Clifton Merchant Magazine - March 2014

Clifton Merchant • March 2014 3

March 2014 • Clifton Merchant4

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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

Business ManagerGabriella Marriello

Graphic DesignerKen Peterson

Contributing WritersDomenick RedaCarol Leonard Jack DeVries

Irene Jarosewich

1288 Main AvenueDowntown Clifton, NJ 07011

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Table of Contents

The Special in EducationA Teacher Inspires By Actions

The Armstrong FamilyClifton Mustangs to the Core

Students Send Shout-OutsSometimes It’s the Little Things

Substitute Suheyla TuncerWorking Her Way To Full-Time

Ginny and John KostisinAl Yuhas Honors A Great Team

Mrs. Gaccione’s LegacyMariel Vazquez Saw Strength

What’s Inside?

Teachers About TeachersThey Recall How They Launched

6

8

16

22

30

36

40

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62

March 14 PartyBlackened Blues Band

Feedback on FacebookMany Names, Faces & Comments

Henry Hooks BrowerMentor & Founder with a Fedora

Papa John Filippone He Teaches by Simply Doing

Sister Mary ConceptaAt St. Brendan’s for 40 Years

From Custodian to TeacherTaras Petryshyn Grows in Clifton

44

48

50

52

54

They praised us, punished us andtested us. They�plastered�our�home-work� with� gold� stars� or� frowny

faces.�They�taught�us�to�read,�write,

count.�They�wanted�us� to�be�decent

human�beings.�

Young,�old,�funny,�strict,�dedicat-

ed,� caring,� sometimes� not,� teachers

helped� form� our� childhood� memo-

ries�and�adult�lives.�

We� asked� readers� to� recall� those

teachers�who�most�influenced�them,

those� whom� they� remember� to� this

day.� The� response� was� impressive

and�varied.��Enjoy�the�stories,�mem-

ories,�comments�and�photos.��

From The Editor

Liberty Tax Service at Richfield Shopping Center is�doing�dou-ble�duty�for�the�Boys�&�Girls�Club�and�Clifton�residents.��Now

through� April� 10,� franchise� owner

Mary�Ann�Hatala�Bowen�will�make�a

donation�of�$25�to�the�club�and�give

you� $25� off� your� tax� preparation

when�you�file�your�2013�tax�returns

through�her�office.

Liberty Tax-Allwood

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(Next to Boston Market)

Clifton NJ 07012 • 973-778-0700

Liberty�Tax-Allwood�wants�you�tosplit�$50�with�the�Boys�&�Girls�Club

Like�us�on�Facebook�Liberty�Tax-Allwood

Valid through April 10, 2014


CelebratingTeachers

Visit cliftonmerchant.comfor current & past issues


The teacher I want to give recognition and thanks tois someone who was not even my own teacher. Mysenior�year�of�high�school�I�broke�my�foot.�I�was�wait-

ing�to�be�picked�up�on�a�Spring�day�outside�of�Clifton

High� School� when� I� noticed� an� amazing� interaction

between�staff�and�students.�

As�their�bus�pulled�up,�I�watched�each�student�from

Mr.�Armstrong’s�class�get�on�the�bus�with�huge�smiles

as� they� waved,� high� fived,� and� hugged� their� teacher

goodbye.� � They� received� the� same� genuine� heartfelt

goodbyes�in�return,�leaving�the�students�and�the�teacher

a�reason�to�look�forward�to�returning�back�to�school.

I�always�dreamt�of�being�a�teacher�but�it�wasn't�until

that� day� that� I� found� my� true� calling.� � This� brief

encounter� I� experienced�was� enough� to� inspire�me� to

work�with�students�with�special�needs.

The�bona�fide�connection�and�appreciation�that�this

class�and�their�teacher�had�for�each�other�shone�through

without� any�words� needing� to� be� said.� � I� have� never

experienced�such�a�connection�with�a�teacher—despite

having� many� wonderful� teachers—as� these� students

had.��I�decided�that�I�wanted�to�learn�more�and�see�how

I�would�do�working�with�people�with�special�needs.

Being�a�senior�with�a�broken�foot�I�found�a�lot�of�free

time�at�school.��I�was�unable�to�attend�gym�class�and�was

able�to�leave�early.��To�my�surprise,�no�one�I�approached

at�school�could�help�set�up�the�type�of�experience�I�was

looking�for.��I�took�matters�into�my�own�hands�and�visit-

ed�Mr.�Armstrong�to�explain�my�situation.

Immediately� I� was� greeted� with� enthusiasm� and

encouragement� to� visit� the� classroom� at� anytime.� � I

took� advantage� of� this� opportunity� and� shortly� after

went�to�his�classroom�to�spend�some�time�observing�his

teaching�strategies�and�got�to�interact�with�these�lovely

students�I�always�have�only�seen�from�afar.��I�was�greet-

ed�by�curious�smiling�faces�from�students�and�support

from Mr.�Armstrong�and�the�aides�in�the�classroom.

I�enjoyed�my�time�in� the�classroom�so�much�that�I

found�myself�frequently�visiting�and�forming�relation-

ships�with�the�students.��My�time�in�this�classroom�was

the�most�valuable�work�experience�I�could�have�done.��

As�my�last�days�at�CHS�approached�I�found�myself

realizing� that� I�would�no� longer�be� able� to� spend�my

time�in�this�classroom�as�easily�as�I�did.��Mr.�Armstrong

encouraged� me� to� come� back� to� visit� whenever� by

arranging�it� through�the�office.� �He�offered�advice�for

my�future�education�and�support�to�find�other�opportu-

nities�to�gain�experience.

The� most� precious� lesson� I� gained� from� Mr.

Armstrong�and�his�class�was�simply�through�observing

a�teacher�being�so�passionate�for�what�they�do.��

Experiencing� the� mutual� joy� and� appreciation

between�teacher�and�students�was�enough�to�inspire�me

to�be�the�teacher�that�I�have�become.

Mr.�Armstrong�showed�me�that�there�is�much�more�to

education�than�the�mainstream�idea�of�school.��Despite

the�differences�and�difficulties�these�students�are�faced

with�we�have�the�power�to�bring�a�smile�to�their�faces

and�educate�them�in�ways�that�are�outside�of�the�box.��

When�people� ask�me�how� I� got� into�working�with

special�needs�my�mind�always�goes�right�back�to�that

Spring�day�outside�of�Clifton�High�School.��

Inspirationfor a Career

By Casey Hawrylko

Clifton Teacher

Casey Hawrylko graduated CHS in 2008 and earned aBachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education fromMontclair State University in 2012. She now attends theMelbourne Graduate School of Education and will completeher studies in December with a Masters in Special Education.She currently works in a specialist school in Melbourne.


Bryan Armstrong (CHS, 1998) and Allison Russo(CHS, 1999) both�had�decided� to�attend�colleges�awayfrom� home.� They� knew� each� other� at� Clifton� High

School,�ran�in�the�same�circle,�but�never�really�had�a�long

talk�until�after�Bryan’s�sophomore�and�Allison’s�freshman

year.�That�summer,�back�in�Clifton,�out�with�friends,�they

started�to�chat.�

Bryan,�who�played�varsity�lacrosse�at�CHS,�had�cho-

sen�to�go�to�Goucher�College,�a�liberal�arts�school�with�an

enrollment� of� 1,500,� half� the� number� of� students� at

Clifton�High.�Goucher,�located�near�the�semi-rural�horse

country�of�central�Maryland,�was�a�different�kind�of�expe-

rience�for�Bryan.

In� Maryland,� lacrosse� is� the� king� of� sports.� Many

schools� have� a� national� reputation� for� excellence� in

lacrosse� –� the� US� Naval� Academy� in� Annapolis,

University�of�Maryland�in�College�Park,�Johns�Hopkins

in�Baltimore�and�Goucher�College,�just�north�of�the�city

of�Towson,�where�Bryan�played�on�the�Men’s�Lacrosse

team.

Allison� also� chose� to� head� south� to� Maryland,� to

Towson�University,�another�fine�liberal�arts�college�in�the

mid-Atlantic�region,�but�with�a�slightly�larger�enrollment

of� 20,000.� Her� father� had� attended� school� in� central

Maryland,�where�he�played�college�football.�He�liked�the

area�and�suggested�that�his�daughter�might�like�it�there,�as

well.�With�a�lovely�campus,�the�university�is�located�on

the�southern�outskirts�of�the�city�of�Towson.

Back�in�Clifton,�Bryan�and�Allison�were�talking.�

Bryan�said�he�was�attending�Goucher�College.�Allison

did�not�know�where�it�was.�

“Towson,�Maryland,”�he�replied.

She�was�stunned.�

Wait�a�minute,� she�said.� I�go� to�school� in�Towson�–

Towson�University.�

His turn to be surprised.

All ThatSeparated ThemWas a Parking Lot

Clifton Teachers

By Irene Jarosewich


No� way.� The� two� campuses

were�just�a�mile�apart.�

He�asked�her�where�she�lived

in�Towson.�She�named�the�apart-

ment�complex.�

And�he?�Same�complex!�She

offered�up�her�building�number.

He�offered�up�his.�

The� two� had� grown� up� less

than� a� mile� apart� in� Clifton,

chose� universities� 200� miles

away,�but�even�there,�only�a�mile

apart.� Now� they� lived� on� either

side�of�the�same�parking�lot,�only

yards�apart.

Call�it�fate,�call�it�coincidence,

but�Bryan�and�Allison�saw�it�as�a

good� sign.� They� returned� to

school�in�the�fall,�began�to�date,�and�have�been�together

ever�since.�

They�married� in�2007,�and� in�2009,�daughter�Alexis

joined� the� family,� followed� by� son� Sean� in� 2012.� The

family� lives� in� the� family-centric� neighborhood� of

Richfield�with�their�boxer�Mason.

Back at CHSBryan�vividly�recalls�the�first�time�he�walked�past�the

very�classroom�where�he�now�teaches.�A�special�educa-

tion�instructor,�Bryan�works�in�a�self-contained�classroom

at�Clifton�High�School�with�students�who�are�cognitively

impaired.�

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Clifton Teachers

Allison Armstrong with some of her students at School 1.


“I�remember�walking�by�the

classroom�when� I�was� still� in

high�school,�past�what� is�now

my�room,”�he�said.�

“I� remember� clearly� seeing

the� kids� in� there.� I� remember

stopping� to� look.� I� remember

thinking� that� teaching� them

was� important.� I� think� I� sur-

prised�a�lot�of�people,�because

I� don’t� think� I’m� the� kind� of

person� who� people� looked� at

when�I�was�in�high�school�and

said� ‘oh� yeah,� for� sure,� he’s

teacher�material,’�but�I� think�I

always�knew�I�wanted�to�be�a

teacher.�My�mom�was�a�nurse,

my� dad� worked� for� the� city.

Community�service,�that’s�the�way�I�was�raised,�that’s

what�I�was�brought�up�with.”

Bryan�was�so�sure�of�what�he�wanted�that�during�the

first�semester�of�his�freshman�year,�he�signed�up�for�the

special�ed�teaching�major�and�never�looked�back.�

“I� love�what�I�do,”�said�Bryan,�“I�believe�I�have�the

best� job� around.� I’m� serious� when� I� say� that.�When� I

come�home�at� the�end�of� the�day,�I� truly�feel� like�I�did

something�good.”

Anthony� Orlando,� CHS� principal,� coached� CHS

lacrosse� in� the� late� 1990s� and� remembers� Bryan� well.

“Bryan� was� my� athlete,”� said� Orlando,� “he� was� hard-

working,�passionate.�Now�he�brings�his�skills�and�those

same�attributes�to�teaching.�He�does�an�outstanding�job

every�day.”

Bryan�has�been�teaching�at�CHS�since�2005,�and�is�in

his� ninth� year� on� the� staff� in� the� Special� Education

Department.�He�was�also�the�head�Boy’s�Lacrosse�Coach

from�2005-2008.�He�has� coached� lacrosse�at�Montclair

State� University,� Kinnelon� High� School� and� Fairleigh

Dickinson�University.�

“I� have� a� strong� tie� and� sense� of� pride� in� Clifton

Athletics,”� said� Bryan,� “being� a� former� Clifton� athlete

myself�and�as�someone�who�believes�in�the�sense�of�com-

munity�that�athletics�create.”

From Playing Teacher to Being One“When�I� think�back�now,”�said�Allison,�“about�what

inspired�me,� I� think� I� always�wanted� to�be� a� teacher.� I

used�to�play�teacher�all�the�time,�always�setting�up�my�lit-

tle�chalkboard�and�desk.�“

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Clifton Teachers

Bryan Armstrong and his team of professionals with some of their CHS students.

