school’s exterior brickwork when ventilation ducts were removed during the conversion of the former kitchen into a STEM lab. He also repaired the school’s front steps after they were vandalized.
During the winter, Marcuccio could often be found at school late at night or as early as 4 or 5 a.m., shoveling and snow blowing the entrance and sidewalks so students and staff could enter safely. These are only the acts of service known to school administrators; there are undoubtedly many other ways he has quietly assisted the athletic program, teachers, and school community.
Marcuccio has never asked for reimbursement or recognition. He simply continues to ask what more he can do.
During the presentation, Principal Beth Boudreau recalled the time Bishop Robert J. McManus drew Marcuccio’s winning raffle ticket during the Migration Mass. When Marcuccio was called to the office over the intercom, he arrived apprehensively, believing he was in trouble with the principal. This time, Boudreau assured him, he was once again being called forward for a very good reason.
The presentation also included a lighthearted reference to Marcuccio’s devotion to the Buffalo Bills, who were playing the New England Patriots that day. Boudreau joked that honoring a Bills fan in Patriots country proved that “Christian charity truly has no limits.”
“But all football rivalries aside, there is no question that Tony has always been on Saint Joseph School’s team,” Boudreau said. “We are incredibly fortunate to have him.”
“I love the Saint Joseph School community,” Marcuccio said. “I think, as a whole, we really stand out compared to other schools. That is special, and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Saint Joseph School is deeply grateful for Marcuccio’s humble and generous service and is blessed to honor him as the 2026 Saint Joseph the Worker Volunteer of the Year.
