We recently learned that Harriet Middlebrook, retired Fifth Avenue School teacher, passed away on April 11 at the age of 88. She is survived by Victor, her husband of 62 years, sons Craig and Todd, and four grandchildren.

After college Harriet served with the United States Navy as a registered nurse with a rank of Lieutenant ( junior grade). After leaving the Navy she returned to school and earned at Master of Arts in Education from Hofstra before beginning her career as an elementary school teacher in East Northport. In retirement Harriet and Victor moved from East Northport to Oldsmar, Florida and later to Landsdowne, Virginia, to be near family. 

Her family requests donations in Harriet’s memory be made to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org.

We just learned from the daughter of Doris Maury, R-UTN member and longtime school nurse at Ocean and Norwood Avenue Schools, died in February at age 90. Doris made her home during her retirement years in The Villages, Florida.

Susan Beyer, retired art teacher,  passed away on October 1. Sue is survived by two younger sisters, Anne B Juncadella (Enrique) and Beth Beyer, along with a niece and several nephews.

Sue taught Elementary Art at Bellerose Avenue School from 1971 until her retirement in 2004. She will be remembered or her tireless efforts helping with stage design for Bellerose theatre performances and at the Northport Art & Music Festival each June.

A Northport native – Sue’s mother’s maiden name was Scudder –  she graduated from Northport High School and received undergraduate and graduate degrees in Studio Arts. Sue also completed post graduate courses on Prehistoric Britain at Oxford University, England and her study of prehistoric history became a lifelong interest that inspired numerous travels throughout Europe and Central America. 

In retirement she devoted her time to gardening, painting and writing. She was the keeper of family history and worked extensively on her memoirs which started when she joined a Tap Root writing workshop.

Visitation October 31: 1-4:30 p.m. with services at 4:30 p.m. at the Nolan Funeral Home, with limited attendance. Visitation is with limited attendance with social distancing and masks required, per the funeral home. Due to the pandemic there will be no reception following the funeral 

Memorial donations in her memory can be made to the Arthritis Foundation Long Island Chapter or the charity of your choice.

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Christopher Pendergast, R-UTN member and founder of the ALS Ride for Life, after a 28 year battle with ALS. Chris died at home, surrounded by his family and his death is mourned by the entire Northport – East Northport Schools community.

A month before his death, he wrote the following to one of his dearest friends — “Some storms are blowing in on us …. tell the whole of Northport I cherished the memories. I loved serving them. With great appreciation, Chris.”

Visitation at O.B. Davis Funeral Homes, 1001 Route 25A, Miller Place, on Sunday, October 18 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., with a Livestreamed Prayer Service at 8:30 p.m.. To join the Prayer Service Livestream, visit the O.B. Davis Obituary Page for Chris. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. at the St. Louis De Montfort RC Church, 75 New York Ave., Sound Beach, followed by Cremation at Washington Memorial Park in Mt. Sinai.

Donations may be made in Chris’s memory to the ALS Ride for Life and the Hope House Ministries.

Chris was beloved by so many, and the R-UTN Executive Board wants to offer a platform for members to share members of Chris. Please email your memories, of no more than 100 words, to [email protected].

Ellsworth Welch was a truly dedicated and life long educator.  He served as the esteemed  Principal of Ocean Avenue Elementary School for many years.  He never ceased caring about the children, staff and families of the school community. Long  after his retirement, if you met him, he would ask about the children who had attended the school. He was truly interested in the well being of the students.

His family with, the help of Paul Fazio, has requested, in lieu of flowers, that donations be made in his memory and name to the R-UTN Scholarship Fund for 2021.

Please send donations to:
Mr. David Hosie
19 Jay Court
Northport, Ny  11768
Make the checks to UTN-R and put Ells Welch on the memo line.

Personal memories of Ells, submitted by R-UTN members, can be found on the Member Memorial page.