De-Adedra Anderson
De-Adedra Anderson, a United Federation of Teachers member, died Feb. 14 at age 39. At age 25, De-Adedra was one of 20 teachers cited by then New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for her remarkable work in early childhood education.
She joined the staff of PS153 (the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. School) in 1996 where she served as a reading teacher, after-school program coordinator, co-director of Platform Learning and coordinator for the Gifted and Talented Program. She was instrumental in developing the Art Intensive Institute, a broad and innovative program designed to expose children to the many aspects and joys of artistic expression. She was also a Group Teacher for the L.Y.F.E. Program, which inspires and assists teen mothers to achieve their high school diploma.
Last year, De-Adedra received her second advanced degree from City College while pursuing her goal of becoming a supervisor.
She is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Anderson; a son, Matthew; sisters Retha, Erneeka, Detra, Tina and Michelle; brothers Derricke and Marcus; and many other family members and friends.
Lorraine Brown
Lorraine Brown, a member of the United Federation of Teachers, died Feb. 28.
Lorraine worked as a counselor at CIS 313, where she was greatly valued by students and colleagues. She was a splendid wife to her husband, John Alexander; a mother, grandmother; aunt and cousin, as well as a dear and trusted friend to many. She will be sorely missed.
Nancy Benitez Cruz
Nancy Benitez Cruz, a member of the United Federation of Teaches who worked as a New York City public school paraprofessional at PS142 for 15 years, died March 28. She was 49.
Nancy was a lifelong resident of Manhattan's historic Lower East Side. Through her selfless acts she impacted the lives of many.
She is survived by her daughters, Melissa and Vanessa; a son, Michael Martoral; grandchildren Dimitry and Darcy; a brother, William Benitez; and aunts Natalie Diaz and Milagros Muniz.
Bernice "Bunny" Dubin
Bernice "Bunny" Dubin, a retired member of the Rochester Teachers Association, died July 9, 2009.
Bunny taught from 1974 until her retirement in 1996. She taught in the Federal Title I Math Program for most of her teaching career. Her assignments were based in several schools at the elementary level.
Bunny grew up in Brooklyn, where she attended Seth Low Intermediate School and James Madison HS.
Later, after raising a family, she began her teaching career in upstate New York. She had a magic way of reaching children who had difficulty understanding math concepts. With her teaching skills, the children's performance often improved dramatically. She also had a wonderful working relationship with her paraprofessionals.
Bunny is survived by three sons and their wives; a brother and sister-in-law; a brother-in-law; three nieces and a nephew; and three grandchildren. She will be missed by all of them as well as by her close friends, colleagues and students.
Rick Hamilton
Former Bellmore-Merrick United Secondary Teachers President Rick Hamilton died March 8 at age 65.
Rick was a friend, a colleague, a teacher, a coach, and a union leader. His impact on the students and faculty of the district was enormous.
He attended Morehead State University in Kentucky, and served in the Army during the Vietnam War. His career in Bellmore-Merrick began soon after that. Rick taught health, primarily at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, and coached several sports, including soccer and girls basketball.
Rick served as a head building rep and first vice president of BMUST, before assuming the presidency in 2002. He served as president until his retirement in 2005. A highlight of his term was the great turnout the local had at the successful Albany rally in 2003.
After his retirement, Rick continued to serve as vice president of the Bellmore-Merrick Retired Teachers Association and as a member of the Long Island Presidents' Council Public Relations Committee and the NYSUT Representative Assembly Committee.
Rick is survived by his wife, Abbey; his daughter, Samantha; a son, Chip (Kelly); parents Frederick B. Jr. and Mabel; brothers Bill and Bruce; and his mother-in-law, Lilyan Boardman. Rick was buried at Calverton National Cemetery in a full military service.
Rick Hamilton was a man of commitment – to his nation, to his family, to his friends, to his profession, and to his union. The sadness brought by his passing is accompanied by the comforting knowledge that his was a life well spent; a life that brought him happiness and fulfillment, and that brought his family, his friends, his community and his nation the benefit of his presence.
Thelma Rubenstein
Thelma Rubenstein, a retired member of the Rochester Teachers Association, died Feb. 7 at age 88.
Thelma taught preschool in the Rochester City School District for 10 years, primarily in the Head Start program.
She is survived by David, her husband of 67 years; sons Richard (Esther) and Larry (Elizabeth); many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a brother, Arthur.
Harold Silverstein
Harold Silverstein, a retired member of the United Federation of Teachers, died April 2009. Harold taught biology for many years and developed and headed the marine science program at John Dewey High School in Brooklyn. He was a true renaissance man whose interests ranged widely throughout the natural world.
He is survived by his son, Mark; daughter Judith; two grandchildren; and countless colleagues and students whose lives he touched.
Charles Peter Walsh
Charles Peter Walsh, a member of Retiree Council 15, died March 12 at the age 82.
Chuck served in the Pacific Theater with the US Navy during World War II aboard the USS Bennington. He began his teaching career in Marlboro as a physical education teacher and later became a guidance counselor. He was a beloved coach and referee for many schools throughout the Hudson Valley.
Chuck spent most of his career at Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose before he retired in 1984 with many fond memories of the students and his colleagues. He then began a second career in Vermont, where he retired from Whitcomb High School, Bethel as a guidance counselor.
As an educator and in his personal life, Chuck truly cared about others and always went out of his way to help. He influenced many lives through teaching, coaching and his counseling career. Over the years and even as recently as this winter, he received numerous letters expressing gratitude and appreciation from his students.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce; children Sharon Palmer (Robert); Richard (Maria); Brian (Leeanne); Lauren Walsh; Dr. Carla Walsh; Christine Bressler (William); daughter-in-law Patricia Walsh; 15 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. He also leaves a cousin Myles "Jimmy" Doyle of Marlboro who was like a brother.
Charles was predeceased by a son, Charles Kevin Walsh.
Those wishing to remember Charles are asked to consider a memorial to the Charles P. Walsh Scholarship Fund for an outstanding college-bound senior at Whitcomb High School c/o Carroll Ketchum, P.O. Box 352, Bethel, VT 05032.