January 2014 • Clifton Merchant14

Yet�somehow,�those�childhood�dreams�slipped�into�the

background.� When� Allison� first� went� to� college,� she

signed�up�as�a�communications�major.�

“And�then,”�she�continued,�“it�came�back�to�me�and�I

realized�one�day�that�what�I�really�loved�doing�was�work-

ing�with�children.”�

She� switched�majors� and� after� getting� her� degree� in

Elementary�Education�from�Towson�University,�Allison

completed�a�master’s�degree�in�Educational�Technology

at�Ramapo�College.�She�has�been�in�Clifton�Schools�since

2005.�Right�now�Allison�is�in�her�ninth�year�of�teaching

fifth� grade� at� School� 1,� where� she� also� heads� up� the

School�1�School�Student�Spirit�Committee,�which�helps

organize�student�activities�and�monthly�charitable�events.�

“I�have�only�the�warmest�memories�about�my�teach-

ers,”� said� Allison,� “my� elementary� school� teachers,� I

remember�them�all.�Very�nurturing.�And�middle�school.�I

think� what� also� influenced�me� is� that� I� worked� in� the

office�at�Clifton�High�School.�I�got�to�see�another�side�of

teachers.�I�could�see�more�fully�a�teacher’s�life.”

Allison� can� sometimes� have� up� to� 30� children� in� a

classroom,�and�30�fifth�graders�is�quite�a�challenge.�“But

I�love�it,”�she�said,�“I�love�working�with�the�kids.�You’re

with�them�seven�hours�a�day,�five�days�per�week,�for�most

of�the�year.�It’s�really�important.�Sometimes�with�some�of

the�children,�you’re�with� them�more� than� their�parents.

You�see�them�grow�and�change�and�you�know�that�you’re

an�important�part�of�that�change.”�

Clifton to the CoreAllison�and�Bryan�are�both�Clifton�natives,�she�attend-

ed� School� 2� and�Woodrow�Wilson�Middle� School,� he

went� to�School�9�and�Christopher�Columbus.�Not�only

are� they�natives,� the�Armstrong’s� two� children,� �Alexis

and�Sean,�are�the�fourth�generation�to�be�Clifton�natives,

which�makes�both�Allison�and�Bryan�very�proud.

Allison’s� paternal� grandmother,� Filomena,� lived� in

Clifton�her�entire�life,�most�of�it�with�husband�Nicholas

Russo� at� their� home� in�Rosemawr,� across� from�Latteri

Park.�Filomena�attended�School�9,�the�same�school�Bryan

attended�decades�later�and�the�same�school�where�one�of

Allison’s�three�older�sisters,�Kelley,�now�teaches.�

Allison’s�maternal�grandparents,�Emil�and�Cassandra

Sek,�moved� to�Clifton� during� the� 1940s,� and�Allison’s

mother�Patricia�graduated�CHS�in�1967,�the�same�year�as

Allison’s�father�Gary.

Clifton Teachers


For�Allison,�snowy�days�such�as�we�have�been�see-

ing�of�late,�bring�back�good�memories�of�her�childhood,

sledding�down�Clifton�hills.�“When�I�see�parents�doing

the�same�thing�with�their�kids�these�days,�I�remember

how� much� fun� we� had� on� those� winters.”� She� and

Bryan� love� to�hear� the�shouts�and�squeals�of�children

playing,�the�happy�sounds�of�happy�kids.

Bryan’s� Clifton� roots� also� run� deep.� His� maternal

grandfather�Harold�Kull,�a�Newark�City�police�officer,

brought�his� family� to�Clifton� in� the�1950s.�For�years,

Bryan’s�grandmother,�Dorothy�Kull,�was�employed�at

City� Hall� in� the� Clerk’s� office� and� for� the� Police

Department.� Bryan’s� mother� Barbara,� who� graduated

CHS� in� 1966,� has� been� an� operating� room� nurse� for

more� than�30�years�at�St.�Mary’s�Hospital.�His� father

Harry,�raised�in�Nutley,�worked�for�the�city�as�the�direc-

tor�of�maintenance�for�Clifton�Public�Libraries.�

Bryan�is�the�youngest�of�three�and�has�fond�memo-

ries� of� growing� up� in� Allwood,� playing� football� in

Chelsea�Park.��“My�parents�instilled�in�us�a�strong�sense

of�community�and�were�very�active�in�all� town�recre-

ation�events�when�we�were�growing�up,”� said�Bryan,

“including�baseball�and�football.�Clifton�is�a�place�that

my�parents�always�were�proud�of�and�we’ll�do�the�same

for�our�children.�We�love�our�Richfield�neighborhood.

There�are�great�families�and�people�that�care�about�the

neighborhood.�We’ve�always�appreciated�the�diversity

that�Clifton�offers�and�embrace�the�opportunity�of�our

kids�experiencing�a�childhood�here.”�

As�Bryan� sees� it,� he�and�Allison�are�Clifton� to� the

core.�“We’ve�discussed�it,”�he�said,�“and�I�don’t�think

we�could�live�anywhere�else�and�feel�this�at�home.�This

is�where�we�fit�in.”


Marie Van Der Horn (CHS� 1997)� grew� up� on� VanBreeman�Drive�in�Athenia�with�parents�Keith�and�Ella

and�younger�brother�Brian.�A�teacher�for�13�years,�she

now�teaches�kindergarten�at�The�Learning�Community

Charter�School�in�Jersey�City.�

“During� my� senior� year� at� Clifton� High� School,� I

was�fortunate�to�have�Cassie�Craig�as�a�teacher�in�her

Speednotes� and� College� Keyboarding� class.� The� les-

sons�Ms.�Craig� taught,� however,�went� far�beyond� the

walls�of�her�classroom.

She�was�encouraging,�genuinely�cared,� treated� stu-

dents�with�respect.�She�served�as�an�assistant�director�in

the�Mustang�Marching�Band,�where� I� played� clarinet

for�all�four�years.�At�a�time�in�life�when�teenagers�were

desperately� trying� to� discover� themselves,� she� taught

her� students� to� be� confident,� compassionate.� She

inspired�people�by�simply�believing�in�them.

Her�dedication�to�her�students�did�not�wane�when�the

bell� rang�or�when� the�school�year�ended� in�June.�The

joy�she�had�for�teaching�could�be�heard�in�her�laughter,

her�love�for�her�students�radiated�from�her�smile.�

Cassie�Craig�made� such� a� profound� impact� on�my

life�that�I�became�a�teacher,�hoping�one�day�to�influence

the�lives�of�children�the�way�she�touched�mine.”

Anthony Orlando,�a�Clifton�native,�a�1976�graduate�ofCHS,� received� his� degree� from� what� was� then

Montclair�State�College�before�beginning�his�career�in

the�Clifton�Public�School�System�as�a�phys�ed�instruc-

tor.� � He’s� been� with� his� alma� mater� now� for

Marie�Van�D

er�Horn

Gloria�Kolodziej

Anthony�Orlando

By Irene Jarosewich


There are about12,000 podiatrists inthe United States,according to theDepartment ofLabor, and Clifton

podiatrist Thomas Graziano is one ofonly six who hold both a Doctor ofPodiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) and aDoctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.

As a foot and ankle specialist, mymain goal for all my patients is tofind caring solutions that last a life-time. I won't just treat the symptom;I'll strive to correct the problem...Permanently.

When you combine effective treat-ments with my genuine concern foryour well-being, that's a powerfulcombination.

-Thomas A. Graziano, MD, DPM,FACFAS

3 Issues Resolved in 1 Convenient SurgeryDr. Thomas Graziano recently

explained how three painful issues

were addressed in one operation.

“This patient presented with a

bunion, crossover toe and hammer-

toes. These conditions were

repaired with one operation and the

patient was able to walk the same

day of the surgery.”Before After


almost�35�years,�currently�as�prin-

cipal� of� Clifton� High� School,� and

prior�to�that,�as�principal�of�School

17.�Besides� teaching�and�being�an

administrator,�he�has�a� full�history

of� coaching� lacrosse,� football� and

basketball.�

“I� chose� education� because� of

Bob� Roberts.� He� was� the� former

Athletic� Director� at� Clifton� High

School� and� my� teacher� at

Christopher�Columbus�Junior�High

School,�my�basketball�and�lacrosse

coach.�He�had�a�big�impact�on�me.

It�was�his�encouragement�which

led�me�to�pursue�a�career�in�teach-

ing.� In� 7th� grade,� he� once�made� a

comment� that� I� overheard,� that� he

thought�that�I�would�do�well�going

into� physical� education.� It� was� a

casual� comment,� but� made� a� big

impression�on�me,�especially�since

I� was� shocked� that� he� even� knew

who�I�was.

I� took� his� words� seriously.� I

spoke� with� my� parents,� and� from

that� point� forward� I� knew� what� I

was�going�to�do.�When�he�was�the

Athletic� Director,� he� hired� me� in

September� 1980,� and� I� had� the

honor� to� coach� freshman� football

with�him�in�the�early�1990's�for�one

season.�We�coached�together.�It�was

a� great� experience.� The� freshman

team�did�great�that�year:��8-0-1.”

Gloria Kolodziej,� (CHS,� 1957),was� Clifton’s� mayor� from� 1982-

1990,�is�an�accomplished�business-

woman,� is� a� former� English

teacher,� and� remains� an� active

mother� and� grandmother.� When

asked� to� name� a� teacher� that� had

the�most�impact�on�her�life,�she�was

quick�to�reply.

“Elizabeth� Maguire.� My� senior

year�in�high�school.�I�already�knew

I�wanted�to�be�a�teacher,�but�I�was

debating�whether�I�wanted�to�focus

on�English�or�music.�She�was�phe-

nomenal.�Because�of�her,� I�choose

English.�Her�gift�was�that�she�made

learning�so�much�fun.

Not� everyone� is� suited� to� teach

literature.�She�did�an�amazing�job.

With�her,�we�did�plays,� acting�out

Shakespeare.� I� had� great� teachers

before,� but� I� never� experienced

anything�like�her.�I�did�do�a�double

major� at� Montclair� State,� both

music�and�English,�but�because�of

her,�I�chose�my�life�career.

My� first� teaching� job� was� at

South�Junior�High�in�Bloomfield.�I

taught� 7th,� 8th� and� 9th� grades.� I

loved�it.�It�was�there�that�I�first�used

many� of� the� ideas� that� I� learned

from�her.”

Teachers About Teachers

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Kim (Carline) Dreher was� born� into� a� family� ofteachers:�her�mom�and�dad,�aunt�and�two�uncles�all

practiced� the� art.� “It’s� no�wonder� that� I� have�been

teaching—and�loving�it—for�almost�22�years,”�she

wrote�in�response�to�us�asking�for�comments.��A�6th

grade� math� teacher� at� CCMS,� she� was� selected

CTA’s�Educator�of�the�Year�in�2013.�

“I� have� wonderful� memories� visiting� my� mom

(Ann�Carline)�in�her�2nd�grade�classroom�at�School

4.� � I’ll� never� forget� her� students� requesting� her� to

sing�her�N-e-s-t-l-e chocolate�song.��They�were�cap-tivated.��Years�later,�I’d�pop�into�WWMS�to�visit�her

English� classes� too.� I� remember� also�visiting�CHS

(and� later� at� the�Boy’s�Club�Rebound�Program)� to

visit�my�father�(Al�Carline).��The�students�were�curi-

ous�and�engaged� in�his�History� lessons.� I�was� inspired

and�wanted�to�make�a�positive�impact�as�well.

Special�thanks�to�other�amazing�educators...�

Dorothy�Fleet�(5th�grade�teacher�in�Fairfield),�David

Montgomery�(West�Essex�Regional�High�School),�Amy

White�(my�cooperating�teacher�in�Keezletown,�Virginia),

and�Ron�Haynes�(team�teacher�in�Butzbach,�Germany).

Three� years� ago,� I� met� an� amazing� high� school

English�teacher�who�magically�transforms�Shakespeare

for�his�students.��Darryl�Mouzon�makes�learning�excit-

ing�at�Yonkers�International�Baccalaureate�World�High

School.�I�appreciate�their�dedication�to�all�of�their�stu-

dents�and�for�guiding�me� to� the�best�profession� in� the

world—teachers make a difference!

