Charles Sutera, who served as the UFT’s vice president for middle schools from 1987 to 1995, passed away on May 3.

Sutera stepped away from a career in private industry for a job teaching industrial arts at Manhattan’s Frederick Douglass Junior High in 1961. In 1969, he left Frederick Douglass to teach industrial arts at IS 61 in Queens.

The tribulations of the time quickly drew him to the picket line during the teachers’ strike of 1968, and Sutera helped transform his fellow teachers’ anger into organized political power in the UFT.

Bernard Starr was a UFT member for about 25 years, most recently at JHS 220 in Brooklyn where he taught science. Bernard loved teaching children so much that, even after he retired, he continued to work part-time in Florida as a high school science teacher.

Malcolm Sellinger was a UFT member for 61 years. He marched in 1960 with UFT founder Albert Shanker and was a staunch advocate for union rights and representation. He served four terms as a UFT chapter leader at Thomas Jefferson HS in Brooklyn, where he taught English and was a member of the faculty for 45 years. The union honored Malcolm with its Eli Trachtenberg Award multiple times. He is survived by several children, grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and cousins.

Phyllis Frishberg was a UFT member for 20 years, most recently as a school secretary in Brooklyn. She was educated at Seward Park High School in Manhattan and graduated in 1945. At the age of 50, she received her bachelor’s degree in labor relations from Empire State College. In addition to being a proud member of the UFT, Phyllis enjoyed traveling the world. On a work sabbatical, she studied art in Florence, Italy.

Gina Silverstein began her teaching career at PS 153 in Maspeth, Queens, at the age of 19. She taught there for over 40 years before retiring but she continued to teach summer school, tutor privately and keep in touch with to the school community. She was also a chapter leader for over 25 years and was active in union activities throughout her entire career. A native Polish speaker born in a displaced persons' camp in Germany before coming to the United States, Gina was always eager to help English language learners.

Mary Lopez was a UFT member for 30 years, teaching English language learners in the Bronx. She loved needlepoint and crochet and is survived by her daughters, Priscilla and Jennifer, and her granddaughter Nicole.

Doris Iskaros began her teaching career over 30 years ago at a school in East New York, Brooklyn. She remained there for two years and then spent the next 20 years away from teaching. But her desire to return to teaching bought her to PS 186 in Queens, the Castlewood School, in 2004. She came back to the profession as a substitute teacher, moved on to part-time and then became a full-time teacher in 2008. Throughout her years of teaching, Doris touched the lives of the many students that she taught.

Rosemary Tunney was an educator and social worker at District 11 in the Bronx and supervised and mentored many of her colleagues over the span of her career from the 1980s to the 2000s. She loved music, art, traveling, cooking and all things that held the promise of experiencing something new.

Rosemary’s funeral will be Tuesday, March 20, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Maxcy & Sons funeral home at 16 Shea Place, New Rochelle, NY. A Celebration of Life memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, March 21 at 11 a.m. at the College of New Rochelle Cathedral.

Olive Archer came to teaching as a second career and became an early childhood literacy expert in the Bronx. She was a UFT Teacher Center staffer in District 10 where she supported teachers and students in literacy and math. After retirement, she became an adjunct professor at Lehman College where she was respected and admired for her professionalism and expertise in early childhood literacy. Olive was an avid cook, knitter and a lover of Shakespeare. She is survived by her son, Eric.

Tore Haugeto was a teacher of social studies at New Dorp HS on Staten Island all his life. He was the teacher in charge of the Redesign Project of the new New Dorp HS. He also served as a grade advisor. After his retirement Tore Haugeto participated in many courses offered at the UFT Retired Teachers Chapter in Staten Island. In his free time he liked to travel, swim, hike and always read. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Renate Haugeto, his daughter, Dr. Sonja Haugeto, his son, Kristian Haugeto, and five grandchildren.