Hugo Fiora

Hugo Fiora, Associate Professor Emeritus of Millersville University, passed away at Quarryville Presbyterian Community on Monday, October 31

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, 2011.  He was born on October 14, 1916 in Dennison, OH where he  spent his youth.  In 1939, he began his  college education at the Ohio State University earning a B.S. degree in Industrial Arts.  After graduation, Mr.  Fiora proudly served his country in the 578

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and 597

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Signal  Air Warning Battalions, US Army Air Corps, as a radar technician in the South  Pacific during World War II.  Upon discharge he returned to Ohio State to earn a Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in  Fine Arts.

Mr. Fiora moved to Lancaster County in 1956 to begin a  26-year teaching career at Millersville University in the Industrial Arts  Department.  Although he taught many  courses, he was best known for his pottery classes and the ceramics laboratory  that he developed for the University.

Over the years, Mr. Fiora won awards for his art work, which included pottery, wood and marble sculpture, and oil and watercolor

paintings.  He was a member of the Industrial Arts Association of Pennsylvania, a longtime member and past  president of the Conestoga Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, a  lifetime member of the York Town Chapter of the Guild, and participated in the Art  Associations of both Lancaster and York Counties.  At Landis Valley Museum and at local craft  fairs, he routinely Demonstrated on the potter’s wheel.  After retiring from Millersville in 1982, Mr.  Fiora continued to teach classes at the York Town chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

Hugo and his wife Verna enjoyed travelling throughout the  United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Africa and many of the European countries,  as well as countries in South America and the Caribbean Islands.  Hugo enjoyed photography and continued his

passion for art by painting the beautiful scenery throughout his travels.  Mr. Fiora was predeceased by two brothers and a sister, and

is survived by his wife Verna of Willow Street; a daughter, Janet Cherinka  (Andrew) of Atlantic Beach, FL; a son, Glen Fiora of Miami, FL and a grandson,  Brian Cherinka of Pittsburgh.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a funeral service at Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home, 141 E. Orange St.,  Lancaster, PA on Thursday, November 3

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at 2:00 P.M.  Friends may call at the funeral home on  Thursday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service.  Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be sent  to the charity of one’s choice.