Mary and Virgil Provost
Mary Provost, a former Shenendehowa High School history teacher and union leader, died March 24. Her husband of 55 years, Virgil, a retired Schenectady teacher and union stalwart, died April 26.
Mary served as a NYSUT and AFT delegate from the Shenendehowa TA for two decades. She was the founding chairperson of her local's political action committee and president of the Saratoga Labor Council for many years.
Virgil was jailed in the 1970s as a leader of the striking Schenectady teachers in a fight for the right to win collective bargaining. He served the Schenectady Federation of Teachers as a negotiator and grievance chair for many years, and taught physics, chemistry and earth science at Schenectady High School for 25 years.
John D. Haldane Jr. | March 31
Greece Teachers Association
Ellen Hirsch | May 11
United Federation of Teachers
Retired UFT member Ellen Hirsch, 64 years old, died May 11 of cholangiocarcinoma. Ellen had a career as an educator of more than 30 years, as a second grade teacher, a resource room teacher, and an education evaluator. She has two Masters Degrees from Brooklyn College, in Early Childhood and in Special Education. She is survived by her husband, her sister, two nieces, and a nephew. Her family, friends, and colleagues remember her as helpful, efficient, and caring, with excellent organizational skills. She died with grace and dignity, never showing fear or despair.
Robert E. Nichols | Dec. 1, 2010
United Federation of Teachers