John Bligh
- Retired teacher
Eric “Chaz” Chasanoff, 69, was a passionate education activist and retired science teacher who authored the popular blog “Chaz’s School Daze” from January 2006 until nine days before he died of coronavirus on May 5.
Teaching was a second career for Eric. He started teaching earth science in 1997 in Queens at Jamaica HS, which has since closed. At Jamaica, he also served as coach of the girls’ varsity soccer team.
He became an ATR and later had teaching assignments at Flushing HS, Francis Lewis HS and George Washington Carver HS, all in Queens, before he retired in February 2019.
“He loved teaching and especially loved his students,” said his son, Bryan. “He was a fierce advocate for them as well as other teachers.”
It was that advocacy that led him to blogging, remembered Jonathan Halabi, the chapter leader at the HS of American Studies at Lehman College, the Bronx.
“We ‘met’ online, blogging over union politics,” Halabi recalled. “We both were engaged in the discussion of the proposed contract, and then the shutdown of large high schools and the fate of ATRs.”
Eric poured considerable time into his blog and “was not afraid of stirring up trouble,” said Halabi, who says the two didn’t agree on everything but they always “respected each other.”
Many of his followers posted memories and tributes in response to a message about Eric’s passing posted by his son on the blog. One commenter said: “Your father was a lion of the first order when it came to educating teachers and speaking up for them.”
Former longtime Jamaica HS Chapter Leader James Eterno said he was “so saddened” to learn of Eric’s death.
“I was chapter leader at Jamaica for 18 years,” Eterno said. “ For many of those years, Eric and I served together on Jamaica’s School Leadership Team. Eric was a supporter of empowering the students and the parents. On the issue of school safety, he was able to help us establish school policies that ensured a safe building while still maintaining student rights.”
Eterno added, “Eric was a staunch defender of the ability of the classroom teacher to have real autonomy in his or her classroom.”
Before teaching, Eric had a long career in environmental science. He worked for the Environmental Protection Agency on air pollution, as a meteorologist for NBC and as an air pollution scientist for Parsons Brinckerhoff, an engineering and design firm.
Eric earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Belknap College in New Hampshire and his master’s in meteorology at Polytechnic Institute in New York. He was a certified consulting meteorologist.
He enjoyed coaching youth sports teams in soccer, basketball and baseball. Among his other interests were science fiction and history.
Eric is survived by his wife, Fran; his sons, Bryan and Mark; his daughter, Marissa; his son-in-law, Kevin; his daughter-in-law, Rebecca; and his loving grandchildren, Owen, Alora and Sophie.
Condolences may be sent to the family at:
The Chasanoff Family
205 Marilyn St.
East Islip, NY 11730
In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to consider donating in Eric’s memory to St. Jude Research Hospital.
To whom it may concern, every now and then i have memories of a happy go lucky classmate at Belknap but could only remember Eric being the first name. Just today, I went into the website, clicked on ‘departed’, and now saw first and last names and did some searching to read of this passing.
I’m remembering a guy with siamese cats and a girlfriend named Rene and think he was living on rt 25 near Moultonboro.
If this is the same guy, I am very sorry for your loss and always wished we had stayed in contact as he was a very likeable guy!
If there’s any way to reach out to me I’d much appreciate it as I have wondered for years where he had gone and how he was doing! If I have the ‘right’ Eric, my contact info will follow, please let me know.
Eric and I were roommates at Belknap after college we remained friends and played basketball . I just found out and I am very sad. Take care Fran. Love Miles
I also went to Belknap College in Centre Harbor, NH. We roomed together for a short time at a Motel that the college provided in leu of housing. and in the Dorm that was an old Hotel during freshman year. I used to take Eric back and forth from home to school back in 1970-71. He was such a humble, kind, funny, and decent young man, and I am blessed that he was my friend. Rest in peace my friend.
I am sorry to hear of this. Chaz’s presence will be missed. The wisdom he imparted to all will live on.
Eric wrote on his blog Chaz’s School Daze almost two thousand times. Most of his readers, and he had many, did not know his name. He was not writing for recognition, or promotion. He wrote because he cared deeply. He cared about students and schools. He cared about teachers, especially about teachers. And most of all, Eric cared deeply about right and wrong.
I was trying to think of one example that really stood out. And I looked at Eric’s early writings, about politics and teaching and the value of experience – but the one that caught my eye – in his first month on-line – was about a girl’s basketball game. One team’s coach had run up the score badly on a weaker opponent, 137 – 24. Eric, who had coached, was horrified:
* Don’t run up the score on an inferior opponent.
* Keep your best players out once it is a blowout.
* Never embarrass another team.
* Show class and be a role model for your players.
It was that same sense of right and wrong that motivated his defense of teachers. And it is that sense of class, and that dedication to fairness that I will remember.
Rest in peace
That is a great example of my father and one he lived by. I remember times when he coached my teams that we were up 5-0 in soccer and my father would sub out the best players, switch positions and even run 10 players instead of 11 to try to keep the game as competitive as possible. Our team always won the sportsmanship award every year whether we finished 1st or 8th place.
Nooo, loved his blog.
I taught with Eric at Jamaica H.S.He was the best Earth Science teacher Jamaica ever had.I had very serious conversations in the third teachers room with Eric. We lost a great science teacher and a soccer coach.
Eric was one of my best friends at Belknap College. He was with me the night I met my wife Barbara. My condolences to his family.
Hi Fred I just found out so sad. Take care. Miles
My sincere condolences to his family. Mr chasanoff was a good man. He will be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Chaz for empowering the voices of displaced teachers in the ATR pool while managing the demands of your own classroom. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, students and colleagues. He was a gift to many of us. Rest in peace, Chaz.
My thought and prayers are with the family. Eric was truly a man who gave if himself and thought of nothing in return. He will be greatly missed. A true inspiration to teachers and society
My condolences to you, your family and to all those who loved Mr.Eric Chasanoff.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family.
I’m sorry for your loss!
My condolences for your loss.
Sending my deepest sympathy to Fran and her family. He sounded like an amazing person.
Eric sounded like a fantastic man. Deepest condolences for your loss.
Eric sounded like a fantastic man. My deepest condolences for your loss.
Thinking of you and your family in these difficult times. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I’m so sorry for your loss. May your memories comfort you during this time.
My condolences to you and your family.
I worked with Eric at Francis Lewis for most of the year when he was there. He taught Earth Science to special education students in that department. I had the pleasure of working across the hall from him for one period, and we chatted on occasion in the cafeteria or work room. He was a warm and supportive colleague, and was wonderful with the kids. I’ve followed his blog since my retirement in 2011, where he remained helpful and supportive to colleagues. He was informative and incisive, and he will be sorely missed. Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
My deepest condolences. I never met Eric but I felt like I knew him through his blog. What a special human being that was a spark if light in the darkness. He gave amazing advice and I will miss reading his blog immensely.
Never met Eric, but had tons of respect for his wise informed insight and advocacy. a real leader who never drank the kool aid. May he Rest In Peace but I know somehow he will still be guiding us and sending us signals. My condolences to all that will miss Eric.
I only worked with Eric for a year while he passed through Flushing as an ATR but I became much more aware of teachers rights during that time and have followed his blog ever since. In the same way he always looked out for his colleagues, I try to do the same for mine. He was a true inspiration to the students and the teachers alike, and will be greatly missed. Condolences to the Chasanoff family at this time.
My condolences for Your loss. .
I remember Eric as caring, helpful, always willing to help When you need him
May his memory be blessed.
My condolences for your loss.