Victor L. Paganuzzi, the designer behind the illustrious CBS Sunday Morning set, with its unique sun logo, died on June 16 in Valhalla in Westchester County. He passed away just six weeks after his 90th birthday.

Victor, a resident of Eastchester for 51 years, was a devoted family man, talented artist and gentleman. He was a man of deep faith and character, enchanting people with his sartorial style and gentle nature.

He was born in the Bronx on May 5th, 1932, to Victor and Enez Paganuzzi, and raised on Manning Street with sister Ann (Spinelli), constantly surrounded by cousins who looked up to him as the elder of the clan. He graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School on the Grand Concourse, went to Saint Michael’s College in Burlington, Vermont and received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Iona College in New Rochelle.

He served in the Air Force in the mid-fifties, stationed in New Hampshire and Greenland. After the service, he returned to the Bronx and followed in the footsteps of his father - who was an artist. He ultimately landed at CBS where he worked for five decades. He was an awarding-winning scenic designer and art director who traveled all over the world. He designed sets for soap operas, kids shows and presidential election coverage. He was the creative force behind the scenes for sets used by world-class talent, like Jackie Gleason, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand. And, of course, Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.

Paganuzzi was nominated for two Emmy Awards, and was the proud recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award. At his retirement in 2011, he was honored with the dedication of The Victor Paganuzzi Scenic Design Center, which still stands today at the CBS Broadcast Center on 57th Street.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years Jean; his three children: Enez (Darius Solomon) of Manhattan, Victor who lives in New Orleans, and Josefa (Chris Ierardi) of Crestwood; 3 grandchildren Ethan, Ruby and Paul; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews and loving friends.

Victor was a devoted family man, talented artist and man of discerning taste. And like that Sunday morning sun that stills remains as the centerpiece of the show, a charismatic man of warmth, generosity, and grace. He leaves a legacy of designs, drawings, and his whimsical envelope art that he gifted to many throughout his retirement years.

A funeral mass will be held in his honor on Tuesday, June 21st at 10:30 am, at the Immaculate Conception Church on 53 Winterhill Road, in Tuckahoe, New York, where he was a parishioner for decades and served in the music and liturgical ministries.
To view a Livestream of the funeral mass, click here https://icaparish.org/

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his name to Holy Family Farm in Monticello, New York (the chaplain, Father Glenn Sudano is his wife’s cousin) or Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Hamden, Connecticut (his cousin Estelle’s order).