Sandi Conti

Longtime United Federation of Teachers member Sandi Conti has died at the age of 94. A World War II veteran who fought in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, he landed on the beach with the first wave of soldiers. According to friends, this event was always in Sandi's mind and heart. He was honored for his heroism by the French government.

Sandi taught high school French and Spanish, but his special love was the Italian language and culture. He was active in UFT's Italian-American Heritage Committee for many years.

Sandi will be missed by his friends and colleagues.

Josephine Ellsworth

Josephine (Staats) Ellsworth, a former member of the Greenwich Teachers Association, died Sept. 6. She was 96. Josephine took pride in her work as a reading specialist helping hundreds of students improve their reading skills. She continued tutoring until she was 80.

She will be greatly missed by her daughter, Nadene (Lafayette); grandchildren Denise (Harold), Linda (Brian), Stephen (Maria), and Laurel (Timothy); great-grandchildren Shauntelle, Michelle, Larissa, Stacy, Jeremy, Cody, Dylan, Dustin, Brandi, Taylor and Hunter; and her great-great-granddaughter, Avery. Josephine was predeceased by her husband, Ivan.

Marian Fiedler

Connetquot TA member Marian Fiedler died Feb. 8; she was 86. Retired from the Connetquot district after teaching elementary school for 27 years, Marian had a gift for teaching and remained a teacher throughout her life.

She was, above all, a mother. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her greatest joy and proudest accomplishment.

Marian was predeceased by her husband, William, and survived by children Susan (Stephen) and William Jr. (Delia); grandchildren Sarah (Robert), Rebecca, Season, Matthew, Lucas and William; great-grandchildren Madeline and Collin; sister Betty (Joseph); a niece and two nephews.

Memorials may be sent to the Staff Fund, c/o Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center, 2256 Burdett Ave., Troy, N.Y. 12180. Online condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.mereness-putnamfuneralhome.com/.

Philip Freed

A member of the Professional Staff Congress, Philip Freed died Jan. 30. He was 82.

Philip was a longtime laboratory specialist at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn. He was known as a true Renaissance man.

He lived most of his life in New York City and retired in 1991 to Albuquerque, where he enjoyed music, libraries, cooking, and the great outdoors.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; daughters Susan (Cameron) and Judy; and grandchildren Kelton and Aaron.

James H. Ryan

Retired UFT member James (Jim) Ryan died Feb. 4. He was 80. Jim spent 30 years as an attendance teacher in New York City schools. He served the needs of problem students and their families at several schools, including East New York Vocational and South Shore high schools, and JHS 263K.

Jim was a board member and served on the organizing committee of the union's Attendance Teacher chapter. An avid track fan, he was an official with the Metropolitan Athletic Congress and for many years officiated at the New York City Marathon and Olympic Trials.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Joann; five grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and many friends.

Julia Wagman

Julia Wagman, a retired member of the UFT, died Jan. 29. She was 87. Julia was a librarian at JHS 109Q and JHS 238Q until her retirement in 1980.

Julia is survived by children Sheryl (Mike) and Miles (Mindy); grandchildren Cara (Barry), Zachary, Robin, Sydney, and Mallory; and great-granddaughter, Zoe.