In Memoriam: Zina Tillona, 1929-2018

Zina Tillona, professor emerita of Italian at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, passed away on December 6, 2018. She was 89 years old.

Dr. Tillona first taught at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1951 as an instructor in Romance languages. From 1955 to 1957, she was a Fulbright scholar in Rome, where she studied at the University of Rome and taught English at the Center for American Studies. She went on to teach Italian at Wellesley College in suburban Boston from 1960 to 1964 and at Boston University from 1964 to 1966 before returning to Amherst in 1966 as professor of Italian and head of the Italian language program. From 1972 to 1979 she also served as an administrator, first as acting associate provost and then as special assistant to the chancellor. She retired in 1986.

After Dr. Tillona retired from her career in higher education, she spent two decades practicing law in Hadley and Amherst, Massachusetts. Her practice included family law, elder law, guardianship, and criminal defense. She was also active in public affairs, serving the Town of Amherst as a member of its zoning board of appeals, the charter commission, and Town Meeting.

Dr. Tillona held a bachelor’s degree in Italian language and literature from Hunter College of the City University of New York, a master’s degree in Italian literature from Wellesley College, a doctorate in Italian from Middlebury College in Vermont, and a juris doctorate from Western New England University School of Law.