Friday, March 22, 2019 The Garden City News
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IN MEMORIAM
Susan Mackey Gallic
Susan Mackey Gallic
Susan, Mimi, Mima, Big Grammy from New York, passed away peacefully on March 15 in Boca Raton Florida. Susan is survived by her “Six Only Children”, Joanne (John Matzelle), Lisa (Tom Bonanno), Nancy (Sean Keyton) , Chris (Theresa), Jean (Charlie Eschmann), Michael (Roberta), and of course her “treasures” her 18 grandchildren... Vanessa Young, Lauren Bonanno, Danielle Hernendez, Patrick Bonanno, Jennifer Young,
Melissa Matzelle, Charles Eschmann, John Matzelle, Katie Gallic, Abigail Eschmann, Christopher Gallic, Timothy Eschmann, Sarah Matzelle, Ryan Eschmann, Claire Gallic, Grace Gallic, Sam Gallic and Emma Gallic and One Great Grand, Layla Hernandez (with one on the way). Susan was born December 29, 1936, Garden City High School Graduate Class of 1954. She had fond memories of her high school days known as MacBird and organized a reunion every 5 years! After graduation from Colby Sawyer College, she met Dennis Gallic. Married and raised 6 children in Garden City. After leaving New York Susan moved to Cape Coral Florida and became President of her condo association where she was known as “Madame President”. Her neighbors and friends knew her as the one willing to lend an ear, make you dinner or beat you at dominoes at the pool. Susan will always be remembered by her unwavering loyalty and undying love for her family and all that she knew. If you were a friend of her children, she loved you. Susan is predeceased by her husband Dennis, parents and three sisters. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name at JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Long Island chapter. The wake will be held at Fairchild and Sons in Garden City. Please check their website for day of service.
IN MEMORIAM
Muriel Polk
Muriel Polk
Muriel Polk, a longtime Garden City resident, passed away on March 13. She was 94 years old and is survived by her two children; her son Ted (Jennifer) of Chicago and her daughter Janice Bailey (Bob) of Garden City as well as her five
grandchildren – Meaghan, James, Connor Polk, Ian and Olivia Bailey. Muriel is also survived by her sister Lillian of Florida and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by Ted, her husband of over 50 years, who passed away in 2014. Born and raised in Roslyn, Muriel lived her whole live in the New York area. She moved, with family, to Garden City in 1966 and lived in the same home until 2011. She had many passions, but in particular was an avid supporter of her children’s and grandchildren’s athletic activities. She and her husband Ted supported various Garden City athletic programs, particularly the Centennial’s soccer club, for decades. She was also an Auxiliary member of the William Bradford Turner American Legion Post, an active parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and enjoyed playing golf. Muriel treasured the many lifelong friendships developed over the years in Garden City and took great pride in her large base of family and friends.
All-girl team wins Regional ExploraVision Championship
GCHS’ all-girl ExploraVision team of (left to right) Abigail Benzinger, Sophia Bernardo, Julia Conroy, and Ryann Henry is pictured here with Assistant Principal Kevin Steingruebner, science coordinator Dr. Elena Cascio and science research teacher Dr. Steven Gordon. BY DR. ELENA CASCIO, 6-12 SCIENCE COORDINATOR Congratulations to the team of the Garden City High School freshmen who were selected as the regional winners of the 27th annual Toshiba ExploraVision program (www. exploravision.org), the largest K-12 science competition designed to build problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills. The all-girl team of Ryann Henry, Julia Conroy, Sophia Bernardo and Abigail Benzinger invented a device that could stimulate the brain and the nerves to repair the spine cord injuries. Their project was selected from thousands of entries submitted in response to ExploraVision’s challenge to create a vision of a new technology. The project was the top project in their grade level in one of the six ExploraVision geographical regions. Now, the Garden City HS team will advance to the National phase of the competition for a chance to win $10,000 in savings bonds and an invitation to attend the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards Ceremony Weekend in Washington, DC in June. Also, congratulations to five additional science research teams from Garden City High School who were selected as Honorable Mention win-
ners in the Toshiba ExploraVision Competition: The team of Avery Hearon, Maya Batra, and Kai Hosein for their project Lima Bean Prosthetic; the team of Max Sclafani and Nico Pamas for S.A.M.S.I.R.T.- Sub Aquatic Molten Salt Reactor Using Thorium; the team of Omar Chohan, Jeremy Geevarghese, and Niall Cowie for project STROBStrep Treatment Releasing Original Biosensor; the team of Jason Li, Jordan DeNaro, Brendan McElroy for project SPED: Sound Powered Energy Device; and the team of Corina Henke, Jenna Matarazzo and Paige Matarazzo for Forest in the Sky project. Acacia McKenna, director of science education competitions at the National Science Teacher Association, stated: “The Honorable Mention award places your team’s projects among the top 10% of all ExploraVision projects submitted this year. Your students are commended for a job well done in demonstrating innovative thinking in the exploration of science and its impact on technology in the future.” These remarkable achievements of our students wouldn’t be possible without their mentor, Dr. Gordon, who inspired them to participate in the program and provided them with leadership, support, and guidance during every step of the process.