Panunzio, Constantine M. (Constantine Maria), 1884-1964

Italian-American sociologist.

Biography

Constantine Panunzio (1884-1964) was born in Molfetta, Italy. He arrived in the United States in 1902, and after some difficult years as a struggling immigrant, he entered Kent's Hill Academy in Maine. He received his A.B. from Wesleyan University in 1911 and a M.A. in 1912. He then enrolled in the Boston University School of Theology and earned the S.T.B. in 1914. He served as pastor in several Methodist churches in Massachusetts and he was superintendent of Social Service House, Boston, from 1915-1917; from 1917 to 1918 he served as general organizer of the YMCA on the Italian front during World War I. In 1925 he earned the Ph.D. degree at the Brookings Graduate School of Economics and Government, and was appointed assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1931, where he remained until he retired as professor of sociology in 1951. His published works include three books and two research monographs. In 1931-33, Panunzio was president of the Pacific South-western Academy; in 1934-35, president of the Pacific Sociological Society. In 1939, he participated in the founding of the Mazzini Society; in 1940 he was designated by the New York World's Fair Committee as among the foreign-born who have made outstanding contributions to American culture. In 1961 he received the Wesleyan University Distinguished Alumnus award.

Expanded Biographical Note

Constantine Panunzio (1884-1964) was born in Molfetta, Italy. He arrived in the United States in 1902, and after some difficult years as a struggling immigrant, he entered Kent's Hill Academy in Maine. He received his A.B. from Wesleyan University in 1911 and a M.A. in 1912. He then enrolled in the Boston University School of Theology and earned the S.T.B. in 1914. He served as pastor in several Methodist churches in Massachusetts and he was superintendent of Social Service House, Boston, from 1915-1917; from 1917 to 1918 he served as general organizer of the YMCA on the Italian front during World War I. In 1925 he earned the Ph.D. degree at the Brookings Graduate School of Economics and Government, and was appointed assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1931, where he remained until he retired as professor of sociology in 1951.

His published works include three books and two research monographs. In 1931-33, Panunzio was president of the Pacific South-western Academy; in 1934-35, president of the Pacific Sociological Society. In 1939, he participated in the founding of the Mazzini Society; in 1940 he was designated by the New York World's Fair Committee as among the foreign-born who have made outstanding contributions to American culture. In 1961 he received the Wesleyan University Distinguished Alumnus award.

In the last dozen years of his life, Dr. Panunzio was instrumental in bringing about a substantial increase in the stipends of colleagues already retired at the University of California, in improving the retirement system at UC, and in discovering what the situation was for other retirees at institutions throughout the United States by launching a nationwide emeriti census in 1954. He died on August 6, 1964.

From Gordon H. Ball, et. al, "Constantine Maria Panunzio, Anthropology and Sociology: Los Angeles," in University of California: In Memoriam, April 1966.