Remembering Mr. Ilnitzki to learn about all of his students. He once told me “I’m going to pray for you.” I thought a lot about this all the time during midterms week. I’m going to miss him so much and I think about him every day.
J
oseph Ilnitzki joined the Verot family this past August. Originally from Long Island, New York, after being offered a teaching position in the English Department, he packed up his belongings and moved to Florida. In a recent conversation with Mrs. O’Grady, his family shared, “being offered the opportunity to teach at Bishop Verot Catholic High School was a great blessing to him, and he enjoyed his time there very much.” His impact on the Verot family was great despite his short time here. Mr. Ilnitzki passed away over the Christmas Break. An all school Mass was celebrated in his memory upon our return to campus in January. Members of his House, St. Joan of Arc, shared their heartfelt memories, showing the impact one person can have with some simple acts of kindness. Grace Canzano (12th) – Mr. I was the sweetest man ever. He listened to all of us and really cared about making a difference. He loved
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Bella Sullivan (12th) – Mr. I had a smile on his face every day, he always suggested new ideas and activities for the house, which really helped me as the senior captain to feel even more comfortable leading. He always made jokes and was so friendly and open minded. One of my favorite memories of him was during kickball. He got really into the game and really wanted to win. He kicked the ball pretty far and ran as fast as he could to the base. He was such a good sport and encouraged everyone to participate. Thomas Sciarrone (12th) Mr. I was the type of man who was open and friendly to all. As a member of the house of Saint Joan of Arc, he brought a fun and enthusiastic energy to our house. Often times I would get hung up after class chatting with him about the different things going on in my life. One thing that Mr. I and I bonded over was our love for New York and our connections to Long Island. My father grew up just 20 minutes down the road from where Mr. I lived, so I enjoyed all the stories he would share with me. Before Christmas vacation we did a house secret Santa exchange. WINTER 2020-21
Unknown to me, Mr. I had picked me. When it came time to exchange gifts Mr. I handed me an old new balance shoe box that had my name on it. Inside was a letter, a letter that I still have today, that talked about how great of a young man and a leader I am. This really meant a lot to me, especially hearing it from a staff member at school. The greatest part of my gift was the NYPD hat. Me being a person who loves wearing hats and collecting them this meant a whole lot to me. Later I came to find out that Mr. I had actually had someone from New York go out and purchase the hat and ship it down to him. This really stood out to me about the kind of man he was. It brought great sadness and
disappointment to hear the news about Mr. I’s passing. But deep down I know that his memory will not only be carried on in his friend's and family’s hearts but mine as well.
