Victor Gugliuzza
December 22, 1921 – July 29, 2011
Victor Gugliuzza, affectionately known to many in IFAFA as one of “the Victors” along with his long-time companion Victor Peck, was born Victory Roy Gugliuzza in 1921. He grew up with two sisters and a brother, all of whom predeceased him.
During World War II, he served in the Army for four years, including two years in Saipan in the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific, near Guam.
Returning from the Army, he attended Kansas City University where he completed his Masters Degree in Art. He worked at several advertising firms before settling in at Western Auto Supply Company where he worked for 28 years. While working at Western Auto, he travelled four times to Europe where he made contacts with people for portrait work. He now has drawings in England, Wales, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, and, outside Europe, in the Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and the Canary Islands.
His drawing career came to a halt when doctors found cancer in his right eye, which was surgically removed to prevent the cancer spreading. Unable to draw, he took to using the computer to create paper sculptures, which he did until the last few months of his life.
Victor also discovered an interest in International folk dancing, which he enjoyed for more than 40 years. He danced several times a week and gave instructional programs. For 15 years, he specialized in Dutch folk dance, wearing wooden shoes. Then he taught Italian folk dance for three years. Long after he was unable to dance, he, with Vic Peck, attended IFAFA Conferences to provide whatever support they could.
Together “the Victors” collected international folk music from many sources, specializing in versions of schottisches from around the world. They were also instrumental in transferring all of the dance instruction sessions from past IFAFA conference tapes and compiling them onto DVDs.
Victor’s gentle, smiling face will be greatly missed.