WESTERLY — Friends and fans of the late Charles P. Liguori — the well known, much-admired Westerly artist who painted hundreds of local scenes during his lifetime — will have the rare opportunity to buy one of his paintings, celebrate his life, chat with his family and contribute to a scholarship next week at the United.
Liguori’s children — Lisa Servidio and David, Michael, David and Steven Liguori — will host a celebration of the life and art of their father at “Una Vita Ben Vissuta” — or “A Life Well Lived” — in the United gallery on Friday, Nov. 7, from 4-7 p.m. — the same night as the monthly Westerly Art Stroll and just before a scheduled program in the United’s black box theater with the Consul General of Italy.
While Liguori, who died last Dec. 6 — on his 92nd birthday — primarily painted scenes of Westerly’s beaches, rivers, backyards and woodlands, he also painted scenes from his travels to Italy.
“He loved Italy,” said Servidio, Liguori’s only daughter as she stood inside the Black Duck gallery on Broad Street one recent afternoon looking at some of her father’s framed paintings alongside her brother, Michael. “But he loved his family and Westerly most of all.”
“And he loved the beach,” Servidio quickly added with a smile, “and he loved to cook.”
“Yes, he loved to cook and paint,” Michael repeated with a smile. “And he loved Seaside. We’re a huge Seaside family. It was our place to meet in the summer.”
The Liguoris are longtime members of the Seaside Beach Club in Misquamicut, a traditional summer gathering place for generations of local families, where al fresco summer dinners can last well after the sun has set and family memories are made as children, grandchildren, cousins and friends are free to run and play while adults catch up and talk.
Their father was known for improvising meals with on-hand ingredients at the family cabana at Seaside, Michael said.
Their father and mother — the late Jeanne Liguori, a well known Westerly dance teacher — were married for more than 68 years. Charlie and Jeanne made for a handsome and popular couple around town. Between Charlie’s painting and involvement with various arts organizations and Jeanne’s dancing — she opened her first dance studio Jeanne’s Dance Center in 1957 — the two touched the lives of thousands as two true pillars of the Westerly community as they built a home and life centered around family, creativity and coastal living.
Jeanne, or “Miss Jeanne” as she was affectionately called by the generations of students she taught — died in June, six months after her husband.
“She died four months ago today,” said Servidio with more than a hint of sadness. “It’s been a rough year.”
Which is one of the reasons the family wanted to hold the “celebration of a live well lived,” she said, to sell paintings from Charlie’s vast collection, and to create funds for scholarships.
All proceeds from the sale of their father’s paintings will go toward scholarships for Westerly High School students interested in the arts and art students at the United.
“I have already received donations,” said Lisa as she and her brother looked up at a painting of their father’s titled “Cloudy Day Napatree.”
“It’s important for us that his paintings live on with other people,” said Michael. “That other people now get to enjoy them.”
During his painting career, Charlie was an “Elected Artist” at the Mystic Art Center and the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts and was a longtime member of the Artist Cooperative Gallery of Westerly.
“We have hundreds of paintings,” said Michael walking over to another painting titled “High Waters, Pawcatuck River.”
“And I think this is our backyard,” he said as he stared intently at another painting titled “Spring.”
“I just found a whole box full of watercolors,” said Lisa. “They were from a cross-country trip my parents took with Steven.”
“There are probably seventy of them,” she added, “including paintings of Amaryllis, Texas and somewhere in New Mexico.”
“He was passionate about his work,” she said.
“So many people have been contacting me or asking me about the paintings,” she said, “and for a long time, my daughter, Jamie, has wanted to organize a show.”
“I just want to toast my dad,” Servidio said, “and my mom too.”
“He was such a good guy,” said Michael, “and he loved simple things.”
Simple pleasures brought him immense joy and defined his happiest moments, the siblings said.
“This past year has been a difficult time for the Liguori family losing their wonderful dad, Charles, in December 2024 and then his beloved wife ‘Miss Jeanne’ in June 2025,” said Dr. Daniel R. Gaccione, a close family friend of the Liguori’s in an email Friday morning. “However, through an absolute treasure trove of his artistic works, Mr. Liguori will be in our presence for generations to come.”
Charlie’s paintings “reflect a variety of styles,” and highly regarded by many regional artisans, added Gaccione.
The Nov. 7 event, he said, will not only benefit the United and Westerly High School students, it will give members of the community the “wonderful and unique opportunity to purchase an original ‘Charlie’ to adorn their home.”
After serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War, Charlie went on to a career in banking before picking up a paint brush.
“He took lessons from Pat Gentile,” said Servidio.
“And he went to the library and read books about the Impressionists,” said Michael. “That’s what he liked.”
“He dabbled in acrylics and water colors,” said Michael.
“He also dabbled in real estate,” said Michael
“And he liked traveling to Italy with his buddies,” Michael added with a laugh. “He and Gene Servidio and Dick Pignataro and a few others, I think they went eight or nine times.”
“And he documented everything,” added Lisa with a laugh. “And he took photos of every painting he sold then duplicated them.”
“He kept everything in a big notebook,” said Michael as he looked at his sister and exchanged a smile. “His book.”
“He used to ask me what I’d do with everything after he was gone,” said Lisa with a smile. “I’d say I was going to extend the book.”
“Now it’s time for us to update the book,” said Michael.
“Yup,” said Lisa, looking up at her brother. “We’re going to extend the book.”
“Una Vita Ben Vissuta” will take place on Friday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m., United Theatre, 5 Canal St., Westerly.