Who Is Donna Sicuranza? Complete Biography, Career & Legacy Guide

When people search for “Donna Sicuranza,” they’re often looking for one of two different individuals who share this name. One is a respected nonprofit executive currently leading animal welfare efforts in Connecticut. The other is a private individual from New York who was remembered by loved ones after her passing in 2017. This guide covers both, offering a complete and accurate picture so you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Quick Facts About Donna Sicuranza

Donna Sicuranza – Executive Director of Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM)

Donna Sicuranza has spent nearly three decades leading Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM), a Connecticut-based nonprofit focused on reducing feline overpopulation through affordable veterinary care. Her tenure as Executive Director, which began in 1997, has made her one of the more enduring figures in regional animal welfare work.

Early Career and Background in Communications

Before stepping into nonprofit leadership, Donna built a career as a freelance writer, editor, and public relations specialist. This background gave her a strong foundation in messaging, storytelling, and public engagement — skills that would later prove essential in running a mission-driven organization dependent on donor support and community trust.

Joining TEAM: A Mission to Reduce Feline Overpopulation

TEAM was founded in 1997 with a clear purpose: to address cat overpopulation in Connecticut through prevention rather than reactive rescue. Donna joined as Executive Director around this founding period, helping shape an organization that has since become known for its practical, results-driven approach to animal welfare.

Leadership Role and Daily Responsibilities

As Executive Director, Donna’s responsibilities span nearly every aspect of the organization, including:

• Setting long-term organizational strategy
• Overseeing fundraising and donor relations
• Managing day-to-day administrative operations
• Leading community outreach and public education efforts
• Coordinating with veterinary professionals and volunteers
• Promoting affordable, preventive veterinary care across the state

This wide-ranging role requires balancing hands-on operational management with the bigger-picture work of community engagement and organizational growth.

The TEAM Mobile Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic Explained

One of the organization’s most recognized programs under Donna’s leadership is the TEAM Mobile Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic. This traveling clinic brings low-cost veterinary services directly to communities throughout Connecticut, removing common barriers like distance and cost that often prevent pet owners and caregivers from accessing care.

According to TEAM’s own published figures, the organization has provided services to more than 225,000 cats since it was founded in 1997 — a scale that reflects both the demand for affordable veterinary care and the organization’s long-term consistency in delivering it.

Her Approach to Preventive Animal Welfare

Rather than concentrating primarily on rescue and rehoming, Donna has consistently emphasized prevention as TEAM’s core strategy. Affordable spay and neuter services directly reduce the number of unwanted litters, which in turn eases pressure on local shelters and improves overall feline health outcomes across the state.

This prevention-first philosophy distinguishes TEAM from many traditional rescue organizations and has helped position it as a model for community-based animal welfare programs.

Community Impact and Outreach Programs

Donna’s influence extends well beyond internal operations. Through educational initiatives and community partnerships, she has helped normalize responsible pet ownership across Connecticut. The mobile clinic in particular has served families, rescue groups, and caretakers of community cats — many of whom face financial or transportation barriers to standard veterinary services.

Leadership Style and Philosophy

Colleagues and community observers describe Donna’s leadership as practical and outcome-focused rather than attention-seeking. Her approach favors building sustainable, measurable programs over pursuing public recognition, a style that has allowed TEAM to maintain steady growth and community trust over nearly 30 years.

Career Milestones and Lasting Contributions

Over the course of her tenure, Donna Sicuranza has helped guide TEAM through several decades of expansion, all while keeping affordability and accessibility at the center of the organization’s mission. While much of this work happens outside the public eye, its cumulative impact is visible in the scale of cats served and the continued success of TEAM’s outreach programs.

Is There Another Donna Sicuranza? (Addressing Search Confusion)

Because the name “Donna Sicuranza” returns results for more than one person, it’s worth clarifying who else shares this name in public records.

Donna Marie Sicuranza (1942–2017) – A Different Individual

Donna Marie Sicuranza was a private individual from New York, remembered by her family through published obituary and memorial records following her passing on March 10, 2017, at age 74. Unlike the Connecticut nonprofit executive, she was not a public figure, and her legacy is defined entirely by her family life and personal relationships.

Early Life, Family, and Education

Born on March 24, 1942, to Dominic and Felicia Russillo, Donna Marie grew up in the Pelham, New York area. After losing her mother at a young age, she was raised with the support of her father and grandparents. She attended St. Catherine’s School before continuing her education at Good Counsel Academy.

Professional Career at Bank of New York

After completing her education, Donna Marie worked at Walker Studios before joining the Bank of New York in Bronxville, where she spent more than 20 years. She was eventually promoted to Assistant Manager and retired from the bank in 2007, capping a career defined by consistency rather than public accolades.

Marriage to Angelo Sicuranza and Family Life

In 1960, Donna Marie married Angelo Sicuranza, beginning a partnership that lasted for decades. The couple raised a close-knit family, and she is survived by her husband and three daughters — Mena Popoli, Angela Nannariello, and Teresa Youngs — along with 10 grandchildren.

Travel, Hobbies, and Personal Interests

Donna Marie and Angelo shared a passion for travel, visiting destinations including Italy, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. The family also kept a second home in Southampton, where many cherished memories were made. Outside of travel, she enjoyed cooking, shopping, and gardening — interests that reflected her focus on home and family life.

Passing and Funeral Arrangements

Donna Marie Sicuranza passed away on March 10, 2017. Her Celebration of Life was held on March 15, 2017, at Pelham Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on March 16, 2017, at St. Catherine’s Church in Pelham, New York. She was laid to rest at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

How She Is Remembered

Family members remembered Donna Marie as selfless, gentle, and endlessly devoted to those around her. Rather than public achievements, her legacy centers on the relationships she built and maintained across generations of her family.

Donna Sicuranza (TEAM) vs. Donna Sicuranza (Obituary): Key Differences

Why Donna Sicuranza’s Work at TEAM Matters

The Bigger Picture: Feline Overpopulation in Connecticut

Feline overpopulation remains an ongoing challenge for shelters and rescue organizations across the state. Programs like TEAM’s mobile clinic directly address the root of the problem by making preventive care accessible before overpopulation becomes a crisis, rather than managing its consequences after the fact.

Community and Animal Welfare Statistics

TEAM’s reported figure of over 225,000 cats served since 1997 illustrates the long-term demand for affordable veterinary access in Connecticut, as well as the sustained impact of consistent, prevention-focused leadership over nearly three decades.

Conclusion

“Donna Sicuranza” refers to at least two distinct individuals with very different stories. One has spent nearly three decades building a respected nonprofit organization dedicated to affordable animal care in Connecticut. The other was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother from New York whose legacy lives on through her family. Understanding which Donna Sicuranza you’re looking for makes all the difference — and this guide brings both stories together in one place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Donna Sicuranza? Donna Sicuranza is most commonly known as the Executive Director of Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM), a Connecticut nonprofit focused on feline welfare. A separate individual with the same name, Donna Marie Sicuranza, was a New York resident remembered in a 2017 obituary.

What organization does Donna Sicuranza lead? She leads Tait’s Every Animal Matters (TEAM), based in Westbrook, Connecticut.

How long has Donna Sicuranza worked at TEAM? She has served as Executive Director since 1997, giving her nearly 30 years of leadership experience with the organization.

Is Donna Sicuranza related to the woman in the 2017 obituary? Based on publicly available information, there is no indication these are the same person or that they are related — they lived in different states and had entirely different careers.

Where is TEAM’s mobile clinic located? The TEAM Mobile Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic travels throughout Connecticut, bringing low-cost veterinary services directly to local communities.