In Memoriam

Former UFT Secretary Tom Pappas, remembered as a "tough as nails" yet deeply kind educator and union leader whose career spanned decades, died on Feb. 13. He was 93...

Jimelle Fraser, a teacher and chapter leader at Brighter Choice Community School in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant, died on Jan. 14, 2026, at the age of 52...

Carol Morey, a retired high school French teacher who played a role in the battle to prevent pregnant teachers from being fired, died on Dec. 2, 2025, at age 92 after a long battle with Lewy body disease...

Karla Yvonne McFarlane, a lifelong dancer who taught at PS 306 in East New York, Brooklyn, died on Nov. 22, 2025, at the age of 65...

Bernardo Sanchez, a patient and loving paraprofessional and UFT paraprofessional representative at P94@P276, a District 75 program in Manhattan, died of multiple health complications on Nov. 1, 2025. He was 77...

David Greenberg, a retired school counselor known for his professionalism and love of helping students, died on Oct. 25, 2025, at the age of 90 from multiple health complications...

Alice Cumba loved being a teacher, and that joy extended beyond her workday as a longtime math teacher, delegate and chapter leader at IS 145 in Queens, where she had worked for 16 years...

Patricia "Pat" Martucci, a math teacher and chapter leader at PS 97 in Brooklyn's Gravesend, was a tenacious, witty and generous unionist who relentlessly supported her colleagues. She died on Sept. 14, 2025, at the age of 81...

Danielle Lehtinen, a longtime art and music teacher and chapter leader at PS 58 in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, was known as a committed arts educator and dedicated union activist who promoted a culture of respect for educators and students alike. She died...

Dorothy Moller, a devoted paraprofessional who loved her work and was loved in return by the medically fragile students she served at PS 37 on Staten Island, died on Sept. 2, 2025, following a heart attack. She was 67...

Ellen Bloom, a longtime teacher of homebound students who loved to sing, dance and write music, died on Aug. 28, 2025. She was 83...

Jasmine Jones, a dedicated and gifted dance teacher at MS 35 in Brooklyn, died on Aug. 12, 2025, at the age of 41...

Irwin Leventhal was a talented and dedicated high school social studies teacher who especially loved teaching law, government and American history during his 31-year teaching career in city schools...

Elissa Flanders, a retired elementary school teacher remembered for her gracious integrity, died on June 11, 2025, at the age of 80...

Ron Jones was a devoted and beloved elementary school teacher as well as an effective and innovative union leader with 37 years of service. Ron died of natural causes at age 79, on May 28, 2025...

Richard Miller, a gifted union organizer who dedicated 65 years of his life to education as a New York City public school teacher, a UFT district representative, a UFT vice president and the head of the Retired Teachers Chapter's Nevada section, died on...

Mary Pat Keegan, a longtime early childhood teacher, chapter leader and delegate at PS 123 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, was a consummate educator who made learning fun for her students over her 27-year teaching career. Mary, beloved by colleagues and students...

High school chemistry teacher and former UFT chapter leader Clifton A. Floyd died on April 17 due to complications from diabetes. He was 55...

Anita Deonarine, a passionate math teacher who made students feel safe and supported, died on April 2, 2025, at age 61...

Rose Schwally was a dedicated and caring school secretary who spent 23 of her 24-year school secretarial career at Brooklyn's City-As-School, where she got along well with colleagues and students alike. Rose, who retired in 2006, died of natural causes due...

Albert Muratore, a dedicated teacher and a member of the UFT since its earliest days, died on March 12, 2025, 10 days shy of his 100th birthday, from complications due to pneumonia...

John Garvey, a retired high school special education teacher for 23 years and longtime UFT activist who was perhaps best known as the founder of the union's Veterans Committee, died on Dec. 31, 2024. The longtime assistant chapter leader and NYSUT and AFT...

Geoffry Cohl, a devoted educator and resource coordinator at Manhattan's City-As-School high school, took great pride in opening the world to his students, finding valuable real-world internships in a wide range of industries, from business and law to...

Rita Zimonowitz, a dedicated teacher, committed to earning the trust and respect of all students, died on Nov. 24, 2024, of an aneurysm. She was 74...