Elvina Gloria Torra, daughter of immigrants Carlo Torra and Pierina Balocca Torra, was born in an apartment in New York City on January 16, 1922.
Elvina attended Hunter College High School (1939) and Hunter College (1943), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Home Economics and Italian. She obtained her Master of Education from New York University (1944) and began her teaching career in the New York City school system. Elvina served as a translator at the Italian Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair and worked as a passenger services representative for Pan American World Airways.
Thanksgiving 1945, Elvina became engaged to William J. Armento. On March 17, 1946, they married at Holy Cross Church in Manhattan, near Times Square.
In 1963, Bill was transferred to San Francisco to head the structural department of the PBQ&D office to design the BART subway project. The family settled in San Mateo.
In September 1965, Elvina began teaching at Abbott. Elvina taught languages and other subjects including core curriculum and home economics, until her June 1982 retirement. She was a member of the San Mateo Elementary Teachers’ Association for 17 years and served on its governing council for two years. She was an exceptional teacher who not only instilled a love for learning in her students but encouraged them to be their best selves. She knew how to make students feel valued and value others.
Elvina and Bill traveled extensively, visiting all continents except Antarctica. Two months after celebrating their 50th anniversary, Elvina was the victim of a massive stroke which rendered her extremely compromised. In March 2016 she and William celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary before he died at 101 in June.
Elvina passed away peacefully at her home of 62 years on March 5, 2026. She is survived by her daughters Valerie, Anne (Patrick Dunn), Janice (James Scherba) and Lisa, seven grandchildren Edward Dunn (Antoinette), Brian Dunn (Michelle Easter), Jason Dunn (Colleen), Emily Charriere (Nicholas), Anthony Scherba (Lauren), William Scherba (Brooke) and Angela Schramm as well as seven great-grandchildren. Rosary at Sneider, Sullivan and O’Connell Funeral Parlor on Thursday, April 9 at 5:30 p.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Gregory’s Church on Friday, April 10 at 10:45 a.m. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) entries
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.