*Members: If you have any announcements that you would like to post on the ROBS web site, please contact us at
             info@robsny.org. Announcements will be posted each month on this page. If you miss any previous month's announcements,
             you can view them at the Archives page of this web site. You can also read more news in our Newsletters. In addition, if you have
             your own web site, and would like to share it with other members, let us know and we can include the link on the ROBS site.

IMPORTANT DATES
  IN THE NEWS                                                                          MARCH 2013


March 1
General Meeting
Calendar of Events

March 21
Executive Board Meeting
Meeting Dates

BOOK READING/SIGNING BY SHEILA & LETTY SUSTRIN
POSTED 3/19/13
 
  
     At the April 5th ROBS meeting, Sheila and Letty Sustrin will be doing a Book Reading/Signing of their latest book, The Teacher Who Would Not Retire Becomes A Movie Star. There will be a drawing for a copy of the book, and each attendee will receive a "Mrs. Belle Souvenir." All books will be discounted to $13.00 for ROBS members. The twins will be donating the goodies in honor of this occasion. So, "Come on down and have a fun time."
ROBS Calendar of Events


HONORING ANTHONY FELICIO
POSTED 3/24/13


     
     This month (March 30th) marks the tenth anniversary of the passing of former School Board President, Tony Felicio.
     Tony throughout his term on the Board of Education and as President always worked in the best interest of the students, staff and community of Brentwood.
     ROBS takes this opportunity to remember and honor Tony for all he did for Brentwood.
View ROBS Tribute to Anthony Felicio.

ROBS SCHOLARHIP FUND NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
POSTED 3/21/13

     Each year ROBS gives out scholarships to four Brentwood HS seniors who plan on pursuing careers in the field of education. The scholarships we present are: the Jack Zuckerman Award for $1000, the Lilian Kelly Award for $500 and two ROBS Scholarship Awards each for $500.
     We rely on contributions to this scholarship fund and ask that you help us in maintaining this worthwhile program. It would be appreciated if you could contribute any amount to this fund by bringing your donation to one of our monthly meetings or by mailing us a check.
     Please send your checks made out to ROBS (Scholarship Fund) on the memo line) to Nick Siciliano, 39 Jeremy Circle, Nesconset, NY 11767.
     Thank you for your generosity and continued support.

SAD SHARING
POSTED 3/24/13
     Al Jones formerly of West Middle retired Tech teacher died on Thursday, March 7 and was put to eternal rest in Panama City, Fl. Al had suffered from complications of his prostate cancer. Any additional information can be had by contacting Rob Shanley at 631-681-4566



50TH ANNIVERSARY: 1963 WAS A YEAR WITH LASTING IMPACT
Published in the online AARP Bulletin, January/February 2013
By Katherine Borgerding
     "Iconic images from a time of great protest and great promise" View these images here

JEFF WOLFE MEMORIAL
POSTED 4/3/13
     
There will be a memorial for Jeff Wolfe on April 20th at 1pm in the Brentwood High School Sonderling Auditorium.


MEMBERS'S
CORNER
How are we doing?
We'd like to hear from you.

Please visit our
Letters to the Editor

Page
where you can share your views and comments
IN MEMORIAM



View the "In Memoriam" page
with the list of our Brentwood colleagues who have passed away. This list will be updated on a yearly basis.

NYSUT NEWS

Support VOTE-COPE with your voluntary contribution. Download the VOTE-COPE Contribution Card here.

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW  
"EULOGY FOR RICHARD SIMMONS"
by Eli Acosta  - 3/6/04

