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Barbara Sapienza dies at 63
(by Karen F. Mrnarevic - March 12, 2008)
On Wednesday, March 5, the
Pascack
Valley lost a beloved member of its community. Dr. Barbara Sapienza, who served as
Pascack
Valley
Regional
High School ’s principal for 14 years, died at
Hackensack
University
Medical
Center ; she had been in a coma, brought on by complications following a double knee replacement surgery, since Jan. 23.
Sapienza, who was 63 years old, passed away after school had closed for the day, and the families of students were notified of her death via e-mail alert that evening. The following day, students had to take scheduled standardized tests in the morning, but afterward, the school observed a moment of silence, and students were informed that counselors were available for them if they needed emotional support.
It is clear that Sapienza has made an indelible impression on both the students who have passed through the district and many teachers and administrators from the
Pascack
Valley and elsewhere.
According to acting Principal Tom DeMaio, many alumni have come forward to offer their condolences and express their grief over the loss of the influential educator. “They have been calling and e-mailing. … Sometimes you don’t realize the effect someone has on you until they are gone.” He notes that as students grow up and “step away from
Pascack
Valley ,” they realize how much their teachers and administrators contributed to their young lives.
The wake was held on Friday evening, March 7, at Vander Plaat-Vermuelen Memorial Home in
Franklin
Lakes . The funeral took place the following afternoon at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. According to DeMaio, with the help of donors who supplied materials, students were able to make ribbon pins in the school’s color, green, to be worn at the memorial services.
DeMaio said, “The district will be planning a celebration of her career here and her life,” but as of right now there are no set plans regarding how the school will memorialize Sapienza. Superintendent Ben Tantillo said that the school will wait until May, when former students return home from college, to do an “evening tribute to Dr. Sapienza’s career.”
The school has set up a scholarship fund in Sapienza’s name. Donations may be sent to the Dr. Barbara Sapienza Scholarship Fund, c/o
Pascack
Valley
Regional
High School, 200 Piermont Avenue, Hillsdale, NJ,
07642.
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