Teachers About TeachersKim�Dreher

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Tell Us About YourFavorite Teacher

Darrell Fusaro, CHS class of 1980, lives in Culver

City, California. An artist, he is also author of the newly

released book, What If Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug? and

a radio as co-host of Funniest Thing! with Darrell andEd on Unity Online Radio.

In 2003, with wife Lori, he per-

formed The Basement, a two person

play he wrote about how his grandfa-

ther’s unsolved murder at a union

office in Passaic on New Year’s Day

in 1970 affected his close-knit Clifton

family. He misses his friends back

east, but not the snow.

“I’d have to say Cassie Craig, for-

merly Mrs. Pieczonka. She was the

rapid writing, aka shorthand, and typing teacher at

Clifton High when I was there from 1977-1980. High

school was a wonderful break from my home life.

Tension was high at home. I looked forward to the

daily vacation I got from it while at school. Cassie Craig

was firm about our class work, as well as was very kind,

loving and supportive. Cassie Craig didn’t have to go out

of her way to let you know she cared, you could just tell.

One day during my senior year, she stopped me in the

hallway to offer her support after she discovered that my

father was near death due to cancer. I

had no idea how she found out since I

kept that a secret, but it sure meant a

lot to me. I never forgot it.

My dad died the following year. On

my own with no parents, my life soon

spiraled out of control. It was after

facing charges in the United States

military, that I began to reach out,

thank, and make an effort to continue

to show my gratitude to all those in

my life that were kind to me. Cassie Craig was on the

top on my list. I was stationed in Hawaii and continued

to keep in touch through regular letters.

In 2003, due to my friendship with Cassie, I was able

to perform a benefit at CHS that brought in over $2,000

for the student council. This was a modest way to

We asked our readers to recall those teachers whomost influenced them, those whom they rememberto this day. Two in particular were mentionedmany times... Bob Morgan, (at left) music instruc-tor and director of the Mustang Marching Band.Another inspiring one was Vocational Ed teacherCassie Craig, now retired, who, among her variedroles at CHS, was also an assistant band director.On this and many pages to follow, you’ll find com-ments and stories celebrating Clifton teachers.

Community Comments

Darrell Fusaro and Cassie Craig.

By Irene Jarosewich


give back to the institution that provided me with so

much peace and love during the toughest time of my life.

My relationship with Cassie continues to this day.

After I completed the first draft of What If Godzilla JustWanted a Hug? I contacted Cassie to read it and give

me notes. I knew she wouldn’t be afraid to point out

every mistake; she’s a true friend. The book came out

November 2013 and has received a five-star rating on

Amazon.

There are many Clifton teachers and employees, that

make me smile with appreciation as their memories run

through my mind from time to time. Growing up without

parental supervision, these adults, without realizing it,

gave me the guidance I lacked at home. I could write

something positive about all of them, but if I narrow it

down, Cassie Craig, aka Mrs. Pieczonka, has continued

to make a positive difference in my life.”

In his 24th year and sixth termas mayor, Clifton native James

Anzaldi continues to live in the

house in which he grew up. There

is no doubt that Mayor Anzaldi

loves Clifton, and loves his job,

calling it his vocation, avocation,

and vacation. He has fond memo-

ries of attending School 1, then

Christopher Columbus Junior High and later CHS.

From each of these schools, there was one teacher that

stood out and whom he remembers most.

“When I was growing up, grammar school was a

great world for kids. My third grade teacher, Elizabeth

McBride was something special. She had a talent with

children. She knew our strengths, our weaknesses, knew

how to bring out the best in us. She praised and encour-

aged us.

These were the days when almost every classroom in

elementary school had a piano and almost every teacher

knew how to play. Every day we would start the morning

with the Pledge of Allegiance, then as she played the

piano we would sing “My country ‘tis of thee” and then

she would finish off with “Oh what a beautiful morning!”

To this day, whenever I hear that song, I think of her.

And there’s been many a morning when I just hum it in

my head. At Christopher Columbus Junior High School,

Florence Trinkle had the most powerful influence on me.

Many years later, she and her husband George

became my good friends. Florence was “old school” in

her expectations, but very modern in nature. It was in

her classroom that we heard that President Kennedy had

been shot. I’ll never forget her strength, how she kept

everyone calm, when we heard that terrible news.

I remember how when I came in at the beginning of

the first marking period for her class, she had written

“Strive for excellence” on top of the bulletin board. I

think for many of us, those words stayed with us our

entire life. She gave us constant encouragement, taught

us to work for success.

After I finished college, I began to work on Youth

Week in Clifton, something Florence was very involved

in, and I remember the first time she called me Jimmy –

in school I was always James, but those close to me

called me Jimmy. Once she called me Jimmy, I knew we

were friends. In high school, I had a lot of good

Community Comments


teachers, very good, and I think that most teachers in

Clifton are exemplary, we’re fortunate that way.

But during my high school years the one teacher that

impressed me the most was my English teacher during

my senior year, Patricia Zalesny. She was young, just

out of college. Her husband was away, in the armed

services, I believe serving in Vietnam.

This was the time of the Vietnam War. Guys were

struggling to get into college (to obtain a draft deferral)

colleges were full, she understood this and was helpful

in many ways. I think she was an exemplary teacher. We

were able to listen to her, and she understood us.

For me, math was my strong point, so I would often

need her help in English. Then I would offer to stay after

school to help her, for example, run copies on the

mimeograph machine. She made a big impression on

me. She cared very much about being a good teacher.”

Joe Ogulin, CHS class of 1985, is a systems engineer

for Comcast in Sterling, VA, stays

connected to Clifton, where his

mother and one brothers still

reside. “I was part of that amazing

organization, the Mustang

Marching Band,” writes Joe, “I

played the saxophone. Uncle Bob

(band director Robert Morgan)

demanded enormous discipline,

but he made sure we had fun along the way. Two trips,

England and Washington DC, made for special memo-

ries. Because of him, music remains very much a part

of my life and a major hobby.”

Other teachers Joe remembers:

“Miss Marjorie Drahos in 3rd grade, School 9. She

was my teacher during the American Bicentennial. She

took the time to teach us a lot about the founding of our

nation that culminated in our class play centered on the

Bicentennial. I have some very fond memories of her

class and just how much she really cared about teaching.

She explained individuals and events that were so

important to our history, spoke about the significance of

Washington and Lincoln before their birthdays so it

wasn’t just another day off. She spoke of the Boston

Massacre, events that led up to the American Revolution

and why Colonies broke away. This stuck with me my

entire life.

She taught us about Crispus Attucks. Years later

when I mentioned him, I had a co-worker who had

never heard of him, I then understood how well she

taught us. I remember her overall dedication.”

In 9th grade at CC, Mrs. Barbara Krebs, biology.

“Although I now do not work in the field of my

undergraduate degree, she was the influence behind

why I majored in biology in college. I was always a sci-

ence and math person, but I think she was the one who

really helped me cement my decision about biology, as

well as encouraging me to join science-based academ-

ic competitions to represent CHS. It was fun.

We went around all New Jersey and competed with

other schools. I had a knack for it. She took that, nur-

tured it, and brought it to the front. I connected well with

the way she taught. She made you do your work – made

you learn. She nudged me towards achievement tests in

high school, which are good for college boards.

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Every year I took one or two. She told me it was a

good thing to do and yes, it was good. It showed a cer-

tain level of knowledge when I applied for college. With

her encouragement, I did my undergraduate at Johns

Hopkins and graduate at Stevens.”

He also recalled Mrs. Frances Laskey, CHS English

teacher and school paper advisor.

“Every time I go into an Internet forum and see the

bad grammar and usage mistakes, the only thing I can

hear is her voice in the back of my head. She was the

one who taught me how to write a proper term paper.

She went over vocabulary, grammar, proper usage,

and everything else necessary so that we had the proper

understanding to write well and at least try to sound

coherent.

If anyone had her as a teacher, I would be shocked if

they were making all these awful mistakes. She gave us

the skills and ability to write well. She retired in 1999

and moved to Virginia Beach. I found her just to thank

her. People don’t know how to write. The semester-long

English courses on writing are no longer offered. Yet it

is so necessary for college.”

Community Comments

Albert Greco, retired as Clifton’scity manager in 2011, after serving

in that position

for eight years. A

resident of the

city since 1959,

Greco began his

career in munici-

pal government

in 1970 in

Teaneck.

In 1978, he formed a regional

public health commission and was

health officer and director of the

commission, which encompassed

12 Bergen County towns. In 1996,

he came to Clifton as the health

officer and director of human serv-

ices and became city manager in

November 2004.

“I remember my 7th grade

English teacher at Woodrow

Wilson Junior High School, June

Dyke, who helped me transition

from Brooklyn to Clifton. For me,

coming here from Brooklyn was

like taking ESL (English as a sec-

ond language).

She was encouraging, patient,

kind and extremely interested in

my success. I thank her and am

grateful for her concern and inter-

est in me and helping me make a

tough transition.”


Suheyla Tuncer

Suheyla Tuncer is now a substitute teacher ather alma mater but it was during her sophomore

and junior years as a Mustang when the seed of

her future career was first planted in her mind.

As a teenager, the self professed “kookie,

hyper, energetic, dorky, loud, smiley girl” roam-

ing the hallways of Clifton High, already had a

flair for the dramatic, but it was a drama teacher

who helped bring clarity to her future goal.

“My goal is to become the drama teacher at

Clifton High School, where I learned to perform

and fell in love with the art of acting,” said

Tuncer, 28, citing her mentor at CHS, whom she

is pictured with in 2003. “She was something

else.” Loraine Mayewski, Tuncer’s Drama II and

III teacher at CHS, was the “she” who inspired

the young lady to pursue teaching.

“She was real, funny, intelligent, and she made me fall

in love with acting and performing even more than I

already had,” Tuncer recalled. “She is the one who

popped in my mind when I was attending PCCC. I told

myself, ‘you can be another Mrs. May.’”

Up until that point Tuncer’s background, and focus,

was as a performer, not a teacher. Starting at the age of

3, Tuncer gravitated towards the spotlight.

“I loved to audition,” Tuncer said. “When I was

younger, I always wanted to perform.”

Born in Newark, the first generation Turkish-

American lived in Kearny until she was 5 when her par-

ents moved to Clifton.

“I grew up here and I have the best memories,” she

said. “While I attended School 3, Columbus Middle

School and Clifton High School, I always participated in

chorus, the musicals, the plays and local and school tal-

ent shows. I studied Drama I, II and III at CHS, as well

as creative writing classes.”

Tuncer also sang and was a candidate for Miss Teen

New Jersey 2003 and 2004 where she won Miss

Congeniality two years in a row.

Student Performer to Substitute TeacherTuncer graduated CHS in June 2004. But those form-

ative years at CHS also taught her how her outgoing per-

sonality, and love of public speaking, could help her pass

on her knowledge. And what she learned during those

years opened up her eyes to teaching.

And where better to hone her skills and pursue her

dream than the school that helped her visualize her

future? That is why she said she feels blessed and hon-

ored to be a substitute teacher at CHS.

The Path from SubstituteBy Domenick Reda


“I am hoping I will get noticed as a substitute teacher

and when I complete my studies, that this opportunity

may turn into a full-time position,” Tuncer said. “I

strongly believe I can bring out the best in students and

bring out their full potential.”

Who Says You Can’t Go Home?Tuncer graduated PCCC in May of last year and

started Montclair State University in September. At the

same time, she began working as a substitute teacher for

CHS, sometimes as often as three days a week.

“My time at PCCC was a crazy journey,” she said. “I

had a love/hate relationship with PCCC but I got

through it and learned a lot and it got me to MSU, which

I now have a love/hate relationship with.”

Now instead of just focusing on drama, Tuncer, who

pays for her own education, is making sure she gives

herself many options as possible, a decision that at first

was not really her own.

“Unfortunately I could not just major in theatre at

MSU, which made me so upset and angry at first.

However, this negative later became a positive. I had to

major in a subject to become a high school drama

teacher, so what better subject than English, since liter-

ature and theatre go hand in hand so perfectly? I have

been working since I was 14 years old. I do not want to

wake up everyday hating my job. I want to wake up

feeling as if its my favorite hobby, which acting and

performing are. So I believe if I teach acting, I will

never feel like work to me because it’s my passion.”

Tuncer said she is settling for nothing less than As

and Bs and is taking a 5-course work load. “The theatre

industry is hard,” Tuncer said. “Don’t get me wrong, I

still try to audition and model here and there but now my

main focus is wanting to be a drama teacher and teach

what I love to motivated students who want to perform.”

