A celebration of the life of Charlotte Koons will be held on May 1 at the New Community Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington. Charlotte attended the New Community Cinema Arts Centre for decades and according to Dylan Skolnick, Centre co-director, she was someone who was engaged in every part of the community and leaves a legacy of passion for art and for loving life. He said “She was just so outgoing and touched the lives of so many people …. She was just so passionate about Huntington and the world.” 

A close family friend, Nina Rhodes, invites attendees and performers to bring a poem, a song, or a Charlotte story to share. She asks anyone wanting to participate in the activity to contact her at [email protected] to coordinate. She also asks that anyone who attends be vaccinated against COVID-19, and because of COVID-19 protocols, there will be two sessions, the first from 1 to 3 p.m. and the second from 4 to 6 p.m. 

Nils Parma, German and PhysEd teacher at both Northport and East Northport Junior High Schools, passed early in March at the age of 88.  He was predeceased by two of his children.  We have no other information at this time.

Charlotte Koons, retired elementary teacher, passed away on March 16 at Hospice House in East Northport at the age of 87. Charlotte taught in Northport for 43 years, both at Norwood Avenue and in the gifted program at Fifth Avenue. She was predeceased by her husband Chester Koons, know affectionally as Silverbear, the name that appeared on her New York State vanity license plate after his death.

Charlotte was a lifelong educator, activist and arts advocate, know and loved by many in the greater Huntington area. In the 1960’s she and her husband helped form the Suffolk Country New York Civil Liberties Union. Her activism continued in her later years; she was a founding member of Huntington NOW, CODEPINK LI, and Women for Peace. In 2018 she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award as co-founder of the Suffolk Chapter of New York Civil Liberties Union.

Charlotte was also a poet who spent seventeen years on the board of the Northport Arts Coalitions. She was a longtime supporter and board member of the Huntington Arts Cinema Centre, and for the last ten years she was an active member of the Bear Bones Theater Company in Northport and the Northport One-Act Play Festival.

The family has requested memorial donations be made in Charlotte’s name to the Visiting Nurse/Hospice House, Huntington Cinema Arts Centre, the Suffolk Country Chapter of the CLU or to any of the other organizations she supported.

R-UTN members with memories of Charlotte they wish to share can email [email protected]. Please keep your commemorative brief and include your name and former school.

Two weeks ago we invited members to let us know about what they have been doing for the next issue of our newsletter, and to share on the website. Jerry Brandnick not only wanted to share with our members, but he’d also love to hear from you. His email can be found in our Online Member Directory. The Directory is password protected – if you need the password please send an email, with including your full name, to [email protected].

I’m about to turn 90 but feel like I’m 70.  Have great memories about some of the great staff I had at Larkfield and 5th. Ave.  Many students and staff have contacted me over the years.  Lost my great wife Dorothy five years ago. She loved her years in the Time Out Room at NHS. Of the fine staff I hired, perhaps Chris Pendergast was one of the best.  We were close friends until his recent passing.  I support the UTN-R scholarship program each year.  Still play golf 2-3 times per week.  

Jerry Bradnick