In honor of an amazing and wonderful wife, mother and dance teacher - Myra (Sabatino) Santoro, 89, of Punta Gorda, FL (formerly of Hamden, CT), passed away on August 21, 2023. Myra was born on December 13, 1933, in New Haven, CT, to the late Edward and Edith Sabatino.
As a child, she spent her early years taking dancing lessons at Madame Annette's school of dance in New Haven. Upon her graduation from Wilbur Cross High School, she worked briefly at the New Haven phone company. She married her beloved husband, Ralph Santoro, Jr. on November 24, 1953. Shortly thereafter her husband went into the Army to serve his country. While he was away, she realized dance was still calling her name. So with the help of her father-in-law, who obtained the lease on a building, in late 1953, her dream was realized and her dance studio was born under the name, Myra's Dance Studio, on Chapel Street in New Haven. As the studio grew in enrollment, Myra moved from location to location until eventually settling the school in Hamden, CT. Of course, Ralph Jr. had returned home after his service to the country, and she became a loving wife, a wonderful mother to her 4 boys, as well as balancing her full-time schedule at her dance studio!
In the late 1950's she became a member of 2 distinguished dance teacher's organizations: Dance Educators of America and Dance Masters of America. She had the privilege to serve on the Board of Directors for Dance Educators of America, and in the 2000's was elected to serve as President of the Organization. She was there in the beginning when Dance competitions began to flourish in the late 1970's. Over the years her students were consistent winners in competition on both the regional and national levels. Even after retiring in 1997 (and continuing through 2010), Myra traveled the country as the coordinator for Dance Educators of America, hosting and managing weekend competitions and workshops. She loved that she was still meeting so many Teachers, Students and Families that all shared the same thing - The Love of Dance.

Myra's inspiring children's work became her legacy and still exists under the name American Dance Experience which is celebrating it's 70th season in Hamden.

Through the years, she trained students of the highest quality and many of her students went on to perform with the New Haven Civic Ballet, now known as the New Haven Ballet. She also could proudly see her many students become professional performers on Broadway, on Cruise Ships, in Dinner Theaters, as well as in Regional Theaters and National Touring companies across the nation. And how she beamed when she saw her students who had become Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall.

She also never forgot her many former students who went on to have wonderful careers as Doctors, Lawyers, School teachers, and Administrators.

As if she wasn't busy enough, she also served the Hamden community by entertaining seniors at various senior homes; participating in the annual Memorial Day parades dancing down Dixwell Avenue; and taking her senior dancers to perform at the world-famous Steel Pier in Atlantic City in a talent show called Tony Grant's Stars of Tomorrow.

In 2013, Myra moved permanently to her beloved condo in Punta Gorda, Florida with her son, Mark, who cared for her until her passing.
She is survived by her loving sons, Ralph Santoro of Prospect, CT, Edward Santoro of Hamden CT, and Mark Santoro of Punta Gorda, FL. She is also survived by her sister, Evelyn Altschuler of Wallingford, CT; and her sister- in-law, Anna Marie Sabatino of East Haven, CT. Myra was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Santoro Jr., her son, Scott Santoro of Waterbury, CT, and her brother, Edward Sabatino of East Haven, CT.

She was an exceptional mother and loving woman who adored her family, friends, and dance students, and always demonstrated her love, compassion, and generosity to all. What a wonderful life!! Thank You Myra.

A visitation will be held on Friday September 22, 2023 at Hamden Memorial Funeral Home, 1300 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden CT from 9am-11am. Interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery, North Haven. Condolences may be expressed at Hamdenmemorialfuneralhome.com.