Pass It AlongAlong the path of her education, Tuncer said she has

many positive mentors and teachers, at PCCC, Montclair

State and back in her hometown, those who inspired her to

pass along her knowledge. Beyond Mrs. May, she cited

Renee Valente, John Notari and Cassie Craig. “Before

you can understand anything you have to be on the other

end,” she said. “Almost all my teachers, the ones I loved

and enjoyed, got me to where I am today.”

Clifton Teachers


In Tuncer’s words’ here are some

comments on a few CHS mentors

who made a difference in her life:

“Renee Valente now known as

Mrs. Holland was my freshman

English Teacher who made me

enjoy writing in journals. She is

hands down one of the reasons I

majored in English at MSU and the

reason I did not give up and get so

upset at the fact that I could not just

major in Theatre. It made sense on

why I chose English.

Growing up I always enjoyed

writing and always got A’'s and B's

on my reading and writing assign-

ments. Math, not so much.”

“John Notari taught drama fresh-

man year and later I had him for cre-

ative writing senior year. He always

told us to think outside the box, be

honest, be creative, be original. I

think that’s why my writing is so

different and real—and why my

professors at PCCC and MSU

always noticed my writing. They

would always say that I am very

honest, outspoken, blunt and that I

write from the heart... thanks to Mr.

Notari teaching me that.”

“Say Cassie Craig and the words

firecracker come to my mind.

She is a blast! She was never my

teacher but we connected because I

was this talkative, smiley girl who

walked the hallways and apparently

we had that in common.

Anytime I had a problem she was

there for me. We especially hit it off

when Clifton High School was

selected to go to MTV’S TRL to

kick of School Sprit Week in 2003.

Ms. Craig always made me feel

good about myself and always told

me to be proud of who I am and my

personality. I appreciated that and it

meant the world to me. When I’m

feeling down, I read the inspiring

letter that she gave me which she

took the time to write in Turkish.”

A Mustang For LifeSo on days when she stands in

front of a classroom of Mustangs

some 10 years younger than she,

Tuncer knows that it is her time to be

a leader, to be a strong role model.

“Kids sense that,” she said of

being friendly and positive but being

strong and in charge. “They have

such a good sense about everything.

They know when you are a phony.”

Tuncer believes that the job of a

teacher does not end when the

school bell rings. “When you go to

one of their plays and watch them

perform, they light up. They say,

‘thank you so much Miss T.’ They

feel like, wow, a teacher came to

see me. That’s how I felt when I

was in school and a teacher would

come to see me perform.”

As she meets with students, she

can’t help telling her students about

her own great experiences growing

up in the city she still loves as

much as when she was a kid. That

love for Clifton is what she wants

to pass along. “When I came back

here to sub, I felt like I was home,”

she said. “I feel like I didn’t gradu-

ate in ‘04. My students call me

‘Lady Mustang,’ a true Clifton girl,

a Mustang for Life.”

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For Al Yuhas,it’s Ginny andJohn Kostisin

One of my first encounters with my new 8thgrade science teacher, John Kostisin, was not a

positive experience. After talking back to him and

not knowing when to quit, he threw me out of his

class and sent me to the principal’s office, but prob-

ably not before noticing that I was 6’4”! I didn’t

know it at the time, but he was also the new fresh-

men basketball coach at Woodrow Wilson Jr. High.

I was never a very good student and I certainly

had no interest in science. I was clearly on the

wrong path at a pretty early age, always in trouble

at school and at home.

However, I was a pretty good athlete having

started playing organized sports at the age of 5 in

the Clifton Midget League.

Somehow, John Kostisin and his wife Ginny

(also a teacher), saw potential in me that no one else

did. Obviously I was tall and John was a young bas-

ketball coach. From the 8th grade on, John and

Ginny all but adopted me. My parents never wor-

ried about where I was or what I was doing because

they knew that I was always at “the Kostisin’s”.

He put me on the freshman team while I was still

in the 8th grade and let me play in the last game of

the season—a thrill that I will never forget. In those

days, you could smell Clifton athletics in the air and

I wanted to be a Mustang from that day on.

John pushed me beyond what I thought my lim-

its were in basketball and Ginny tutored me in alge-

bra, a subject I never could quite grasp. They spent

almost as much time with me as they did with their

own growing family.

Beginning in the summer after 8th grade and

every summer through my senior year, John

By Al Yuhas

Clifton Teachers

John Kostisin taught science at WWJunior High and his wife Ginny was amath teacher in Haledon. Al Yuhasgraduated CHS in 1966. His bas-ketball skills earned him a schol-arship to the University ofGeorgia. After a career inthe technology industry, hestill has a consulting com-pany and lives in SanJose, California, andWaikoloa, Hawaii.


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would take me to the parks in

Clifton and we would play endless

games of 1 on 1 in the heat and

humidity. He was tough and unre-

lenting on the court, pushed a lot,

stole the ball and blocked my shots.

Many times I wanted to quit, but he

just kept pushing me to excel.

He put me through endless drills,

always telling me that there was

someone out there practicing that I

had to be prepared to compete

against one day.

As a result of John’s support and

commitment, I became a pretty

good basketball player and earned

an athletic scholarship to the

University of Georgia.

I became the first person in my

family to graduate from college and

went on to enjoy a very successful

career in the technology industry. I

have three grown children and a

grandson, who is the light of my

life. If it weren’t for John and

Ginny Kostisin, I’m sure that my

life would have taken quite a differ-

ent path.

There is not a day goes by that I

don’t remember and appreciate the

tremendously positive impact that

they had on my life.

Clifton Teachers

Coach Kostisin commenting on Al Yuhas“Al Yuhas was an outstanding freshman basketball player who could

‘do it all’ ... run, jump, shoot, and defend. Coach Bednarcik was very

reluctant to play sophomores so I was constantly advising him about

the abilities of Allen and how well he would fit with his veteran team.

This particular team had a lot of talent but no height. Al was just the

player they needed to give them a winning season.

Al was so determined to improve that he worked after school in the

Shop Rite to earn the money to go to Clair Bee’s basketball camp after

his sophomore year. He returned to Clifton a polished, confident play-

er. Allen was Clifton’s first 1000 point scorer and made first team all-

state in his senior year. He was scouted by more colleges than I can

count and finally chose a full scholarship to the University of Georgia

where he competed against some of the best players in the country,

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Clifton Teachers

Mrs. Gaccione’sLasting Lesson

A piece of Clifton history has been uncovered with the

unfortunate passing of Anne Marie Gaccione, one of

Clifton High School’s finest history teachers.

She has left behind a legacy so extensive that it

begins with the foundation of CHS itself. Her father,

Joseph Calise, was an original member of the commit-

tee responsible for planning the construction of the

building in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s.

Anne Marie and her husband Peter are both alumni of

CHS, he 1966, she 1972. She began teaching there in

the late 1970’s after graduating then Montclair State

College and William Paterson with a teaching degree.

But the ties of the Gaccione family with CHS contin-

ues to weave the halls. Anne Marie’s sister in-law Flo

Calise started as a physical education teacher, and is

now the supervisor of counseling services.

Even Mrs. Gaccione’s children have followed in their

mother’s footsteps as Mustangs. Her son Joseph was a

substitute teacher, her daughter Victoria is an English

teacher, and her niece Brittany has recently begun a

career in teaching English as well.

To top off this amazing lineage, Victoria Gaccione

married Michael Rogers, a history teacher and track

coach for the high school, in 2009. They now have two

beautiful children, Amelia, aged two and a half, and

Jackson, one year. It is gratifying to know that Mrs.

Gaccione was able to meet her grandchildren before her

long battle with breast cancer ended in November, 2013.

But Mrs. Gaccione is not the type of woman to be

mourning—she is one to celebrate.

Her life was spent spreading knowledge and laughter

to not only every person she taught at CHS but to every

person she came in contact with; to know Mrs.

Gaccione was to learn.

Victoria Rogers affirms: “The most bizarre part of

having a teacher for a mom was that everything was a

lesson… Every vacation we went on turned into a histo-

ry lesson…” Victoria goes on to comment that her

mother would often lead impromptu tours when they

visited historic sites, attracting a crowd with the amount

of information she had to share.

Mrs. Gaccione was a role model because she lived

for the sake of teaching. I myself had the pleasure of

being Mrs. Gaccione’s pupil during my freshman year at

CHS in 2009.

But rather than walking away with a simple history

lesson, my classmates and were taught something much

more valuable: to never give up.

Watching Mrs. Gaccione slowly lose her hair as a

result of going to chemotherapy treatments every Friday

taught us more about the power of attitude and charac-

ter than many of us could have imagined. What made

Mrs. Gaccione a phenomenal teacher was the example

she set for her students.

Writer Mariel Vazquez isa 2013 CHS graduate,now attending HofstraUniversity. She wrote thisessay in honor of herfavorite teacher at CHS,the late Anne MarieGaccione, pictured at rightwith her husband Peter onOctober 14, 2011.

By Mariel Vazquez


No matter how exhausted or uncomfortable she was, her

passion for history, sense of humor, and determination to

live combined to create a profound inspiration for us stu-

dents. Not only was she a teacher of history, Mrs. Gaccione

was a teacher of life.

Asked what one thing was that she had learned from her

mother, Mrs. Rogers responded with, “She was the epitome

of strength, and I know that she would want that strength to

travel on through me, my brother, and her grandchildren.”

It appears Mrs. Gaccione saved her best lesson for last.

From left, CHS English teacher Brittany Gaccione, aniece of Anne Marie. Mrs. Gaccione a few yearsback. Daughter Vikki and her husband MichaelRogers with their children Amelia and Jackson.

Clifton Teachers


Clifton Teachers

When Taras Petryshyn immigrated to the UnitedStates from Ukraine with his parents and younger sis-

ter, the then 16 year-old didn’t speak a word of English.

Today, the 32 year-old fifth grade teacher at School 8 is

living the American dream.

A month after his family settled in Clifton in August

1997, Petryshyn entered Clifton High School as a soph-

omore and was placed in ESL classes (English as a

Second Language).

“The first year was very hard,” he said. “I didn’t

know English and I had no friends, so I just focused on

studying.”

By his senior year, Petryshyn had learned English

well enough to test out of ESL and was placed in regu-

lar education classes. He also worked part time in Shop

Rite and later in a restaurant. “I made enough money

that year to buy my first car,” he proudly stated.

After graduating in 2000, Petryshyn enrolled at

Bergen Community College, where he majored in

English, hoping that would help him continue to master

the language. To pay for his tuition and expenses he

took a job in the food court at Costco. Petryshyn’s father

had been working as a custodian for the Clifton Public

Schools and when another job opened up, the younger

Petryshyn decided to apply for the position.

He arranged his school schedule to take all morning

classes, so that he could work the 2-11 p.m. shift with

the school district. His first assignment was at the high

school, where he cleaned the Central Wing.

He was later transferred to the district’s administra-

tion building at the former School 6 on Clifton Ave. It

was there that Petryshyn not only cleaned offices, but

also received the kind words and advice that encouraged

him to pursue his goal of becoming a teacher. Among

those with whom he enjoyed talking was former

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Rice, now

superintendent of the Kalamazoo, Michigan, public

school district.

“We always had very good conversations,”

Petryshyn said of Dr. Rice. “He always had something

interesting to say and I enjoyed listening to him.” One

floor up from the superintendent’s office, Petryshyn

would pick the brain of Janina Kusielewicz, the dis-

trict’s curriculum director, who at the time was supervi-

sor of basic skills and bilingual education.

“As he was going about his cleaning duties, we

would chat about his studies and his plans for the

future,” Kusielewicz said. “He became well-known in

the building for his work ethic. It was very impressive.

He was working full time and going to school full time.

It’s the kind of commitment that we look for when hir-

ing teachers.”

After completing two years at Bergen Community,

Petryshyn transferred to William Paterson University,

where he enrolled in the teacher education program.

He originally thought that he might want to teach

English in middle school or high school. But, after stu-

dent teaching for a semester in a fifth grade class in

Passaic, he decided that he really liked being in elemen-

tary school.

From Custodian toClassroom Teacher

By Carol Leonard


Petryshyn graduated from William Paterson in

January 2006 and continued with his custodian job as

he waited for a teaching position to open up, either in

Clifton or another school district.

Late in the summer of 2006, while cutting the grass on

the front lawn at School 6, Petryshyn was approached by

Kusielewicz who informed him of a last minute tempo-

rary position to fill in for a third grade teacher at School

13 who needed to go on medical leave.

