Deasy Kids Learn From the Elders

Dozens of second grade students at Katherine A. Deasy Elementary School in Glen Cove recently visited the Glen Cove Senior Citizen Center to meet their pen pals and learn a little more about what the city was like 50, 60, 70 and even 80 years ago.

As part of the initiative, students in teacher Steve Mahalic's class and members of the center have been writing to one another for several weeks. Each student was paired with a senior citizen for the written correspondence and they had the opportunity to meet their pen pal during a visit that was held just prior to the end of the school year. Nomi Rosen, the district's Coordinator of Fine Arts, collaborated with Mahalic to organize the trip. 

The seniors shared facts, articles and photos from the past, which school officials said, ultimately helped the Deasy students to gain an informative appreciation of their elders and the way life used to be in the city.

Student Vincenzo DiGraci learned from his pen pal Dan Filippone that there used to be two movie theaters in the city, as opposed to one, while Elena Ortiz discovered from Jennie Safratello that the city was once called "Mosquito Cove," but it was changed because that name had such a negative connotation. Deasy youngsters were also surprised to find out that their school was once called Central Primary School.

The morning meet-and-greet culminated with the students singing the Deasy School song for their hosts, before finishing with a game of "To Tell the Truth," which was modeled after the classic television game show. The seniors and students took turns asking and answering questions — some with truthful answers and others false — for the purpose of the spirited game-play. Resident Ruth Ann Soffe could not fool the students, however, when she claimed she enjoyed listening to her iPod as a young girl.

"Receiving the letters [from the students] was a real treat for us. It brought back a lot of fond memories," said resident Irma Berkley, who shared a story about an old St. Bernard named Butch who used to make his way all over the city years ago and who was loved by the entire community. 

Mayor Ralph Suozzi also stopped by to partake in all the fun, reminding the Deasy kids to thank their pen pals for helping to make the city the great place that it is today. The seniors even gave the students copies of their historical photos to display in the school's Discovery Cove museum, and invited the kids to write back to them anytime.