John Bligh
- Retired teacher
Anthony Joseph Armada, a devoted Brooklyn elementary school teacher who retired in 2008, died on Oct. 15, 2023, of cardiopulmonary arrest. He was 77.
Anthony, who lived in Nassau County, taught at several Brooklyn elementary schools before taking a position as a director of funded programs for the Department of Education for several years. He decided to return to the classroom and finished his career of more than 40 years at PS 145 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, said his wife, Diana, who is a retired Queens elementary school teacher.
“He really was a natural teacher,” Armada said. “He always had been, so it was instinctual in him and he loved kids.”
Armada said she followed her husband into teaching, and their three daughters have careers in education: one daughter teaches 5th grade, one is a high school teacher and the third is a school principal.
“It was all due to him, because he started it all and got them excited about teaching,” Armada said.
Outside work, Anthony was an avid reader and had “an amazing mind for finances,” his wife said. He enjoyed traveling with his family, learning languages and being surrounded by nature, she said.
“His smile and laughter lit up every room and his enduring kindness and compassion was felt by all,” his family wrote in his obituary.
Anthony was a Brooklyn native who attended St. John’s Preparatory School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College. He earned his master’s degree from New York University.
In addition to his wife of 48 years, Anthony is survived by his four children, Frank, Mercedes, Diana Christina and Erica; and his eight grandchildren, Christian, Alex, Sofia, Isabel, Victoria, Kevin, Elizabeth and Olivia.
Anthony J. Armada was a wonderful educator. His service to many Brooklyn communities, where he taught was amazing. His students were very important to him. He dedicated his life to teaching on several levels. Anthony will be missed profoundly. He will be always remembered by everyone who met him. His caring supportive nature is hard to replace.