“He was one of the first people I thought of,”

Kusielewicz said. “I urged him to apply for the open-

ing.” A week later, Petryshyn was in the classroom

ready to go to work for the start of the school year.

“My desk was never clean,” he said of his first

assignment. “As a new teacher you’re always trying to

do everything you can to do a good job, so I had piles

of papers on the desk all the time to review and go

over.”

When the regular teacher returned from leave of

absence in January 2007, Petryshyn was asked to fill in

for a month in a first grade class at School 17. “That

was very interesting, too,” he said. “With little kids,

you can’t drift away from the plan. It was a different

kind of experience.”

Then in February, he moved on to School 5, once

again to replace a third grade teacher on leave, a posi-

tion that lasted until the end of the school year.

While someone else may have been frustrated mov-

ing among three different teaching assignments in the

same school year, Petryshyn viewed it as a great learn-

ing experience that gave him exposure to three schools

and classes of children at different grade levels. “You

get to see where your strengths are as a teacher,” he said.

The following fall, when a large fifth grade enroll-

ment at School 1 opened up an additional class,

Petryshyn was hired to take on the permanent assign-

ment. It was that year he decided that he was most

comfortable with this age of students. “Kids really grow

up a lot in fifth grade,” he said. “Sometimes, when stu-

dent are doing poorly or acting out and you show an

interest and work with them, you really have the ability

to help them make a positive transformation. When that

happens, you know you did something right and it

makes you feel good.”

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In September 2008,

when a third fifth grade

class was no longer need-

ed at School 1, Petryshyn

was rehired to fill another

fifth grade opening at School 8.

“He’s a principal’s delight,” School 8 Principal

Nancy Latzoni said. “He has a wonderful classroom

management style and an even demeanor, which is

especially important in fifth grade. And, he loves to try

new strategies for increasing student performance.”

Petryshyn said that, as a teacher, he has come

to love some of the same subjects that he hated as

a young student while in school in Ukraine, par-

ticularly math. “The teachers I had never took the

time to explain and work with students who did-

n’t understand the subject,” he said. “Now I know

as a teacher how important this is.”

Now in his third year at the Delawanna neighbor-

hood school and his seventh as a teacher, the soft-spo-

ken and mild-mannered Petryshyn, has embarked on a

new journey in his career. Since August, he has been in

a Fast Track program to

earn his Master of Arts in

Educational Leadership

at Montclair State. The

36-credit degree program

will earn his principal and supervisor certification and

he will complete the 14 month program in August.

“Every year is something new,” he said of his role in

the classroom and as a student at MSU. “You deal with

different types of learners and different personalities.

But no matter what you may be dealing with outside of

school, when you come here, the kids always make you

feel happy. My wife says that I’m probably the only

guy she knows who loves his job as much as I do.”

Pleased to hear of Petryshyn’s evolving teaching

career, Dr. Rice commented, “He’s a real Clifton

success story and I’m very proud of him. What he

has done is proof that, if you work hard and study

hard, you can learn a lot and make a contribution to

the community. He’s a wonderful role model for

his students and other immigrant and non-immi-

grant children throughout the district.”

Assemblywoman

Sheila Y. Oliver

I Join You in Celebrating Teachers

Proudly Serving Assembly District 34...

Clifton, Orange, East Orange & Montclair

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paid for by Committee to Elect Sheila Oliver

I am a firm believer that public education should never be a for-profit industry pumping out students with degrees like a factory.Profit motives should have no place in public education and thatis why I oppose school vouchers or any other effort to redirectfunding away from public schools and toward private enterprises.There is certainly a place for private education in our system, butthe need for support and funding in our public schools is simplytoo great to allow taxpayer money to be pulled away.

Since August, Petrysyn has beenin a Fast Track program to earn his

Master of Arts with the goal ofbecoming a Principal or Supervisor.


Community Comments

Tell Us About YourFavorite Teacher

Kim Sandy WardMr. Gerry Waller—yes, he is my cousin—but he was

also our typing teacher at Columbus Jr High—and

everyone loved, loved, loved him! He was very cool

with all of the students!!! Also, Mr. Masino, our sci-

ence teacher at Columbus, made science fun! My

Italian teacher at Columbus,

Angelo Izzo, was a very down-to-

earth guy and patient with teach-

ing us. And School 11 grammar

school, Mrs. Kuntz in 4th grade,

one of my favorite teachers ever! I

learned a lot from her!

Kathy Gerardi WaltsakMr. Campo, CHS, 1967 or 68!

George Goldey.... the elegant, crisp, piercingly present Mrs. Ina Minor

from CHS. Remarkable dedication with a gift of con-

veying the nuances of literature and the ability to teach

one how to write an organized thought. Wherever she

may be, bless her.

Christina ImprotaFifth grade, School 11, Mr. Freck. I had separation anx-

iety from my mother. I was going to counseling every

week for this problem so it was serious. When she

would drop me off at school every morning I had to be

torn from her arms, unless Mr Freck was there. He

always made me feel like every-

thing was going to be OK. He

made me feel safe from my wor-

ries, and I’ll never forget him.

Kim Muia WestMiss Cappello now Mrs. Arlene

Agresti .... best math teacher ever!!

I hated math, but she was so good

that she changed that!!

Cathy Heitz SandfortSchool 5 Mrs. Bender, the best!

Norm TahanProfessor Bassano at William Paterson University and

Mr. Keleher at Paul VI.

On Facebook and at CliftonMerchant.com,readers exchanged memories of teacher andmentors. We followed up through emails andby telephone, through personal contacts andsocial media. Some comments are from formerresidents now living out of town while othersare from local Cliftonites. Thanks to all whotook the time to respond. Here are some of theshout-outs to those teachers who changed theirstudents’ lives. And pictured at left is the fre-quently mentioned Gerry Waller on the coverof our January 1998 edition with CHS seniorDanielle Loiancono.

Robert Campo and Arlene Agresti.

Jane Putkowski RotellaCassie Craig taught business. She was a big influence

on me back when I graduated CHS in 1973 which led

to my career as an administrative assistant.

Cheri Spoerry GaitaGerry Waller, my typing teacher in 9th grade and 12th

grade computer teacher! Also my steno teacher,

Dorothy Walsh ... tough lady, but great teacher!

Terry Braun KronzMr. Murphy. I believe it was 1972 and Mr. Murphy was

assigned to watch over the kids that were suspended

and had to go the school in an annex on Clifton Ave

(just a little past Colfax Ave.). He was a fabulous per-

son. The kids came first in his book. Not sure who he

angered or why such a wonderful person ended up there

but it was definitely a plus for the kids. Many a good

time had there!!!

Cassie Craig to Jane Rotella. “Our Good Grooming Day! Geez, skirts were so short in 1973—what a great bunch!”


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Henry Hooks Brower was not a teacherbut his spirit lives in the hearts of a gener-

ation of Clifton kids who considered

him an advocate, friend and a mentor.

The founder of the Clifton Midget

League, Hooks was a bit of a vision-

ary. His work and his coaching

touched so many lives in Clifton

that a year before his death the city

honored him by naming a playing

field and field house in Albion Park.

On Sept. 27, 1997, some 100 peo-

ple turned out to recognize the then-84-

year old legend for his many years of

good work. At the time, Mayor Jim

Anzaldi said “it seems as though he has

always been a part of the city’s recreation

scene and we hope he always will be.”

That park on Maplewood Ave. was also the scene of

many of his greatest moments as an unpaid volunteer

organizer of the Clifton Midget League and other

events over a 40-year period.

And in another Clifton first... when Hooks launched

the Clifton Midget League in 1953 it had the distinction

of being the only organization in the nation that spon-

sored baseball, basketball and football.

Today, kids who grew up in the CML still remem-

ber Hooks as a man that taught them about not only

sportsmanship, but something even more

important than that. “Every kid in Clifton

knew Hooks,” commented Stephen

Bykowsky. “He taught us about life.”

With a trademark fedora, Hooks

was known for his iron-clad memo-

ry, often recalling details of a parade

and award dinner, right down to the

uniforms and outfits the kids and

their parents wore.

Born in Newark, Brower moved

to the Beantown section of Clifton

with his wife and three children and

worked as a mailman for 35 years.

Donald Virgilito noted on Facebook

that the name Hooks came about because

“he was a pitcher and had the best curve ball

in Newark.”

“He was 100 percent for the kids,” commented Terry

Braun Kronz.

“Hooks Brower loved the Clifton Midget League,”

wrote Russell Triolo.

Born April 8, 1913, Hooks died Nov. 9, 1998.

Today, a whole new generation of Clifton kids can

see the playing field and field house while their parents

tell them about the legend of Hooks Brower.

“He didn’t teach,” Bykowsky remembered.

“But Hooks Brower... he was Clifton.”

Clifton Mentor

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Sara MalgieriMr. David Radler at CHS taught me

that writing was something that I could

do freely, without the restriction of

guidelines (length, format, and so

forth). He allowed me to dig deep, truly

analyze novels, and write from my heart as opposed to

just making up things to meet a length requirement!

Thanks to him, I became an English major at Montclair

State! An amazing man, teacher, and friend!

Donald VirgilitoMr. Lore relates to students and is a great dresser.

Patty Lewis RoennauMrs. Dudlo, School 14. Has a way of making all the

kids in her class feel special and knows how to teach to

each child.

Jim DoremusWrestling Coach Joe Ivers.

Marianne Bray-MeneghinSome amazing art teachers: Debra Makoujy, Donna

DeLiberto-Vogt, Frank Slokoff, just to name a few.

Nina Surich Bigg Mr. Voightlander.

Lori Struck DeSilva Mrs. Belle Lewis, English. She played the song from

Janis Joplin’s album Me and Bobby McGee and had us

listen to the lyrics. I thought it was pretty cool since she

was ... let’s say ‘way older’... and got me started on a

being a fan of Kris Kristofferson, who wrote the song.

She had a great way of getting you interested in what

she was teaching.

Community Comments

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For as long as I can remember, my grandfather John

Filippone, affectionately known as Papa, instilled in my

sister and I the necessity to serve others.

He affirmed again and again how fortunate we were,

and taught us that with such good fortune came the

responsibility to give of ourselves. There was never the

concept of “should” in Papa’s endeavor to help others

but rather an underlying obligation that enlivened the

rest of our family to follow in line.

Since 1996, Papa has chaired the St. Philips Knights

of Columbus Council 11671 Drive for Persons with

Intellectual Disabilities along with Co-Chair Ross

Alfieri. Every year the Knights gather donations from

local businesses, tag throughout Clifton, and collect

money via school dress-down days.

Proceeds from the drive are dispersed among the

Department for People with Disabilities, the Clifton

Adult Opportunity Center, and Passaic County Training

Center. The Knights hope to surpass the 2013 figure of

just over $13,000 raised to benefit persons with

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Having been raised with a tradition of service above

self, my sister Regina and I have done our utmost to

live as Papa taught us to, helping others.

During my four years at Georgetown University, I

found a home with the Best Buddies International com-

munity, an organization that facilitates one-to-one

friendships and empowerment in the workplace for

people with special needs.

Among other activities, Regina and I biked 50 miles

throughout Washington, DC in support of the Eunice

Kennedy Shriver Foundation, the Special Olympics,

and Best Buddies. On Feb. 22, we took the plunge into

32 degree water in Seaside Heights to benefit Special

Olympics New Jersey. Recently, I began volunteering

with the Murray House in Clifton, one of the DPD’s

homes for adults with special needs.

Regina serves as an Oncology Counselor at

Mountainside Hospital and leads support groups for

people affected by Cancer diagnoses with Gilda’s Club.

Papa is our guide in being mindful of the abundant

needs that exist outside of our own.

There is a misconception that volunteerism is a serv-

ice offered to other people, less fortunate than oneself.

That the volunteer works to better the lives of other

people by offering skills, time, and/or money. While

this is true on the surface, in my opinion the volunteer

is the recipient of the service.

Never have I walked away from any of these experi-

ences without my life becoming richer, my spirit a bit

more whole. It is our moral obligation as people to help

one another and Papa makes sure we never forget that.

If you’d like to help John Filippone and the St.

Philip’s Knights of Columbus, come to Anthony’s Coal

Fired Pizza on March 18 and simply break bread. They

have teamed up for a fundraiser to benefit those with

intellectual disabilities. Just mention the K of C, and

20% of the check value excluding tax and tips will be

donated to the cause. The event is from noon to 9:30

pm at the pizzeria inside the Promenade Shops.

Clifton Mentor

Volunteerism aFamily Affair

Francesca Hemsey (at right) and sister Regina withtheir grandfather John Filippone after their dip in theAtlantic to raise funds for Special Olympics.

