Alexander Meyers

* Teacher
* Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented, Brooklyn

Alexander Meyers built his life around the strong principles of education and union activism. A UFT member since the union’s birth 60 years ago, he went on strike during his first year of teaching to help the UFT gain recognition and collective bargaining rights.

Alexander spent the last 30 of his 31 years as a teacher at Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented in Coney Island, Brooklyn. He was a longtime chapter leader at the school and a fierce advocate for members’ rights.

He died on April 11 at age 88.

Alexander started his career as a math teacher and later switched to history, a subject he was deeply passionate about. He was nicknamed “Rexoman” by his students and colleagues for the numerous handouts he made for his classes using a rexograph machine, a copy machine common to the era.

Alexander took the moniker and ran with it, labeling all the handmade birthday and anniversary cards he created for family and friends “Rexoman Productions,” said his son, Joseph Meyers.

“He was a great teacher and an instrumental chapter leader,” said Michael Polenski, who was his colleague at Mark Twain. “Because of his enthusiasm, others, including myself, became chapter leaders, too.”

Alexander retired in 1991 after a long and fulfilling career.

He is survived by his five children, JoAnne Meyers, Louis Meyers, Francine Twomey, Joseph Meyers and Kevin Meyers; and his eight grandchildren, Alicia, Christopher, Brendan, Justine, Haleigh, Aaron, Gabrielle and Rebekah.

There will be no service at this time. In lieu of cards or flowers, the family asks friends and colleagues to consider a donation to foodbanknyc.org as a way to honor Alexander’s life.