Marilyn Berger was an Education Evaluator at Beach Channel HS in Queens. She started as a school aide in the 1960s and later became a paraprofessional before teaching special education students at P4K in District 75. She served as an informal mentor and role model for many co-workers. An active member of the UFT, Marilyn belonged to the Retired Teachers Chapter and was a firm believer in the labor movement.

She belonged to the Scholarship Committee for the National Council of Jewish Women, Contra Costa County section and enjoyed playing mah jongg and Scrabble in her spare time.

Lennie Brice was an elementary school teacher, including at PS 30 in Manhattan, and a UFT member for 26 years. After retiring in 1993, she continued to work as a substitute teacher for a decade, from 2001-2011, in Harlem and also in Englewood and Teaneck in New Jersey. She was a strong advocate for children everywhere and for the Harlem community.

“She was an awesome mother, teacher and woman,” said her daughter, Kathreen Brice. Her hobbies included gardening and sewing. An excellent seamstress, she sewed everything from curtains to children’s clothing, her daughter said.

Perdita Harrington was a UFT member for 18 years, most recently as a paraprofessional at PS 308 in Brooklyn. She resided in Jamaica, Queens.

Richard Quarto taught social studies for 36 years, most recently at IS 73 in Queens. He also served as a chapter leader.

Richard was known for his command of the classroom and changed the life of many students.

Sharyn Levine was a loyal UFT member for 36 years, teaching language arts first at the Arthur S. Somers MS in Brooklyn and then at IS 75 on Staten Island.

Sharyn enjoyed mystery novels and was an avid needlepointer and crewelist. She is survived by her daughter Jessica.

Robert “Bob” Kahn was a UFT member for 50 years, most recently as a programmer at George Westinghouse HS in Brooklyn.

Bob started out as a radio and television repairman and learned much of his trade in the signal corp in the U.S. Army during World War II. He followed that up with his own television repair business, which he continued for almost 20 years before becoming a teacher of business machines and television at Westinghouse High School. He retired in 1986.

Helene R. Sacher taught English language learners in District 10 in the Bronx and was a UFT member for 47 years. She began her career as a 5th grade teacher at CES 63 in District 9 in the Bronx in 1970. There, she went on to teach grades 3 and 4. For several years after retiring, she worked for the UFT in the after school SES program as a school coordinator.

Michael Zirkel was a UFT member for 30 years, working as an Industrial Arts teacher at Evander Childs HS in the Bronx for much of his career. When the Industrial Arts department was disbanded due to limited funding, he became a driving instructor. He was then moved to the English department and taught literature. He also worked at a "600" school on North Brother Island, using the arts to reach students who were recovering drug addicts. Throughout all these varied positions, Michael taught all his students with the same zeal, enthusiasm and passion for the subject.

Janet Gaw-Adamski was a talented teacher and loyal colleague who served as a third- and fourth-grade classroom teacher, third-grade teacher consultant and computer lab teacher at PS 58 in Brooklyn. She was an example and mentor to many of her colleagues. She was also a talented musician who played the piano for the school's many musical productions and for numerous graduation ceremonies.

Selina Ahoklui, the 1998 New York State Teacher of the Year, died on May 22. She was 76 years old.