By Francesca Hemsey


Community Comments

Sharon Ofsowitz Kozinn Walter Voightlander, Sociology. He was

awesome.

Michael Termyna Mr. Voightlander and Mrs. Shuster in

Accounting.

David Santosuosso I had three favorites: Marge Surgent,

Rosemarie Baran, Barbara Zoppo. I

was a troubled kid and all three were

kind, understanding, inspiring and

patient. I perceived them as real people

and not just teachers. They were all at

CHS from 1971-1973.

Rich DeLotto Terry Cagna during my sophomore year.

Her dad was a janitor at CHS and she

was a history teacher. She said to me

something like... ‘I think you have a thing for

history...why don't you stay with

it?’ (Rich today is a Clifton histori-

an with a special interest in our

hometown veterans and their lives).

Mary Lou Meyer, junior year,

advanced math, she was just such

a great teacher and Mrs. Margaret

Sichel, sophomore year math, she

had no patience for kids that did

not work hard. She always had

high expectations.

Then there was Bill Cannici during my senior year,

psychology, 1971, the year I graduat-

ed. We were talking about Vietnam

and I had read or heard about how

the VA was treating this one guy, a

vet from Jersey. Mr. Cannici encour-

aged me to write a paper on the vet

and how he was treated stateside. I

got an ‘A’ and perhaps this was a pre-

cursor to my work and research on

veteran affairs. Bill later went on to

be CHS principal.

Philip ReadMr. William Davidovich, my 6th grade teacher at School No. 9 in

1966-67 (the class is pictured above). I did a poster map for geogra-

phy, and he recognized how important it was to me and let me con-

tinue to produce them for extra credit! That really motivated me. I

just loved the drawing and sensing the world at my fingers. He

signed by autograph book that year: It was a pleasure having you inmy class. Best wishes and good luck to a fine boy. I still have it!

Margaret Sichel, MaryLou Meyer.


Clifton Teacher

Sister Mary ConceptaSister of Charity at St. Brendan’s

By Jack DeVries

The first time I saw Sister Mary Concepta, she was

holding an eighth grader by an ear lobe as they walked

to the principal’s office. The kid was 6’2”; Sister stood

4’11”. You don’t forget images like that.

While she would have never done that today,

when I attended St. Brendan’s School on

Lakeview Ave. in the sixties, this was

acceptable discipline. Get out of line and

face the nuns’ wrath, and there was no

tougher nun than Sister Mary Concepta.

Imagine Granny from the old BeverlyHillbillies show in a habit and that was

her. She weighed 100 pounds after a

good meal and had long bony fingers that

could stretch across a classroom. She had

a non-nonsence voice, a Clint Eastwood

glare, and superhuman sight and hearing,

able to catch any kid who dared upset her or the

sweet soul of Jesus.

Her classroom had all the frivolity of military school

– graveyard quiet, except for her piercing voice running

through the lessons and kids answering, “Yes, Sister.”

On her blackboard was the weekly Mission Money

total, divided by girls and boys. Hit $5 for the week

and there was no weekend homework. Finish a penny

under and you weren’t watching Walt Disney'sWonderful World of Color Sunday night; your nose was

in a textbook.

Whatever grade Sister Mary Concepta taught – be it

first, third or seventh – that class led the school in dona-

tions. When you were in her class, money didn’t only

burn a hole in your pocket, it burned through to her col-

lection basket for starving children – whose existence

gave us no right to complain about anything, according

to Sister.

I learned of her loan shark collection style firsthand

when I found $10 on the stairs of St. Brendan’s. I ran

home with it – dreaming of buying countless packs of

baseball cards at Sanitary Supermarket on Crooks Ave.

To my horror, my mom made me bring it back to school.

Sister told me to bring the 10-spot to the principal’s

office and, if no one claimed it in a month, it was

mine. After 30 days, no one did.

“Sister, no one claimed the money!” I said.

“It’s mine.”

“That’s good, John,” she said, always

calling me by my baptismal name. “Now,

you’re going to donate it to the Missions.”

Damn. There went my chance of own-

ing every Yankees card Topps made.

After lunch, she made me stand in

front of the class and tell about my dona-

tion. The kids thought I was nuts. Then

we realized with $10 in the Mission’s kitty,

we had a free weekend. I was now a hero!

But it wasn’t to be. Because my $10 was

dumb luck and both the girls’ and boys’ totals

lagged in the $3 range that Friday, we got homework

anyway, even me.

Back then, Sister Mary Concepta hated long hair and

the Beatles; detested the heathen communists (who cel-

ebrated their infernal May Day during the month of the

Blessed Virgin Mary); and waged war against skirts

above the knee.

As a kid who was an easy mark for bullies – and we

had quite a few at St. Brendan’s – Sister Mary Concepta

was also my secret avenging angel, one who could make

tough guy whimper with her bird-of-prey glare. She got

even for all misfit kids who those morons tormented.

The best thing I remember about Sister Mary

Concepta was that I learned—she was a great teacher.

After a summer of dread—which every kid in her

class suffered through knowing who their teacher was

that September—my academic world changed forever.

Listening in class became critical, times tables were

absorbed, and homework was never ignored.


During my fifth grade

year, Sister Mary

Concepta crammed as

much knowledge into my

young head as it would

hold. Memorization, capitalization, punctuation, I

swam in that stuff, along with her lessons about Jesus.

Math and Spelling were important, but to her, catechism

was a knife fight. Sister was battling for our souls.

And, when all that knowledge started to take hold,

hot damn, it felt good. Raising my hand, hearing her

call on me, responding with the answer and hearing her

say, “100 percent!” made me feel on top of the world.

By the end of the fifth grade, I felt smarter, wiser and

ready for seventh grade.

On the last day of school, I remember helping her

clean the classroom. She was quieter, even nice. I

stayed behind because I didn’t want to leave her—

something I’d have never imagined before that year.

I was also changed in ways I realize today. I can

focus like a monk because of her influence. I under-

stand that discipline can be a good thing, helping you

accomplish tasks—like staying up to 3 am to finish an

article or project.

In Sister Mary Concepta

I also saw a devotion to

faith and others that is rare.

Sister believed she had to

be tough to prepare us for

the world ahead. Others have their stories about Sister

Mary Concepta, maybe not as fond. She could be rigid

and had a long memory for past transgressions.

Her discipline was more intimidating than physical,

but she could be verbally sharp and cutting to trouble-

makers. Trust me, her words hurt less than the pounding

these knuckleheads routinely doled out to other kids.

That doesn’t make her discipline right, but it was of

another time and it’s not coming back.

During her long career, Sister Mary Concepta taught

at St. Brendan’s from the late forties into the eighties,

living through several death scares (the Grim Reaper

was afraid of her), Vietnam, and the impending fall of

her despised Soviet communists.

Forty-some years later, I can still see her in my mind’s

eye, sitting ramrod straight behind her desk – starched

habit taut across her forehead and stern eyes fixed on me,

waiting for a correct answer.

Thanks to you, Sister, I’m always ready.

WEE CARE CHILD CARE CENTER

1170

OFF10%

SIBLINGDISCOUNT

RegistrationNow Ongoing!

Give Us A Call Today!

Jennifer Henkel, Director • First Presbyterian Church 303 Maplewood Avenue, Clifton • 973.523.7704

Accepting Children from Birth to Age 12• Open 7 am to 6 pm• Weekly Chapel• 16 Teachers & Aides —

Many here over 20 years!

• After-School Pick-Up at School 5

• When public schools are closed, we’re open!

The best thing I remember aboutSister Mary Concepta was that Ilearned—she was a great teacher.


Community Events

First Class Free mention Clifton Merchant

Our PBA 36 bicycling team leaves Clifton on May 9 in the PoliceUnity Tour for Washington D.C. Before the 300 mile bicycle trek

to Washington D.C., to honor the memory of the late John Samra, our

Clifton group of 26 must also raise more than $45,500 which helps to

fund a monument and museum in the nation’s Capitol.

The Police Unity Tour is

an annual bike ride to

Washington D.C. in memory

of fallen officers. Over

19,000 cops have given their

lives in the line of duty, and

their names are etched on the

National Law Enforcement

Officers Monument and

Memorial in Washington.

Each name represents a

sad story of an officer from

across the U.S. killed in the

line of duty, including

Clifton Police Officer John

Samra, who died in the line

of duty on Nov. 21, 2003.

Will you please consider

helping me in reaching my

personal goal of $1,750?

If you’d like to help out, call me at 973-253-4400. Contributions are

made to Clifton PBA 36 and note PUT / Tom Hawrylko.

In advance, thanks for your consideration.

POLICE UNITY TOURWe Ride For Those Who Have Died.

Nature has seen fit to provide human mouths with a

natural assortment of bacteria types that vary from indi-

vidual to individual. Many of these bacteria types are

harmless, but several types that many of us have pro-

duce acids as a byproduct of their metabolism.

They also produce a sticky matrix (plaque) on which

they accumulate quickly. If not mechanically removed

in twenty-four hours, they are numerous enough to pro-

duce acid concentrated enough to eat through tooth

enamel. Once the tooth structure is softened by the

acid the bacteria then invade the tooth and begin to

consume it, reproduce, produce more acid, etc.

Subsequent decay progression can result in the bac-

teria invading the blood vessel/nerve complex inside the

tooth with the possible result of a severe toothache, a

chronic draining infection, or an infection that can

spread throughout the body. Once you can “see” a hole

in the tooth or feel sensitivity to cold or sweet from a cav-

ity the tooth is already severely damaged.

Bacterial accumulation of a different type, those that

do not love acid or oxygen-rich environments, can

cause inflammation of the periodontal (gum) support of

the teeth. This eventually causes bone loss on the

tooth sockets as the accumulation continues on the

tooth root surfaces, with real loosening of the teeth and

loss of both tooth and bone a potentiality.

All these tooth woes are caused by bacterial

accumulation in the presence of the chemicals

in the foods we eat and drink. The simple rem-

edy is to physically disrupt their accumulation

very regularly and methodically.

It is necessary to brush each

tooth surface; inside biting, and

outside very thoroughly with out

missing any.

Flossing is necessary to dis-

rupt bacteria where the teeth

touch each other and on the

between surfaces below the

tooth contacts.

The last tooth cleaning of the

day is very important as bacteria

multiply fastest when we sleep due

to less saliva dilution and self clean-

ing oral movements.

The average person should also

have a professional dental cleaning

and exam with selected limited x-rays

to detect new cavities every 6 months.

Some need more frequent maintenance depending

on severity of bacterial activity naturally present or on

the ability of the patient to control it.

This regular maintenance is not expensive, even in a

non-insured private practice situation. What is always

costly, both in terms of health results and monetary

involvement, is the repair of damage.

Dr. Fredrick Paternoster, also known as Dr. Rick,graduated from Georgetown University in Washington,

DC, in 1973, with a Bachelors of Science in Biology.

He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from

Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1978, and

completed his postgraduate residency at St. Joseph's

Hospital and Medical Center in Paterson, in July 1979.

His residency fell under their General Dentistry pro-

gram, with an emphasis in surgical training.

He joined his father, Dr. Angelo Paternoster, as an

associate in his long-standing general practice in

1980. He benefited from this association greatly and

rapidly accumulated experience with the variety of

treatments that the practice provided. In 1996, Dr. Rick

purchased the practice from Dr. Angelo and his asso-

ciate, Dr. Edward Kuller, and has since maintained a

solo dentist office. He resides in Clifton with his wife,

Mary, and two children, Maura and Paul.

Fredrick J.

Paternoster D.D.SA Trusted Name in FamilyDentistry for 60 Years

General DentistryPeriodontal Care

DenturesImplantsCrowns

973-365-1267www.rickpaternosterddc.com

296 Clifton Ave., Downtown Clifton


The mission of Hayden’s Heart is to not only raise aware-

ness of HLHS or Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and to

help keep Hayden’s memory alive, but to also help families

with their medical bills and travel expenses.

Hayden was born March 12, 2012 with a rare heart

defect called HLHS or Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

which occurs in 1 out of every 10,000 births. Scheduled to

undergo three open heart surgeries, he died in his fifth

month soon after the third procedure.

The DeMayo Family is seeking contribution through

their Villa Roma Restaurant in memory of Hayden. Funds

raised will help a fellow heart family whose child is beat-

ing the odds against CHD but whose family could also ben-

efit from financial help towards outstanding medical bills,

travel expenses and just every day living.

