Antoinette "Toni" Garabo
Antoinette "Toni" Garabo, a United Federation of Teachers member and retired Spanish teacher, died Nov. 4 after a long illness. She was 76.
Prior to her extensive service at Campbell JHS 218 and Parsons JHS 168 in Queens, she was a highly valued staff member at Andrew Jackson High School, also in Queens, and at Wagner JHS 167 in Manhattan.
"She spoke and understood many languages. Her most important language was that of love. Her family was everything to her," said colleague and close friend Janet Diamond in a eulogy.
Antoinette was predeceased by her husband Frank and is survived by her sons, Robert and John, and her grandchildren, Ashley and Nolan.
Bernard "Ward" Hecox
Whitesboro Teachers Association member Bernard "Ward" Hecox, 81, died March 3.
He was a physical education teacher in the Whitesboro Central Schools until is retirement in 1980.
Ward graduated from SUNY Cortland and was an accomplished athlete. He coached athletic teams at Whitesboro. He also taught in Stratford-Oppenheim and Dolgeville Central schools.
Ward played golf with friends and enjoyed the camaraderie the game brought.
Ward is survived by his wife Marylyn; his children Cynthia, Andrea and Bernard; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister Hildegarde Hecox.
Sharon Jill Jaffe
UFT member Sharon Jill Jaffe , 47, died March 2, after a long battle with intestinal disease.
She was born in the Bronx, New York City, to Danny and Carol Jaffe in 1962.
Sharon was a speech pathologist for the New York City Board of Education. She was a Messianic Jew who believed in the resurrection and in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Sharon is survived by her brother Gary; father, Danny; stepfather, Jerry Regenbogen, who was her faithful caregiver; niece, Brooke; and aunt and uncle, Angela and Brian. To those who were privileged to know her, Sharon was the sweetest, most generous, loving and gentle person, who will be greatly missed.
She will be cremated and her ashes interred next to her mother at Boca Raton Mausoleum. More importantly, Sharon will be reunited with her mom in heaven -- no more pain or suffering.