Bethpage-Tribune_1991-03-08

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YOUR OFFICIALTlbMETOWN NEWSPAPEI
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Qld Bethpage and Plaii new
VOL. 24 NO. 14 Celebrating Our 24th Year March 8-14, 1991 Celebrating Our 24th Year 25 CENTS
(ILCo)^]^ A final thank you was gi\en to
Gloria O'Leary who passed away in
October of 1990 by the people at
Central Boulevard School. The All-
Purpose Room at C.B.S. was renamed
to the Gloria O'Leary All-Purpose
Room in her memory. Gloria was not
only an employee at C.B.S.. she did
a lot for the PTA too. As was pointed
out by the various speakers and in a
touching video entitled "Gloria
O'Leary". Gloria ran many functions
for PTA from behind the scenes, she
never really wanted any applause or
credit for doing it: she did it for her
love of children. Although she ne\er
held an official position in the Central
Blvd. School PTA. (}!oria: helped test
children for Amblyopia: ordered and
set up the items for the Holida>
Boutique, ordered and set up for the
Book Fair: booked Cultural Arts
Programs, Ordered and ran the
Mother's Day Plant Sale: cut the blue
and gold ribbons for Field Day: sold
"school spirit items" at the Art Show
and Meet the Teacher Night: ran
Gourmet Night: started the P lA
Monthly Pretzel Sales: ran the recep­tion
for parents of si.xth graders:
served cookies and juice for Kinder­garten
Orientation, and helped in any
other way necessar\- to make the life
of children at C.B.S. as pleasant as
it is. She also helped in the P I'A at
the H.S. andat J.F.K.
On hand to help honor (iloria was:
Mr. Blau. former Principal of C.B.S.:
Dr. Sommi. Superintendent of The
Bethpage School [)istrict: Sabina
Anselmo. former President of C.B.S.
P lA and former President oi Beth­page
P lA Council: Sandra Watson.
School Board member. Speakers also
included people presently working at
C.B.S.: Mrs. Bain. Principal: Mr.
Fleming and Mrs. Girolamo who were
in charge of raising money at C.B.S.
for the (iloria O'Leary Scholarship
Fund, and PI A Co-Presidents, .lanet
Steiniger and Kath\ Bielo who pres­ented
the family with a plaque and
will be hanging a picture plaque in
the All-purpose Room in honor of
(iloria O'Leary.
The entire ceremony was planned
b\ a committee consisting of staff
member>. PIA represenlati\e^ and
the Principal. Mrs. Bain who chaired
the team el torts. .^ ,. ,.
Koseanii ( ordiiier
Sally Schuerlein. a C.B.S. PTA
parent and published poet, submitted
the following poem in tribute to
Gloria:
The Gift of Life
Gtmria
I didn't reaify know
her well
hut from, everything
I hear
She had a way
about her
which was kind
warm and sincere
A wiMuan with a
heart of gold
She was Loyal
and true blue
And her undying
dedication
Made her always
there for you
Her courage and her
strength
andher abiUty to
carry on
Is something I do
remember
even now that she
is gone
I know she will
be missed
but forgotten she will
never be
Because she Left us with
herntentories
which will Live on
in you and me
Sji.S.
(See Fage 4 for mure)
Our night from Seattle, Washmgton
to New York and home to Bethpage
on January 9th was both wonderful ;
and at the same time frightening for |
Jim and I. \
Margaret. Jims bone marrow donor |
had given us his life back. His i
leukemia is completely cured. We \
often thought about her and the j
touching moment Jims "Gift of Life" I
became a reality on September 14. If |
it wasn't for her unselfish act of i
kindness Jim would not be on the road 1
to recovery.
After a long five months in Seattle. |
Bethpage looked great! f o be home \
with our family was something we i
more than looked forward to. Fven
though we were in constant phone
contact, wrote a lot of letters and :
cards, it wasn't the same. Seeing our |
family and friends was some ot the \
best medicine we could have gotten.
Jims I ransplant and the 24 hour
a day care that he received the entire
time in Seattle was not to be believed.
Most of the doctors, nwrses and staff
members were totally committed to
Jims recovery and our sanity.
Now that we are -ome and settled.
Jims care is ' onlinuing. His
immune system lai of a baby. He
is very suscen' .o many common
illnesses. Something as little as the
common cold could be dangerous.
1 herefore Jim has to wear an isolation
mask and can't be in large crowds ot
people, tor the tune bemg.
.lim's immune ssstem is slowls
growing and should take the full year
tt) recover. His prognosis is good. 1 he
hospitals now have to keep a close
watch on Jims blood levels and the
to.xicity to some of the medications
he will be taking until we return to
Seattle in September for his one year
check-up. I his check-up is to make
sure that Jims leukemia does not
come back. .\ small price to pay for
"The Gift Of Life."
Jim and 1 would like to express our
deepest appreciation and warmest
thanks to everyone who participated
and contributed to the Jim and (ierry
Wilkeyson Bowlathon Fund Raiser
on December 1. 1990. We were deeply
touched by the o\erwhelming
response of letters and gilts of support
received during the time our lives were
in such a turmoil.
We were speechless and still are
now. Our taith has been restored in
human nature. We can't begin to
express the way we feel and the things
we've learned going through this
ordeal.
We would also like to thank the very
special people who took the time in
their very busy li\es to send cards,
letters, and especially the prayers that
added sunshine to our otherwise
dreary days in Seattle Washington.
Special thanks to Linda Anionelli
tor all the time and planning she put
into the bowlathon and to the Beth­page
Rotary tor their sincere support.