Unfortunately health insurance companies do not

always cover all medical procedures, hospital stays, or

medicines and equipment that need to be available for

home care. In addition to those expenses, several families

must travel far distances to ensure their child is receiving

care from the absolute best hospitals, giving their warrior

the best fighting chance.

Because of their good fortune, Rich and Stefania

DeMayo have decided to make it their mission to support

these families both financially and emotionally.

Help the DeMayo Family of Villa Romaraise funds for Hayden’s Heart Fund

On August 16, 2012, Hayden JeterDorsett lost his battle with heart dis-ease and joined countless other babieswho also lost their fight to CHD. Afoundation in his name helps to raisefunds to help families with their medicalbill and travel expenses.


With the healthy birth of son (at left) Luciano Vincent on Feb. 8,Rich and Stefania DeMayo have doubled their efforts to raise funds for

the Hayden’s Heart Foundation.

Since Luciano joins four year-old twin sisters and an older sister (see

facing page), the DeMayo family hasn’t forgotten what it was like to

face difficult times, and are more than happy to help out others in need.

His wife of nine years, Stefania, had a heart transplant at age 28,

after spending most of the first five years of their marriage in the hos-

pital. “She got sick on our honeymoon and it took almost two years

before she was finally diagnosed with a rare cardiomyopathy,” he said.

The DeMayos will never forget how important it was to have all the

support they received, so he wants to pay it back.

www.haydensheart.org

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Clifton Milestone

When people ask Margaret Pacciorettiabout her longevity she recalls a devotion to

family and friends and proudly adds, “I was

born the year World War I started.” Folks usu-

ally don’t realize that she is 100 years old and

has lived every one of those years in Clifton.

Born Margaret Pivirotto,

March 3, 1914 in a house on

Highland Ave., her family

moved to Lincoln Pl. in Botany

Village where she attended

Schools 7 and 12 before gradu-

ating CHS in 1931.

At Clifton High she pre-

pared herself for life after

school by taking commercial business courses.

She worked for an attorney in Passaic, preparing

divorce papers; as a mender for a seamstress in Garfield,

and as an accounting clerk for 33 years at Hoffman La

Roche before retiring. A skilled typist, she was able to

type 150 words per minute.

Paccioretti also enjoyed bowling and bingo, as well as

dancing at the Cooperative Hall on

Parker Ave. and other venues.

She married at the age of 27 and

moved to East Clifton Ave., was

divorced after 11 years, but kept her

husband's name. Despite never

having any children of her own, she

remained close to family and

friends, which included six sib-

lings; four sisters and two brothers,

all now deceased.

One of those brothers was the father of

Lenore Donetz, who affectionately refers to

Paccioretti as Aunt Marge.

“They all shared a happy bond,” Donetz

fondly recalled. “She is a devoted, loving per-

son.” Donetz said the sisters were also “devot-

ed Catholics” who could be

found sitting every Sunday

in either the second or third

pew at Sacred Heart

Church at the corner of

Clifton and Randolph

Avenues in Botany, where

they also volunteered.

Part of Paccioretti’s

secret to a long, happy life—accepting things as they are

and treating others with kindness and respect.

“She always says, ‘God’s will be done,’” Donetz said.

“She would give someone the shirt off her back.”

Today, Paccioretti lives at the Daughters of Miriam

Center on Hazel St., which provides housing for senior

citizens., with the support of her family, pictured below.


LIFETIME OF

DEVOTIONBy Domenick Reda


As events in Ukraine continue toevolve with the Russian invasion ofCrimea, Ukrainians worldwide areworking to keep issues facing the EasternEuropean nation in the daily news.

For the last three months, thousandshave staged protests on the Maidan inthe capital of Ukraine, Kyiv. It beganwhen Ukraine’s president declined tosign a trade pact with the EuropeanUnion, instead accepting an economicaid package from Russia. Critics viewedhis actions as an embrace of Russia,Ukraine’s ruler until 1991.

Protesters took to the Maidan in ral-lies against Russian influence, corrup-tion, abuses of democratic rights and thecountry’s ailing economy. The resultwas some 100 deaths.

On March 1 on the steps of St.Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church onPresident St., a memorial entitledRequiem for Heaven’s Hundred wasorganized by the New Ukrainian Wave,Passaic. As we go to press on March 4,Ukrainians will stage a rally inWashington D.C. to bring attention totheir efforts to create a solution to thisthreat to Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Requiem for

Heaven’sHundred

photos by Maryana Hordeychuk

To Ray Grabowski, the Blackened Blues Bandis a musical revival of sorts. BBB is, after all, an

homage to an American music tradition and a

soulful sound that includes R&B staples like the

Temptations and Four Tops.

The idea for the group came about a year ago.

At the time Grabowski was playing drums for an

11-piece band called Swingman and the Misfit

Mutts, which he started.

Mutts performed at local venues for about four years

before Ray and his brother Matt formed BBB.

Mutts featured contemporary and swing music, but

like the new band, it had lots of horns and Blues over-

tones, so it was a natural transition.

The brothers—both born in Clifton and current resi-

dents—figured, why not take their act to one of the city’s

most popular hangouts? They contacted Grande Saloon

General Manger George Manousos about having BBB

perform there. Over the course of several months the

band became a regular act at the Van Houten Ave. estab-

lishment, generally performing one Friday each month.

Now the landmark neighborhood saloon and restau-

rant will host the band on March 14 to kick off St.

Patrick’s Day weekend starting around 8 pm.

“We tried it and it worked really well,” said Ray

Grabowski. “It gets so crowded. A lot of people from

Clifton come out. It gives them an opportunity to hear

live music. People love it. It brings them all together.”

Part BBB’s success can be attributed to the original

popularity of Misfits. When the new band was started,

they rounded up former “Misfit” Leny Nigro, aka

“Hoochie Coochie Man,” who plays saxophone, harp and

flute. “He does vocals as well,” Ray Grabowski said. “He

is a good all around musician.”

Rounding out BBB are Kim Radion, guitar; Mike

Madden, aka “Mike from Secaucus,” bass, and a doll of

a lead singer–Kim Latiano.

A former vocalist for the Party Dolls, Latiano–known

at the time by her maiden name, Kim Konikowski–was

the blonde member of the female trio that also featured a

brunette and a redhead.

“We spoke to Kim about getting a band together,” Ray

Grabowksi said. “She is a phenomenal singer. This is a

take off on the Party Dolls. I said to her, ‘why don’t we

get a band together? We can do some bluesy stuff.’ She

liked the idea.”

Like the two brothers, Latiano was born and Clifton

and is a current resident.


Night Out

BlackenedBlues Band

Story by Dom Reda • Photo by Jasmine D. Currie

March 14 at theGrande Saloon

Matt Grabowski, Kim Latiano and Ray Grabowski.


“I had been in the Party Dolls for over 20 years and

was an original member of the band back in the 80s,”

Latiano recalled. “I traveled all over the country with the

Party Dolls.” She jumped at the opportunity to sing again.

“I heard Ray Grabowski was looking for a possible

sub for Swingman so I contacted him, and we got togeth-

er to rehearse a few songs and decided we would put

another small group together,” she said.

“What's great about this project is that we are able to

perform locally and are having a great time being out

among friends,” she said. “The more we perform the bet-

ter we sound and we are really excited for this project to

take off. Most importantly we are all doing what we love.

I am really happy to be able to continue performing, espe-

cially in my own backyard. Clifton still rocks.”

But really when you get down to it, it is as simple as

having fun, and this latest collaboration is all about that.

“We do a lot of stuff you would hear from many of the

great black artists including the Temptations and the Four

Tops,” said Ray Grabowski. “We do a little bit of every-

thing. We perform everything from Motown, to Blues to

50s Rock & Roll. We love it and so does the audience.

Everyone has a great time.”

Good Neighbors,Great Rates

Thomas Tobin973-779-4248

Bill G. Eljouzi973-478-9500

973-772-8451R o o f in g • S id in gS eamless G u t te rs

Additions • Alterations


Arts & Culture

March 2014 • Clifton Merchant

The Clifton Arts Center presents In The Style of… an

art exhibit and sale by members of the Clifton

Association of Artists (CAA) through March 31. The

theme has members choosing a famous artist and creat-

ing their own composition in the style of that artist. For

example, a still life in the style of Cezanne or land-

scapes in the style of Van Gogh are some possible

paintings on exhibit. The Clifton Arts Center is at Van

Houten and Clifton Aves. Hours are Wed. through Sat.,

1 to 4 pm. Admission is $3. Info at cliftonnj.org.

The Garden State Opera, now in its 12th season, will

present Pergolesi’s La Serva Padrona and Mozart’s

Bastien and Bastienne at a noon concert in Passaic at

the Adas Israel Synagogue Auditorium, 565 Broadway

in Passaic on March 20. Tickets are $7. On April 5 at

8 pm, GSO will present the opera in a staged perform-

ance accompanied with chamber orchestra at San

Giuseppe Santa Croce Camerina Society, 131 Wagaraw

Rd., Hawthorne. Tickets are $25. For info, call 973-

685-9972 or go to www.gardenstateopera.org.

The 10th Passaic County Film Festival on April 26 is

a juried exhibition of students’ and independent film-

makers’ work which showcases projects created by

filmmakers who live, attend school, or work in Passaic

County. All 10-minute entries must be the sole effort

of those submitting the work. There is free admission

to the festival and screenings, which will take place at

the Fabian 8 Theater in historic downtown Paterson.

Call 973-569-4720 or [email protected].

Dr. Jack Houston and Rich DeLotto present a series of

talks on American Military and Naval battles as well the

political implications before and after World War I. The

free discussions will take place at the Hamilton House

Museum, 744 Valley Rd., from 7 to 9 pm on March 27,

April 24 and May 22. The Ladies of the Hamilton House

will serve refreshments after the presentation. Houston

is an associate dean of Undergraduate Studies at

Fordham University. DeLotto, a retired Clifton

Firefighter, is an aficionado of military history and a

writer focused on military history as it relates to Clifton.

To attend, call 973-478-0522 or 973-472-5326.

The Friends of the Clifton Public Library is a 501(c)3

non-profit volunteer group which essentially wants to

add some extras and stretch tax dollar for services

offered at the Main Library on Piaget Ave. and its

Allwood branch on Lyall Rd. The next meeting, open

to all, is on March 12 at 7 pm at the Main Library. A

representative of City Green will present a program on

their efforts at Schultheis Farm. Call 973-772-5500.

To mark the 350th Anniversary of New Jersey, the

American Labor Museum/Botto House National

Landmark invites students to choose a contemporary

New Jersey worker and compare his/her workplace

experiences to the same type of worker of the past.

Projects in the form of original essays or poems with

pictures, must be no more than two 8.5 x11 inch, letter-

size pages in length. Selected projects will appear in a

book entitled, New Jersey Workers Then & Now.Deadline is April 1. Call 973-595-7953 or go to

www.labormuseum.net for more info.

Singers Jozef Ivaska and Heather Fetrow are in the rolesof Bastien and Bastienne on March 20 in Passaic

In The Style of... an exhibit by members of the CliftonAssociation of Artists at the Clifton Arts Center.

Clifton Merchant •March 2014 65

0003079473-0

1

Day & Evening Classes Available!

The Feast Day of St. Joseph—the spouse of the

Blessed Virgin Mary—is on March 19. In Sicily,

where St. Joseph is a Patron, and here in many

Italian-American communities, thanks are

given on that day to St. Joseph—SanGiuseppe—for preventing a famine in Sicily

during the Middle Ages. Keeping that tradi-

tion alive, the 84th Geraci Citizens League

St. Joseph’s Dinner Dance is on March 15 at

The Brownstone at 6:30 pm. Coordinated by

Nina Corradino, enjoy traditional pasta dishes, finocchi

and zeppoli, dancing and music. For tickets, $90, call

Corradino at 973-278-0356 or 973-470-8982.

Clifton’s ATC Studios’ 2014 Young PlaywrightsProject is open to middle and high school students and

is accepting 10 minutes or under one-act scripts that

reflect the concept Believe! This may include realistic

points of view, and those from the student’s imagina-

tion. Scripts should reflect the writer’s direct experi-

ence or creative exploration. Send submissions to atc-

[email protected]. The deadline is March 15. More

details at atcstudios.org.

The Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards, honoring Allen

Ginsberg’s contributions to American Literature, are

given annually to poets, both established and emerging

by the Poetry Center at PCCC. First prize, $1,000; sec-

ond prize, $200, and third prize, $100. Winning poems

and honorable mentions are published in the following

year’s issue of the Paterson Literary Review. The

deadline for 2014 entries is April 1. For rules and

guidelines, visit www.pccc.edu/poetry.

