Sylvia Joan Agosta Tricarico

Sylvia Agosta Tricarico of West Palm Beach, Florida passed away Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from glioblastoma. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Sylvia resided in Palm Beach County since 1996. Sylvia was born on Christmas Day in 1949, the firstborn child of the late Mary Aquilino Agosta and Salvatore N. Agosta. A lifelong Home Economics educator, Sylvia started her career at the Academy of St. Joseph in Brentwood, New York before moving to Heritage High School in Lynchburg, Virginia. There, she and her cousin Enza redefined school spirit by creating the pep club, the Big Orange Scream Machine. Starting in 1996, Sylvia worked for the School District of Palm Beach County. Her career in SDPBC spanned 21 years and included classroom teaching at Santaluces High School (home of Cafe ala Chiefs) and working in the district office. During her tenure, she built a culinary arts empire that lasts to this day. Students contacted her regularly with fond memories of and requests for her famous pepperoni bread recipe (4 oz dough, 10 pepperoni slices, and 4 oz whole milk mozzarella). Sylvia was more than your average teacher; she was her students' biggest cheerleader in and out of school, building relationships that lasted well into their adulthoods. She loved teaching and therefore was excited to be selected to be in two different medical research studies about glioblastoma at the end of her life.

In her retirement, Sylvia became a Master Gardener through UF/IFAS and spent time volunteering as a Tuesday Titan at the Mounts Botanical Gardens. She was also a crusader against book bans, fought for women’s rights, and attended many protest marches and rallies.

She is survived by her little bedruzza Sarah who, just like her grandma, looks for the moon every morning; her beloved children Katie and Thomas (Ashley), of whom she was so proud; her dog Brooklyn; her siblings John, Lisa, and Maria; several nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

A Remembrance Gathering is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2-3:30pm at the Mounts Botanical Gardens, 531 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, FL 33415. 

In lieu of flowers/gifts, please consider donating to the Tampa General Hospital Foundation, in memory of Sylvia. Contributions can be made online by visiting tgh.org/make-gift, selecting “Brain Cancer Fund” and completing the online giving form. Please check the box for [‘In Memory Of’ or ‘In Honor Of’] and enter “Sylvia Tricarico.” You may also mail donations to Tampa General Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 1289, Tampa, FL 33601-1289. Please make checks payable to “The TGH Foundation” and include “Sylvia Tricarico” in the memo line.