     About 33 years ago, in mid-February of 1961,1 had the pleasure of talking with Richard on the bleachers of the pool in the Ross Building. We talked about my joining one of my classmates on the track team, a sprinter by the name of Eddie Rosario. Richard was convinced that with my joining the team, Brentwood's track and field team would have a good chance of upsetting two of the powerhouses of track and field that year. Port Jefferson and Lindenhurst.
     Obviously, my standing here talking to you now is a testimony to the man's ability to convince people to do his bidding. In order to participate on the track and field team I would have to give up my first love, baseball. So, giving up baseball in the short period of time that he had to convince me was no easy task. He didn't speak only of the glory of winning races and beating other teams in tightly fought competitions. No, Richard also spoke of the satisfaction that comes from competing in difficult situations, where the odds are not necessarily in your favor. Richard was a father figure for me in many ways: helping me get into college on a scholarship, teaching me the finer points of coaching track and field in Suffolk County and pointing out that there are other things in life besides sports.  
     The man was big and strong. He was also kind, caring and understanding. He had a quiet way about him most of the time, but if he felt slighted or saw something taking place that was not right, he was not averse to complaining or voicing his opinion.
     He was fast as a runner and a better than average athlete. He was also a dedicated teacher of physical education classes (he didn't use the term "gym" in referring to classes he taught). He enjoyed much success as a coach at Brentwood. In the spring of 1968, 17 athletes from Brentwood High School competed at the state championships held at Port Jefferson High School. Most high school coaches are lucky to have sent two or three athletes to the state championships in their career, never mind 17 in one season.
     Richard will be sorely missed. As a husband, as a father, as a grandfather, as an uncle and as a friend. Rest easy now Richard as you come off the last turn and head for home.

 
 


RC21 EVENTS
March 5
Executive Board Meeting

March 19
General Membership Meeting


March 21
Lower East Side Experience

For information visit
RC 21 Website: http://ny.aft.org/rc21

MEMBER WEBSITES
ROBS HISTORY PROJECT - John M. Sherin
Sheila & Letty Sustrin
Children's Books Authors
www.sustrinbooks.com

John M. Sherin
Local /Regional
(Jigsaw Maps)600
Geography Manipulatives

www.mapzzles.org

Complete Team Building Kits
Teaching Cooperation/ Collaboration
Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

www.brokensquares.com

Alida Thorpe
Island Vision Photography, Inc.
www.pbase.com/alidasphotos


Rick Mundy
Watercolor Prints of L.I., Adirondacks, NYC...
www.RickMundy.Com

Gloria Hannemann
Hardwood Flooring and
Home Improvement

www.Servi-all.com


Elmon Kazandjian
NYC Art Gallery
www.woodwardgallery.net



Rose Marie Brousseau
Brentwood Rotary Club
http://brentwoodrotary.com

Ronda Brooks
Children's Social Skills Groups
www.KidHelp.org
Rich Graziano
Mr. Graziano's Science Class
Academic Enrichment and Remedial Websit
e

Why did we do it?
     What was our purpose in taking on such an open ended “History Project”; the one for which we’ve evolved a script of questions with corresponding answers from over one hundred and fifty dedicated volunteers for nearly two decades?
      We couldn’t answer the question in ‘94 when people would ask “What are you going to do with the interviews?” All we could say was that for educational and informational purposes we had better document our record or lose any chance to preserve innumerable poignant accounts, humorous stories and touching tales told to us by exemplary educators and dedicated public servants, who shortly and for reasons unknown might soon be leaving our Brentwood for good.
     We decided to let time sort out the details as we commenced making appointments to ask questions and simply listen. Listen we did as this project evolved saving for subsequent generations the very essence of what it means to have been an educator or employed in a large student centered public school system during the latter half of the twentieth century. Brentwood remains an exemplar to all the others; a diverse microcosm and accurate reflection of the approximately one hundred and twenty seven neighboring school districts on Long Island and the thousands across this country. We’ve accomplished something here, something we can all be proud of having been part of, whether we were interviewed or not, ours is a claim of service that few other professionals in the State of New York are positioned to share in a like manner.
     INITIALLY the practice of sitting for an hour with the Subject of our interview and giving them one hundred percent of our focused attention for that period of time seemed a little threatening to many of our friends and former colleagues. So much so in fact that many declined repeated invitations to be interviewed as they left careers behind or retired from full time employ with the District. Despite all assurances that this was not to be about investigative journalism or invading their privacy, they’ve deferred. Until now, almost seventeen years after we began, some say they may finally be ready. We say, “Better late than never”. However, to all those among you who were willing to share openly not only your classroom experiences but personal stories, precious memories from your lives and fondest hopes for the future, we say thanks for allowing us to be able to continue the process of giving as we now are able to share interviews with you, with the community and with countless regional professional educators and researchers through tentative acceptance of ROBS offer of collaboration with The Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University.
      You can now enjoy unlimited visits to www.robsny.org/ where you’ll see and hear segments from the History Project Interviews featured here in the ROBS History Project section on the Announcements Page archived each month thereafter for those wishing to return again and again.