It’s Murd –ARRRR! Pirates of the Salty Dog, a murder /mystery dinner and show by the Theater League ofClifton. Six show dates in March at Mario’s and the priceis $40. Call 973-928-7668, hurry, shows sell out quickly.For more info, go to theaterleagueofclifton.com.


Meet our CHS Students of the Month,selected by the VP’s of each wing.

The Thinking StudentNorth Wing student Valeria Montoya, a

senior, calls her senior psychology class

instructed by Janice DeLorenzo her favorite

class. Why? “The subject itself is really

interesting, but also having class discussions

and realizing how and why people do what

they do is really amazing,” she said.

As a senior, Montoya sees the daily chal-

lenges at CHS as opportunities and seeks to

turn them around: “Although my work may

be stressful at times, I do enjoy school.”

Montoya added that what she likes most

about coming to CHS every day is “meeting

new people” who might “change your life”

beyond high school. “Those people that you

meet in school can be such great friends or

even an inspirational teacher,” she said.

Her four best friends are Octavio

Sanchez, Jeremy Castro and “my sister and

my mom.” Montoya said she can always

count on them because they are “always

there for me when I need them” pushing her through

future endeavors and obstacles. “Those are the kind of

people I want in my life.”

Montoya kept physically active too, running on the

school’s cross country team and on the indoor and out-

door track team.

She hopes to one day become a pediatrician and “open

my own clinic.”

As far as being one of the Students of the Month, she

credits her own hard work but also guidance counselor

Michael Smagula, who saw her potential, with helping

her attain the honor. “I am a hardworking person and I

strive for what I want no matter how bing or how little.”

Working Hard, Having FunBrian Counterman, a senior in

the South Wing, enjoys life but

also has his priorities straight. “Im

the kind of person who likes to

have fun,” he said. “I am the only

Special Education student who

signed on to be a model in our

prom fashion show.”

Counterman points to family

members as his greatest allies. “I

have worked hard to improve on

my education and social skills,” he

said. “I thank my parents for guid-

ing me in the right direction.”

Counterman also thanks his best friend for always

being there for him. “Hana Boelsche and I have been

friends since kindergarten at School 14,” he recalled. “We

were always in the same classrooms until we got to high

school.” But Counterman said he still sees his long time

friend at CHS. “We also see each other on Fridays for

Buddy Canteen and Saturdays when we bowl for Special

Olympics.” Besides bowling for the Recreation Strikers,

Counterman also competes in basketball as well as track

and field for the Special Olympics.

His favorite teacher is Bill “Mr. Bill” Colligan who he

says “is helping us prepare our future once we leave CHS.

I enjoy going to his class each day.”

Vanessa Cruz-Mascuch Brian Counterman

Valeria Montoya

By Domenick Reda

C2 Education’s tutoring center in Styertowne ShoppingCenter is the group’s 25th in New Jersey. Tutors offer avariety of academic programs: SAT prep, ACT prep, K-12 subject tutoring, college admission counseling,preparation for NJASK testing, and preparation for highschool admission tests.

Director Ashley Haimson leads a team of Cliftontutors who have graduated from some of the top schoolsin the nation, including Rutgers University, FordhamUniversity, and Columbia University. Several tutorseither currently hold or are working toward graduatedegrees and all have prior teaching experience.

Ashley, who holds teaching certificates in New Yorkand New Jersey, said she joined C2 Education so thatshe could help students achieve their short and long termambitions. She said she is proud to lead a team of tutorswho are genuinely invested in their students’ success.

One student commented that C2 tutors “really cutthrough the confusion of college applications and SATstrategies. With C2s help, I was able to stay ahead ofthe college admissions game. My C2 teachers wereknowledgeable and genuinely invested in my success.”

Students begin at C2 with an Academic Assessment,the fee of which will be waived when simply mentioningthis article. Ashley uses the results of these assessmentsto identify each student’s academic needs.

She then meets with students and parents to discussthe results and establish each student’s academic goals.Ashley and her teachers are then able to create a fullycustomized program to build on strengths and addressweaknesses, maximizing student results and boostingstudent confidence. To get started, call Ashley Haimsonat 973-778-7300 at the Clifton C2 Center or email herat [email protected].

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Being Nice To EveryoneCentral Wing senior Hana Boelsche

appreciates the good people she met at

CHS and repays their kindness in turn.

“I think I was chosen for Students of

the Month because I work hard, help

people and try to be nice to every-

body,” she said.

Boelsche sees the good in her teach-

ers as well as other students.

“My favorite teacher is Bill

Colligan,” she said. “I have known Mr.

Bill for 4 years. He makes me want to

do my very best.”

Boelsche says CHS paraprofessional Doreen

Arlington is her best friend because “she helps me a lot.”

Boelsche enjoys seeing all her friends at CHS and

specifically “learning sign language in Mrs. Lesler’s

class.”

For recreation she enjoys “competing in the Special

Olympics with the Clifton Recreation Strikers bowling

team.”

Boelsche hopes to attend Cape May Community

College in the fall to study computers.

Moving Forward, Always LearningAs a freshman in the East Wing,

Vanessa Cruz-Mascuch is like a

sponge—welcoming new challenges

awaiting her over the next few years

and beyond. “I enjoy learning new

things everyday, especially if I am

interested in the subject,” she said.

Cruz-Mascuch says her classes are

enjoyable and her teachers are “very

interesting and make learning actually

fun.”

But her favorite class is biology.

“My teacher is Mr. Achmed Hamdeh,” she said. “He has

made the class even better. Biology is something I am

very interested in and I want to study more of it when I

graduate and go to college.”

Her best friend is fellow CHS student and stepsister

Desiree Tobon.

“Desiree and I have been best friends since we were

in the 4th grade,” Cruz-Mascuch recalled. We've been

through everything together and she knows everything

about me.”

Cruz-Mascuch also keeps busy by singing with

Kayla Vance



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Students of the Month

the choir as part of the CHS

Madrigals.

But with not forgetting her studies,

Cruz-Mascuch says she has really

stepped up her efforts so she can

always become a better student.

“I have been working very hard this

school year,” she said. “I didn’t know

how I was doing so I thought I would

put all my efforts into my school work

this year to better myself.”

Cruz-Mascuch believes her recent

improvement as a student has helped

her to be named as one of the Students

of the Month.

After graduation she plans on

studying psychology. “I would like to open my own

practice,” she said.

Taking On A New ChallengeAnnex freshman Kayla Vance didn’t know what to

expect when she started high school. She wondered how

challenging it would be.

After just a couple months at CHS, she started to find

her niche. “I have learned so much, not only in my

classes but about myself as well,” she said.

Vance said the teachers at CHS made transition easi-

er. “My favorite class and teacher would be English

with Mr. David Radler,” she said. “He not only has a

great sense of humor but his teaching style makes his

class different than the rest. He makes reading and writ-

ing something I really enjoy.”

But Vance says her friends also make school fun.

“Ryan Reyes is definitely my best

friend,” she said. “He knows how to

make me laugh, lighten up when I

take things too seriously and is some-

one I can go to with anything.”

And speaking of friends, Vance

also enjoys the bonds formed in team

sports.

Now that it’s March, Vance can’t

wait to start playing softball for CHS.

Vance has been asked to attend the

team’s spring training trip in Disney

World. “I have played softball for

numerous years and I am so grateful

to be given this opportunity,” she said.

“I am looking forward to being with

my teammates everyday and winning a lot of games.”

Vance knows there is life beyond softball and the

freshman is taking on that challenge as well.

She is still unsure about what she wants to do after

CHS, which is still three years away, but has a plan.

“In the future, I hope to further my education in col-

lege while keeping good grades and playing softball,”

she said. “I have had thoughts of being an athletic train-

er but I am ultimately undecided and interested to see

where my path leads me.”

And it’s those “good grades” that helped her become

one of the Students of the Month, she believes.

“I do all of my work and have really good atten-

dance,” she said. “I am very grateful for being acknowl-

edged and will always look back on my education given

to me here at CHS and trust that my hard work and ded-

ication in both school and softball will never change.”

Hana Boelsche

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CHS Senior Rachel Egyed, pictured at

center with family and school staff, also

signed a National Letter of Intent to play

soccer with the University of Maryland.

In four years Egyed established herself

as one of the top goaltenders in the state.

She helped lead the Mustangs to a 17-4-1

record last season, including a league

championship and Passaic County final

appearance. During her four years with

the team, the Mustangs appeared in four

county finals, winning two of them.

As a senior, Egyed made 113 saves,

including 15 shutouts, while allowing

0.63 goals per game. As a junior, she

recorded 14 shutouts and allowed 7 goals

all season, leading Clifton to a 16-2

record and the Passaic County title.

Egyed chose Maryland over several

other high-profile Division I schools,

including South Carolina, Delaware,

Syracuse and Boston University.

Beyond High School

Paramus Catholic High School host-ed a signing ceremony on Feb. 6 formembers of its national powerhousefootball team.. The Paladins, win-ners of back to back state champi-onships the last two years, were ledby 12 student athletes who signed,including All-American standout andperennial Player of the Year Awardwinner Jabrill Peppers; teammatesAlex Beards, Juwann Bushell-Beatty,Alec Bowman, Nick Flores, TerranceHarris, Billy Ray Mitchell, MarcusPantoja, Steve Shanley, TyroneThompson, Tyshawn Thompson andKeyon Washington.

Christopher Columbus Middle School HSA hosts a

Tricky Tray on March 28 at 6:30 pm at the Boys &

Girls Club. Tickets are $15; bring your own food and

beverages. Reserve a table (10 tickets) and pay only

$12 per ticket. No one under the age of 18 will be

admitted. For tickets and info, call 973-818-6045 or

email [email protected].

On March 13 School 5 Home and School Association(HASA) hosts a Tricky Tray fundraiser. To support the

cause with a donation or gift for a giveaway, or to pur-

chase tickets, call Tina Robinson at 973-207-5849.

Send your news to [email protected] with

details including dates, times and location.


Julie Generalli Dominick .......3/1Kathleen Pocoek ..................3/1Meaghan Franko .................3/1Kenzie Lord .........................3/3Valerie Godowsky................3/5Alice Paxton ........................3/5Patricia Vigh........................3/5Carol Crudele......................3/6Ted Grzybowski...................3/6Pat Smith.............................3/8Victoria Crudele...................3/9

Pamela Culque ..................3/10Tiffany Sabo ......................3/10John Gorny .......................3/11Teddy Harsaghy.................3/11Eddie Gasior, Jr. ................3/12Mike Pesaro ......................3/12Victor Berdecia ..................3/13Diego Hernandez ..............3/15Tyler Hughes......................3/15Elaine Sassine....................3/15Laura Lee ..........................3/15

Melisa Calvo .....................3/16Suzanne Ciok....................3/19Janette Hughes ..................3/19Caitlin Lotorto ....................3/19Colleen Murray..................3/20Holly Sorenson ..................3/20Nenad Vuckovic ................3/20Monica Ahmed..................3/21George Andrikanich ..........3/22Pat Hiller ...........................3/22Elisabel Reyes....................3/24Carmen Rivera...................3/24Kyle Hooyman...................3/24Suzanne Wachtler..............3/26Michele Andrikanich ..........3/27

Casey Hawrylko is 24 on March 2. Happy Belated birthday to Jayke Williams who turned 6 on Feb.26. Beware the Ides of March! Elaine Sassine... Happy 64th birthday! Congratulations to Corey &Michelle Genardi, celebrating their anniversary on March 28...their daughter Bianca Eda is all smilesfor her 8th birthday on March 2. William Thomson will celebrate his second birthday on March 8.

Happy Birthday to...Send dates & [email protected]

Birthdays & Celebrations - March 2014

Ryan Lettow celebrates onMarch 23 and KJ Lettow

on March 11.


Jennifer Mondelli ...............3/27Nic holas Surgent...............3/27Aidan Tedesco ..................3/27Muriel Curtin.....................3/28Francis Salonga ................3/31Paul McVeigh....................3/31Chris Kolodziej..................3/31

Joe & Pat Torelli celebratetheir 43rd on March 6.

Nina & Frank Corradinocelebrate 41 years March 25.

Happy 18th birthday toKenneth Bucsko on March 19.

Jenny Sichel celebrates her26th birthday on March 9.

Shirley Lawler celebrates herbirthday on March 24.

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Clifton Merchant Magazine - March 2014

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Transcript of Clifton Merchant Magazine - March 2014