Julia Gargiulo

     Julia Gargiulo, who had been a social worker with the elderly in Greenwich, Conn., and a psychotherapist, died on Friday in Stamford, Conn. Ms. Gargiulo, who lived in East Hampton from 1994 to 2006, was 78 and had ovarian cancer.

    Before turning to social work, Ms. Gargiulo had been a professor of English at Pace University. She and her husband, Gerald J. Gargiulo, practiced marriage counseling in addition to having separate therapy practices. They had been married since 1964.

    Ms. Gargiulo was born in New York City to Julius and Connie Attanassio Caldiero on Feb. 12, 1933. She grew up in Brooklyn and attended Brooklyn College before doing graduate work at Columbia and Fordham Universities. She received a Master of Arts degree with honors from Columbia and a master’s in social work from Fordham. Her family said she had brought dedication and acumen to each of her professions.

    Ms. Gargiulo was interested in politics and dedicated to social justice. She enjoyed poetry and art as well as caring for her family and entertaining friends. Her family praised her “vitality, graciousness, generosity, and humor.”

    She is survived by her husband, two children, Paul Gargiulo of Greenwich, Conn., and Connie Alimena of West-chester, as well as two grandchildren and three siblings, who are Michael Caldiero of New Jersey, Clem Caldiero of Brooklyn, and Marie Caldiero of Westchester.

    A funeral service was held at the Leo P. Gallagher and Son Funeral Home in Stamford on Tuesday.