In Memoriam

A former student paid tribute to retired teacher Ronald Lazarus: "The successful lives we've made for ourselves is due largely to his being a guiding force for good at a time in our teenage lives where few other adults would even put up with us," said Jeff...

During her 14 years as an English teacher at Midwood HS in Brooklyn, Maureen Cox trained scores of her English language learners to be authors...

Louisa Johnston had a deep commitment to the UFT for 62 of her 95 years, serving for 29 years as an art teacher and devoting 32 years more to being a retiree union activist...

“Maurice was a strong teacher advocate and a fighter for teachers’ rights and civil rights,” said Marvin Reiskin, a retired UFT political director, who met Maurice in 1968, when teachers went on strike after his second day of teaching...

Ely Cohen, 88, had a distinguished career as a history and English teacher before coming out of retirement to help shape the UFT’s Si Beagle Learning Centers for retired members...

“Think of yourself as a sunflower — the tallest, biggest and most beautiful flower in the garden,” Renee Diamond counseled a 1st-grader who was being picked on in 1985...

Sonya Pendleton was known as a “dove of peace” for the calming effect she had on the entire PS 57 community...

“To know Fred was to love Fred,” said Sabrina Crockett, Freddy Concepcion’s colleague for more than 30 years. “He was who he was. He spoke his mind. If he could help you, he would help you. If he couldn’t, he would direct you to where you could get help...

As a school counselor working with dropouts who were seeking ways to finally earn a diploma, Anna Eng had limited time with students. But she made every minute count, guiding and supporting them as they worked to turn their lives around...

Kevin Bostic brought to his work a deep knowledge of how best to increase community engagement and how to reach troubled students, beginning with those in the now-defunct P4 in Queens, an alternative high school where he was assigned as a school safety...

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 on May 5...

“Just being around Bert made you feel good,” said Tom Murphy, the chapter leader of the UFT’s Retired Teachers Chapter. “He cared about people and he was a great student advocate.”...

Jennifer Romain-Hinds will be remembered by colleagues and students at PS 123 in Queens for much more than her bright smile and positive message. She will also be remembered for her strength and independence...

For 21 years, Caleb Saint Surin served the students at PS 181 in Brooklyn with enthusiasm, sharing with them his love for and expertise in mathematics...

Matthew Ian Johnson, a special education math teacher for 25 years, turned Xavier Gonzalez’s life around simply by inviting the 5th-grader to “come and have lunch with me” when he was acting out. Today, Xavier is attending Yale University on a scholarship...

Gabrielle Gayle, a 4th-grade special education teacher at Merrick Academy – Queens Public Charter School in Laurelton, was known for saying, “If you need help, my door is always open,’’ Chapter Leader Christine Hernandez remembered...

To those he taught, Robert Maller was known as “Maestro Maller.”...

Edward LaTourette found both a calling and a career in teaching global and U.S. history at Curtis HS on Staten Island. “A student would ask a question and he would launch into a story,” bringing the subject matter to life in vivid detail, said his wife...

Roy Pikser's colleagues are prepared for a big void at Long Island City HS when it reopens. “Our building will not be the same,” said fellow teacher Laura Parker...

Janee Christensen knew how to handle and resolve the “attitudes, moods and physical challenges” of students dealing with emotional issues at P23 Lifeline Children's Center, Queens, where she worked for nearly 31 years before retiring in 2018...

Susan Berman Levine believed in celebrating the special moments. That’s one of the things Gloria Slosberg remembers about their time working together as secretaries at Beach Channel HS in Queens before Susan’s retirement in 1999...

“In all his endeavors, my dad was an educator,” Emily Moroney said of her father, per-diem teacher Edward Moroney. “Be it as a teacher in New York City public schools or from the pulpit as a pastor/missionary or teaching his daughters that education is the...

Allyson is fondly remembered as “the great communicator” at PS 229 in Maspeth, Queens, where she spoke eloquently on behalf of her students and colleagues. She died April 19 at the age of 48...

Steven Freedman, who taught for 32 years at public schools throughout New York City and continued to teach in other venues after his retirement, died on April 18, 2020, at age 71, of complications from COVID-19...