Retired Teachers Chapter Luncheon 2024
About 500 people attended the 58th annual Retired Teachers Chapter Luncheon on May 30 at the New York Hilton Midtown, where they recognized 13 fellow retirees with awards for their activism and congratulated a retired Queens teacher who turned 100. The attendees were encouraged to stay involved and “speak into the future” as advocates.

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr encourages retiree advocates to “speak into the future” by voting and staying in the fight for political power and voice.

Retiree delegate and RTC Executive Board member Nina Tribble beams after receiving the Tom Pappas Award for her involvement in the chapter’s work.

Retiree Jean Damashek thanks the RTC for issuing a proclamation in honor of her 100th birthday. Her daughter Marjorie Damashek Levine, also a retired city public school teacher, stands to her left.

Retiree Chaitram Aklu catches up with his former colleagues at IS 292 in Brooklyn (from left) Janice Moscoso, Violet Clifton and Eunice Hardy.

Retired nurse Ruth Caballero of the Federation of Nurses/UFT speaks after accepting a Retiree of the Year Award.

Gathered for the event are (from left) Mark Rappaport, a retired school counselor; Bonnie Sholl, a retired paraprofessional; Rosemary Siders, a retired music teacher; Roberto Rivas, a retired physical education teacher; and retired teacher Mary Daks.

Luzviminda “Luchie” Canlas (middle), a Si Beagle coordinator in Queens, accepts the Edith Potter/Anne Reel Award from Lynn Lospenuso, the director of UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Programs, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy.

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy says the foundation the UFT is built on is strong, but that members during this year’s presidential campaign have an opportunity to help shore it up.

Sylvia Levinson Award winner Carmen Alvarez, a former UFT vice president who spearheaded the union's initiative to re-engage retired paraprofessionals, chats with MaryJo Ginese, the UFT vice president for special education, before the start of the morning awards session.

The NYSUT Community Service Award winners and presenters gathering for a photo are (from right) retirees Neal Last, Elissa Goldstein and Francilla Moore, NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, UFT Veterans Committee Chapter Chair Donald Nobles, staff member Martin McKeown, retiree liaison Lorraine Ferrannini, a NYSUT Retiree of the Year Award winner, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy. Not pictured: Community Service Award winner Katherine Lewis.

Retired teacher David Campbell, the former head of the UFT Grievance Department, sings and plays the piano at the luncheon.

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr encourages retiree advocates to “speak into the future” by voting and staying in the fight for political power and voice.

Retiree delegate and RTC Executive Board member Nina Tribble beams after receiving the Tom Pappas Award for her involvement in the chapter’s work.

Retiree Jean Damashek thanks the RTC for issuing a proclamation in honor of her 100th birthday. Her daughter Marjorie Damashek Levine, also a retired city public school teacher, stands to her left.

Retiree Chaitram Aklu catches up with his former colleagues at IS 292 in Brooklyn (from left) Janice Moscoso, Violet Clifton and Eunice Hardy.

Retired nurse Ruth Caballero of the Federation of Nurses/UFT speaks after accepting a Retiree of the Year Award.

Gathered for the event are (from left) Mark Rappaport, a retired school counselor; Bonnie Sholl, a retired paraprofessional; Rosemary Siders, a retired music teacher; Roberto Rivas, a retired physical education teacher; and retired teacher Mary Daks.

Luzviminda “Luchie” Canlas (middle), a Si Beagle coordinator in Queens, accepts the Edith Potter/Anne Reel Award from Lynn Lospenuso, the director of UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Programs, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy.

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy says the foundation the UFT is built on is strong, but that members during this year’s presidential campaign have an opportunity to help shore it up.

Sylvia Levinson Award winner Carmen Alvarez, a former UFT vice president who spearheaded the union's initiative to re-engage retired paraprofessionals, chats with MaryJo Ginese, the UFT vice president for special education, before the start of the morning awards session.

The NYSUT Community Service Award winners and presenters gathering for a photo are (from right) retirees Neal Last, Elissa Goldstein and Francilla Moore, NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, UFT Veterans Committee Chapter Chair Donald Nobles, staff member Martin McKeown, retiree liaison Lorraine Ferrannini, a NYSUT Retiree of the Year Award winner, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy. Not pictured: Community Service Award winner Katherine Lewis.

Retired teacher David Campbell, the former head of the UFT Grievance Department, sings and plays the piano at the luncheon.

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr encourages retiree advocates to “speak into the future” by voting and staying in the fight for political power and voice.
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Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy says the foundation the UFT is built on is strong, but that members during this year’s presidential campaign have an opportunity to help shore it up.

Sylvia Levinson Award winner Carmen Alvarez, a former UFT vice president who spearheaded the union's initiative to re-engage retired paraprofessionals, chats with MaryJo Ginese, the UFT vice president for special education, before the start of the morning awards session.