THIS MONTH'S FEATURED HISTORY PROJECT
INTERVIEW:


Ronda Brooks

Social Worker
                                   
      Ronda was born in the Morris Heights Section of the Bronx on Jan 3, 1954. She attended Stony Brook University and was hired by the district in the fall of 1985 as a Social Worker in the Early Intervention Program. She was hired without a Resume or a degree.
     Her first year was split between East Middle and South Elementary until she was reassigned to North Middle. There she remained for the greater part of the next 24 years learning to love the people of the Brentwood community and respect the colleagues with whom she worked. She absolutely loved making a difference in the lives of the people whose lives she touched with her work.
     Her heart attack occurred on August 28, 2001 and was responsible for her being home recuperating on that Sept11th and not in school where she wanted to be, and where she would have been needed to comfort and support students and colleagues in the aftermath of the tragedy. The memory of that date is a continuing painful reminder to her every year.
     In retirement she operates her private practice and runs a summer travel program for 40 youngsters, called People to People.
     Ronda retired in 2010. She was interviewed on October 4, 2012. During her career she came to appreciate the importance of listening to people and giving undivided attention to young and old alike. The skill of listening is called upon by all who would attend to this and other interviews made as part of ROBS History Project. 




You can also view any of these past interviews by visiting History Project Interview Archives :

Baker Bernhardt, Ruth
Baker Bazata, Eleanor
Balinski, Wally
Brooks, Ronda
Carey, Dick
Carpenter, Beverly
Cerullo, Peter
Corkery, Florence
Cuneen, Ray
Curio, Rich
DeBellis, Claudia
DeBellis, Helen
DeBellis, Michael
DePlaza, Marilyn
Desoto, Edward
DiMento, Peter
Edwards, Richard
Efron, Martin
Fasullo, Mike
Felicio, Anthony
Filosa, Edith
Fiore, Marcy
Hannan, Edward
Helman, Harriet
Hodges, Shirley
Kirschner, Marge
Koehler, Florence
Lane, William
Lange, Joan
Laub, Dr. Herb
Martz, David
Mascaro, Barbara
McNicholas, Barbara
Monsen, Pattie
Moss, Ken
Mundy, Rick
Murray, Alma
Nanos, Jim
O'Conner, Thomas
Pace, Ron
Purcell, Joseph
Rosenthal, Ivy
Rosenthal, Ruth
Salerno, Hank
Scharf, Karen
Sekac, Evelyn
Sheele, Raymond
Sopp, Lorraine
Spencer, Franklin
Stuhler, Patricia
Sustrin, Letty and Sheila
Vannoy, Evelyn
Veech, Chris
Walker Lloyd, Shirley
Wolfe, Jeffrey
Zuckerman, Dorothy
Zuckerman, Jack


PAID ADVERTISING

    Classified Section
THE TOWN CRIER -  MarilynDePlaza@aol.com

Marilyn De Plaza
The Town Crier" was set up a number of years ago so that the retirees of the Brentwood School District could have an email center to stay in touch. Since I began to send out all sorts of information, retirees from all over the country have sent me their email addresses. Some have asked, "Do you have any idea where so and so is?" Others have sent proud news of their accomplishments, their family news, photos,etc. and sadly, we often get bad news. Many retirees whom I have never met write me to thank me for keeping this connection going, as everyone remembers the Brentwood years with warm feelings.
SAD SHARING
POSTED 3/21/13

Eva Efron Memorial Service:

Dear Friends,
     Memorial services for Eva Efron will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2013 10 am at I. J. Morris.
21 E Deer Park Road
Dix Hills, NY 11746
(for some GPS systems please use Huntington Station)
      In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations in memory of eva be made to:
The Lustgarten Foundation
Pancreatic Cancer Research
Bethpage, NY 11714
866-789-1000


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