Draft:Grace Gioe Sagona

Grace Gioe Sagona (November 12,1920 - September 3, 2012), known as "Aunt Grace", was a pioneer woman in American children's television programs.

Early life
Grace Gioe Sagona, Sebring, Florida November 12, 1920 - September 3, 2012. Born Grace Catharine Gioe to parents Joseph Gioe and Veronica Malone Gioe in Brooklyn, NY. Sagona, after graduating from Brooklyn public schools, attended Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY.

Career
Sagona's first job was as a guide for the Dumont Radio Studios, NYC. Originally, Bill Slater was the host of a Dumont Network show named King Cole's Birthday Party, but for the 1948 season, a change was made. Sagona was selected to host the show, renamed Aunt Gracie's Birthday Party. Going by the name "Aunt Grace", this move made her one of the pioneer women in children's television broadcasting. She only hosted one season, and in 1949 was replaced by Ted Brown.

Family Life
She left her career in early television for marriage and to raise a family in 1949. She moved to North Miami, Florida in 1953. She raised 3 from her first marriage. In 1961 she began her second marriage to Stuart Hadley Sagona and raised 3 children by him. In 1980, Grace and Stuart moved to Sebring and began a career as a Special Education teacher. She continued her love of acting at The Highlands Little Theatre in Sebring, being involved in over 48 plays. Sagona trained as a clown in 1992 at the Ringling Brother's School for Clowns, creating the character of Gigi the Clown.