The NYSUT Community Service Award winners and presenters gathering for a photo are (from right) retirees Neal Last, Elissa Goldstein and Francilla Moore, NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, UFT Veterans Committee Chapter Chair Donald Nobles, staff member Martin McKeown, retiree liaison Lorraine Ferrannini, a NYSUT Retiree of the Year Award winner, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy. Not pictured: Community Service Award winner Katherine Lewis.

Retired teacher David Campbell, the former head of the UFT Grievance Department, sings and plays the piano at the luncheon.

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr encourages retiree advocates to “speak into the future” by voting and staying in the fight for political power and voice.

Retiree delegate and RTC Executive Board member Nina Tribble beams after receiving the Tom Pappas Award for her involvement in the chapter’s work.

Retiree Jean Damashek thanks the RTC for issuing a proclamation in honor of her 100th birthday. Her daughter Marjorie Damashek Levine, also a retired city public school teacher, stands to her left.

Retiree Chaitram Aklu catches up with his former colleagues at IS 292 in Brooklyn (from left) Janice Moscoso, Violet Clifton and Eunice Hardy.

Retired nurse Ruth Caballero of the Federation of Nurses/UFT speaks after accepting a Retiree of the Year Award.

Gathered for the event are (from left) Mark Rappaport, a retired school counselor; Bonnie Sholl, a retired paraprofessional; Rosemary Siders, a retired music teacher; Roberto Rivas, a retired physical education teacher; and retired teacher Mary Daks.

Luzviminda “Luchie” Canlas (middle), a Si Beagle coordinator in Queens, accepts the Edith Potter/Anne Reel Award from Lynn Lospenuso, the director of UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Programs, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy.

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy says the foundation the UFT is built on is strong, but that members during this year’s presidential campaign have an opportunity to help shore it up.

Sylvia Levinson Award winner Carmen Alvarez, a former UFT vice president who spearheaded the union's initiative to re-engage retired paraprofessionals, chats with MaryJo Ginese, the UFT vice president for special education, before the start of the morning awards session.

The NYSUT Community Service Award winners and presenters gathering for a photo are (from right) retirees Neal Last, Elissa Goldstein and Francilla Moore, NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, UFT Veterans Committee Chapter Chair Donald Nobles, staff member Martin McKeown, retiree liaison Lorraine Ferrannini, a NYSUT Retiree of the Year Award winner, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy. Not pictured: Community Service Award winner Katherine Lewis.

Retired teacher David Campbell, the former head of the UFT Grievance Department, sings and plays the piano at the luncheon.

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr encourages retiree advocates to “speak into the future” by voting and staying in the fight for political power and voice.

Retiree delegate and RTC Executive Board member Nina Tribble beams after receiving the Tom Pappas Award for her involvement in the chapter’s work.

Retiree Jean Damashek thanks the RTC for issuing a proclamation in honor of her 100th birthday. Her daughter Marjorie Damashek Levine, also a retired city public school teacher, stands to her left.

Retiree Chaitram Aklu catches up with his former colleagues at IS 292 in Brooklyn (from left) Janice Moscoso, Violet Clifton and Eunice Hardy.

Retired nurse Ruth Caballero of the Federation of Nurses/UFT speaks after accepting a Retiree of the Year Award.

Gathered for the event are (from left) Mark Rappaport, a retired school counselor; Bonnie Sholl, a retired paraprofessional; Rosemary Siders, a retired music teacher; Roberto Rivas, a retired physical education teacher; and retired teacher Mary Daks.

Luzviminda “Luchie” Canlas (middle), a Si Beagle coordinator in Queens, accepts the Edith Potter/Anne Reel Award from Lynn Lospenuso, the director of UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Programs, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy.

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy says the foundation the UFT is built on is strong, but that members during this year’s presidential campaign have an opportunity to help shore it up.

Sylvia Levinson Award winner Carmen Alvarez, a former UFT vice president who spearheaded the union's initiative to re-engage retired paraprofessionals, chats with MaryJo Ginese, the UFT vice president for special education, before the start of the morning awards session.

The NYSUT Community Service Award winners and presenters gathering for a photo are (from right) retirees Neal Last, Elissa Goldstein and Francilla Moore, NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, UFT Veterans Committee Chapter Chair Donald Nobles, staff member Martin McKeown, retiree liaison Lorraine Ferrannini, a NYSUT Retiree of the Year Award winner, and Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy. Not pictured: Community Service Award winner Katherine Lewis.

Retired teacher David Campbell, the former head of the UFT Grievance Department, sings and plays the piano at the luncheon.

UFT Secretary LeRoy Barr encourages retiree advocates to “speak into the future” by voting and staying in the fight for political power and voice.