Mary Ann Angotti has been added to the honorees for this year’s Irish Legends Gala which will take place on Saturday, March 24 at Via Veneto in Bridgeport.

Mary Ann Basile Angotti attended Saint Francis Borgia grade school in Anmoore, West Virginia and graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in 1944. Mary Ann is the daughter of the late Antonio and Vincenza Perri Basile, well-known merchants in Clarksburg for over 50 years. It was her Italian American parents that inspired and encouraged Mary Ann to pursue a career in music. In 1956 Mary Ann married the late John B. Angotti and they had four children -Robert Anthony(’76), Mary Elizabeth (’80), John B. II (St. Joseph’s Seminary ’81), and Mary Ann II (’84). Mary Ann began her career in music at the age of 7 when she began taking piano lessons from Sister Eileen (Congregation of Saint Joseph) at St. Francis Borgia grade school. At the age of 11 she was the church organist for Saint Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Anmoore; her pay was a “Milky Way Bar.” During her days at St Mary’s High School, she manned the organ at Immaculate Conception Church. Through the years Mary Ann played for numerous masses weddings and funerals musically touching countless lives of the parish. Angotti furthered her mastery of the organ by studying at the prestigious New York’s Pius X School of Liturgical Music. On her retirement of 70 years of service, Father Casey Mahone arranged the ultimate Act of recognition – a Papal Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI. Angotti’s passion for music touched the lives of her children John II, Bob, and Mary Beth. The musical nurturing at an early age was influential to their musical development. John Angotti II, has become a worldwide music missionary delivering contemporary inspirational music across the globe. Bob Angotti was a 12-year member of the US Navy Band and Mary Beth Angotti became an established church organist. Beyond her family, countless other children and adults have benefited from Mary Ann’s musical talents. She taught a total of 50 years from her home based studio and award-winning pianists and Broadway musicians have resulted. In her retirement she reflects on her family, fellow parishioners and musical colleagues by playing on the numerous pianos in her studio.