Dave Harper, retired Northport High School social studies teacher, died in his sleep on September 4 at the age of 79. He was born on December 7, 1941, and taught at Northport Junior High before moving to the high school. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Roberta, daughter Jennifer Ann, sons David and Nicholas and granddaughter Emily.
Besides teaching social studies, Dave was an all-around coach, coaching wrestling, track and football. His greatest joy was coaching the Northport Junior High School football team for 25 years. After retirement Dave continued working in Northport for another 13 years as a substitute teacher.
The family will greet visitors at the M. A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Avenue, Huntington Station on from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8.
A memorial mass will be celebrated at Saint Elizabeth’s of Hungary Church, 181 Wolf Hill Road, Melville at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 9.
R-UTN members who would like to share a remembrance of Dave, please send them to [email protected] for posting in the Member Memorial page of our website.
Irene Eckert, long time Social Studies teacher andR-UTN executive board member, passed away on July 8 at the age of 92 after a short illness. Irene’s passing is another blow to our membership and all who called her colleague and friend. A Washington Post article from last January, written by a much younger friend friend of Irene’s, is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman. Irene was hesitant about sharing the article, but now that she is no longer with us, we feel that it is a loving tribute that she be read by all who knew her. Link to the article here.
Irene is survived by her son Richard and his wife Jane; daughter Michelle “Mickey” Wilder; daughter Stephanie Metz and her husband Robert; four granddaughters and her sister Josephine Perez. She was pre-deceased by her son-in-law-law Glenn Wilder this past February. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and too many friends to name.
Irene was born in Calabria, Italy and moving to the United States eighty-seven years ago. She taught in Northport for over thirty-five years, teaching social studies and psychology at Northport Junior High School and Northport High school. Until her recent illness she was an active member of the R-UTN Executive Board and was instrumental in the planning of the annual picnic and luncheons.
Irene loved to travel and visited over 60 countries in her lifetime, studying the history and culture of the countries she visited. She easily made friends and a lasting impact wherever she went. After retiring from teaching Irene became Long Island’s premier film historian, teaching classes at local libraries and colleges on old film classics. Just four weeks before she died Irene completed teaching a six week course at CW Post. Her other passions and activities in retirement included spending time with children and grandchildren, socializing with her friends, reading, going to Broadway plays, visiting museums, watching her favorite show Jeopardy, and of course traveling. It can surely be said that Irene lived life passionately and to the fullest.
Irene will be most remembered for her larger than life personality and her fierce spirit. Words used by family and friends to describe her are: one of a kind lady, unique, confident, opinionated, fearless, funny, sometimes loud, smart and worldly. Irene definitely left a lasting impact that will remain forever on all those who had the privilege to know her. She will be truly missed by all!!
Visitation2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Wednesday, July 14, at M. A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Avenue, Huntington Station.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 am Thursday, July 15 at St. Hugh Of Lincoln R. C. Church, 21 East 9th. Street, Huntington Station – followed by internment at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Huntington.
Memorial Donation may be made in Irene’s name to: CHD Coalition, 45 Carey Ave 250 #1, Butler, NJ 07405
If any R-UTN members have memories they wish to share about Irene, please email [email protected]. Please keep your commemorative brief and include your name and school.
Peggy Rumore, retired Ocean Avenue teacher, passed away on Sunday, June 27 at the age of 80. Peggy was pre-deceased by her husband Salvatore and her sister Ellen. She is survived by her children Kerry Jean and George, five grandchildren, her sister Marie Zabielski and brother Joseph Gremelsbacker.
Peggy was a dedicated and caring teacher at Ocean Avenue School and she will be is fondly remembered as a kind and gentle educator who was beloved by her students and their parents.
Reposing Nolan Funeral Home, 5 Laurel Ave, Northport, Tuesday, 2-5 & 7-9 PM. Funeral Mass Wednesday, 10 AM, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Centerport. Interment Northport Rural Cemetery.
Donald Barron passed away in Lenox, Massachusettes at the age of 91 from COPD, a degenerative pulmonary disease. Don served a principal of Pulaski Road School and as a Northport High School special education teacher. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, children Nancy, Ruth and Steven, and two granddaughters. In addition to living in Lenox, Donal and his wife spent the winters in Delray Beach, Florida.
Before settling in Massachusetts and Florida, Don and Barbara embarked on a three year adventure, living full-time in a motor home, traveling back and forth across the U.S.A and visiting almost every state and parts of Canada. Don was a serious musician, play the oboe since his student days at Stuyvesant High School. In retirement he played community bands in Massachusettes and Florida, and he mentored young oboist in the International Orchestra of South Florida. Another hobby in retirement was genealogy, leaning about his family’s history
He requested no gift of flowers for his funeral, and requested donations in his name to the charity of the donor’s choice. He also left the request that everyone continue to vote in all elections to keep our democracy strong.
Joan Banks, long-time secretary at Middleville, passed on June 6 at the age of 85. Joan was predeceased by her husband Bernie, and is survived by her sons Brian, Timothy and Christopher, and five grandchildren.
Visitation was at Nolan Funeral Home, 5 Laurel Ave., Northport, on Wednesday 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday 11 AM, at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport. Burial to follow at parish cemetery.
