Robin Sentell
• Retired teacher and UFT district rep
Patricia “Pat” Filomena, a respected Bronx teacher and longtime union activist, died on Feb. 4 following an illness. She had just celebrated her 80th birthday on Feb. 1.
Pat taught for more than 30 years at PS 18 in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. She was a chapter leader, a staff developer at her school and a union pension consultant. She later became the UFT representative for District 7 in the Bronx, a position she held for 18 years from 1997 until her retirement in 2015.
She was a “bulldog for contractual rights and member protection and advocated for teachers using the best and most appropriate techniques,” said Vincent Gaglione, who was the UFT’s Bronx borough representative when Pat was the District 7 representative.
Gaglione said Pat was a warm, friendly, hardworking educator who “always had my back.”
After retiring as district rep, Pat worked part-time to support the union’s professional committees. In that new role, Gaglione said, “She remained equally the bulldog and enthusiast for encouraging and expanding member professional activities and learning.”
Pat, a second-generation Italian-American, was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college, earning a degree in 1964 from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She began teaching the same year.
Rashad Brown, now a UFT member representative, said he reached out to Pat when he was a rank-and-file teacher and she was the District 7 representative because his school chapter leader was on leave and “while she was away, my principal started to do whatever he wanted.” Pat pushed him to take action to help himself and other members at the school, Brown said.
Pat was honest and direct, selfless and “gave above and beyond” as a district representative, said Brown. She was also, he said, a passionate advocate for students and learning.
Brown considered Pat a mentor and a friend. “Everything I am is because of Pat,” he said. “She was my biggest cheerleader.”
He referred to Pat as his “union mother,” someone who would praise and support him when he was right and let him know when he was wrong. She helped Brown get the UFT Pride Committee off the ground and start the committee’s Daniel Dromm Scholarship Fund, which recognizes high school students who are LGBTQ+ activists.
“Her wit, her drive, her passion for this union lives on because I’m definitely carrying that on,” he said.
Aqeel Williams, the UFT’s District 9 representative, also considered Pat a dear friend and mentor, as well as “union royalty” and someone who “loved the hell out of this union.” He met her when he worked part-time for the union after school hours.
Williams said he and Pat would travel to union activities together, knew each other’s families and exchanged holiday gifts. Both shared a love of all things Christmas.
“Pat was a very direct, frank, loving soul who had a heart twice the size of Texas,” he said. She “occupied a really special place in all of our hearts.”
Pat also was opinionated and “didn’t hold her tongue,” Williams said.
“Pat had that spirit that you respected everything she said,” he said. “Sometimes it came across a little harsh, but she always had the best of intentions. She wanted you to be your best.”
Carol Harrison, another longtime Bronx district representative, met Pat 26 years ago, when both were school chapter leaders. “Every time I had an issue, I would call her at her school,” Harrison said. “She was always very resourceful.”
Harrison considered Pat to be part of her family, and she said her children “loved Pat to death.”
“I got sick many years ago and she was at the hospital with my children, waiting for my family to come,” Harrison said. “We’ve always been there for each other.”
Harrison said Pat “was very caring and passionate, especially about her family.”
She was proud of her Italian heritage and chaired the UFT Italian American Committee.
In addition to her union activism, Pat was a fierce supporter of gender equality and a passionate defender of animal rights.
When she was younger, Pat was an avid runner and completed the New York City Marathon five times. She loved books, music, children and Christmastime.
Pat is survived by her brother, John Gori, and his spouse, Craig Bonaparte; sisters Christine Altschuler and her spouse, Mark, and Regina Gori and her partner, Michael Remboulis; nieces Giustine and Samantha Altschuler; and nephew Nicolas Panken.
In lieu of flowers, Pat’s family requests that donations be made to the UFT Pride Committee’s Daniel Dromm Scholarship Fund, the ASPCA or Planned Parenthood.
Pat was a friend and a mentor! When I first became Chapter Leader, she held my hand and was always there for me. She will be missed. RIP my friend
As Chapter Leader at New Explorers High School on the Mott Haven Campus in The Bronx, from September 2011 until June 2015, I spent countless hours speaking, and working with Pat in a Sisyphean attempt to put an end to the chaos that our school had increasingly been experiencing under Leadership Academy principal Jake Hobson. Between the constant harassment of myself and fellow educators by the administration, student battles and the posting of these altercations on social media, the unchecked use of cell phones in the building and revolving door of teachers, which only perpetuated these occurrences, Pat was there both during our monthly meetings to offer suggestions as to how I might work with our school “CEO” to lessen and end these types of chaotic behaviors from occurring, as well as on site, at our school with several other UFT safety leaders on a number of occasions during the 2014 – 2015 school year when these situations were at their worst. Sad to say, while she was there for us, and did her best, we soon became a Renewal School and in June 2018, closed. If it were not for Pat’s unending support and encouragement life there would have been a whole lot worse. Rest in Peace, Pat.
As Chapter Leader at New Explorers High School on the Mott Haven Campus in The Bronx, from September 2011 until June 2015, I spent countless hours speaking, and working with Pat in a Sisyphean attempt to put an end to the chaos that our school had increasingly been experiencing under Leadership Academy principal Jake Hobson. Between the constant harassment of myself and fellow educators by the administration, student battles and the posting of these altercations on social media, the unchecked use of cell phones in the building and revolving door of teachers, which only perpetuated these occurrences, Pat was there both during our monthly meetings to offer suggestions as to how I might work with our school “CEO” to lessen and end these types of chaotic behaviors from occurring, as well as on site, at our school with several other UFT safety leaders on a number of occasions during the 2014 – 2015 school year when these situations were at their worst. Sad to say, while she was there for us, and did her best, we soon became a Renewal School and in June 2018, closed. If it were not for Pat’s unending support and encouragement life there would have been a whole lot worse. Rest in Peace, Pat
It took me a while to finally sit down and read this because I wanted to be in a better condition. I thought I was, but my tears flowed down my face from the touching things Vinnie, Carol, and Aqeel said were beautifully put together like a symphony orchestra composing a musical representation of Pat’s life. She was larger than life, and no written piece could ever capture the true essence of Pat in its entirety. Her smile, personality, and spirit were too beautiful for words. This piece moved me to tears. Tears of missing her and emotionally touched by the composition of this literary tribute. Pat, your memory lives on.