Family pays tribute to former teacher Gaetano ‘Mr G’ Gugliotta

The family of a beloved former Darwin teacher who enriched the lives of children for almost 40 years has paid tribute to a husband and father. Read how he is being remembered.

Even when Gaetano Gugliotta retired and moved to the Gold Coast, the beloved Darwin teacher was still recognised.

After some small talk in a cafe and learning Mr Gugliotta was a retired teacher from the Territory, a worker recognised him as “Mr G” from Darwin.

It was an indication of just how many lives the educator, who taught at Nakara Primary School for almost 40 years, had touched, his wife Helen says remembering her “darling man”.

“I just about fell on the floor,” Mrs Gugliotta said.

Former Nakara Primary School teacher Gaetano Gugliotta died suddenly this week. Picture: Keri Megelus

“He endeared himself to everyone.

Mr Gugliotta started working at Nakara Primary School as a 23-year-old fresh out of Darwin Community College.

Ms Gugliotta met her husband while he was teaching her younger sister at Nakara Primary School and the two quickly hit it off.

“He was the first person I met in Darwin,” Mrs Gugliotta said.

Gaetano Gugliotta had enjoyed his favourite hobby of fishing during his retirement. Picture: Supplied

Ms Gugliotta said before his death her husband had been battling stage four bowel cancer since being diagnosed in August, but true to form “Mr G” maintained a positive outlook.

“We felt that he was going to be giving it a real good crack,” she said.

The Gugliotta’s were married for almost 40 years after meeting in Darwin. Picture: Supplied.

“We really felt that we were starting to kick some goals there.”

In retirement, Mr Gugliotta enjoyed his favourite hobbies of fishing and playing the trumpet, which he had done for the Darwin City Brass Band, as well as working with his son Michael’s mentoring company.

“We travelled around and did lots of little road trips and holidays and just really, really enjoying life,” Ms Gugliotta said.

“We had a lot, lot more life to live.”

Gaetano Gugliotta loved to play the trumpet, and enjoyed spending more time on the pastime in retirement.

Ahead of his retirement in 2019, Mr Gugliotta told the NT News he was proud to be “a one-club man” after his almost four-decade stint at the Nakara Primary School.

“In my time so many things have changed around me, and I’ve grown along with the school” he said.

Ms Gugliotta said there had been an outpouring of grief from her husband’s former students since his death on Tuesday.

“They remember him and refer to him as the best teacher that they ever had,” she said.

Gaetano Gugliotta reading to students ahead of his retirement in 2019. Picture: Keri Megelus

“His dedication to it all is just out of this world.”

Mr Gugliotta’s son Anthony said his father could often be found fishing at Buffalo Creek or jogging around Karama.

Mr Gugliotta’s funeral will be held on the Gold Coast on Friday, with the service to be livestreamed.

The family will hold a memorial for Mr Gugliotta at Buffalo Creek early next year.

Originally published as Family pays tribute to former teacher Gaetano ‘Mr G’ Gugliotta