Retired Members' & Active Teachers' Updates

We regret to inform you of the sad passing of Desmond J. Lawe who passed on December 4, 2024. He was the husband of Mary Lynn Conte-Lawe. Mary Lynn taught at Schreiber High School in the Art Department. We send our deep sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the Lawe family.

Desmond's obituary can be found here.

The district informed us of the passing of two former members:

Dave Hinchliffe shares some exciting personal news:

From Barbara Mayer - Harriet Englander and her family and many friends celebrated her milestone 90th birthday with a party at the Swan Club recently. Her son, Shep and daughter, Carrie, said that this was the FIRST party that Harriet had allowed them to make for her. Many people spoke about what a special person Harriet is and how active she used to be and still is! She was always helping others then, which she continues to do today.

Her grandson, Jake, described her in my favorite way, calling her a "badass!" And her childhood friend, Margi, graciously shared the text of her birthday toast to Harriet. Read it here:

"Harriet and I come from the generation that used the whole term “best friends” which sounds a lot more important than the current terms of BFF or bestie. But then again, we no longer travel with valises because they and grips have become bags, and our long ago pocketbooks have been replaced with purses and backpacks. But that’s just a very few of the changes that Harriet and I have experienced during our three quarters of a century of friendship.

During high school, we participated in various sports- croquet, badminton, tennis and ice skating- and both of us were content to be enthusiastic amateurs in all four endeavors. But it was all about fun- no teams, no tournaments, no thoughts of whether these activities would improve our health, or gain us college athletic scholarships. Other than pained conversations about our lack of math comprehension, I think we mostly talked about Saturday night dates- whether we’d get asked out and, if yes, then “Tell me all about it”.

But on the serious side, Harriet urged me and other girls to volunteer for the Councilettes, the then teen program connected with the National Council of Jewish Women. Harriet was always an advocate for liberal causes and has written a fascinating story about her experience as a freedom rider during the Civil Rights Movement. In fact, one of Harriet’s many talents is writing short stories and, if any of you haven’t read her work, I can recommend them. For me, they have been an illuminating window into Harriet’s early family home life.

In addition to her writing skill, I want to mention Harriet’s ability to create and organize her amazing “culture tours”. Last year, Harriet arranged for us to begin our stay in Florida by attending the Florida Literary Society’s Annual Seminar in Key West and then at the end of the season invited me to Sarasota for a week of culture. I’ll never forget six nights with only one night for rest that included the Paul Taylor Dance Group, a theatre production of “Dial M for Murder,” two Chamber Music concerts, Joshua Bell in concert, and the opera "Luisa Miller”. Wonderful trips as they were at the time, I view them as “memory builders” for the future when Harriet and I get older and do more sitting on rocking chairs.

John Leonard, the author & culture critic, wrote “It takes a long time to grow an old friend”. And dear Harriet, I am so lucky, as we all are, to be in your garden, which we know is filled with beauty, diversity and surprises each year. I toast you my longtime friend and wish you as many years as you would like to have."

Some of Harriet's PWRE friends and active Port teachers attended this happy gathering and we took this group photo and thanked Harriet for providing us with such a lovely afternoon to reunite!

We have been notified by Bernhard Muller of the sad passing of his wife, Margaret Muller, on September 17, 2024. Margaret was a paraprofessional who worked at Manorhaven School.

We send our condolences to Bernard and Margaret's family and friends.

Tessa Jordan, Mary Anne Cariello, and Christine Vasilev, shown here, represented the PWRE at the PWTA Milestone Party. Others at the party included Paul Kosiba, who took this photo, as well as Kathy Reilly, Marilyn Gilbert, and Fredda Meltzer. If you were also there, and we missed your name, please let me know!