__________________ SEAFORD _________________
HERALD Class of 2022 Graduation Inside $1.00
Vol. 70 No. 26
Going green at Jones Beach
What’s new in Seaford schools
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JUNE 23 - 29, 2022
Seaford deputy superintendent is set to retire his parents, after his father fell ill with cancer. In Rockville Centre, he served As the academic year draws as chair of the special education to a close, the Seaford School Dis- department at South Side High trict is preparing to say goodbye School, and was summer school to Deputy Superintendent John principal as well. Striffolino, a longtime adminisHis love for education can be trator, educator and traced to his senior friend of the Seaford year of high school, community. when, during a free Striffolino, origiperiod, he voluntarinally from Valley ly tutored students Stream, has served at the elementary the Seaford School school. From there, District for 25 years, he attended SUNY starting as assistant Geneseo, where he principal at Seaford adElE PECora majored in art therMiddle School in Superintendent, apy and special edu1997. An old college Seaford Schools cation. Striffolino friend, Brian Consaid he realized that voy, then the princieducation was his pal of the middle school, hired calling when he student-taught him. After a four-year stint at the in college. middle school, Strif folino “I’ve always wanted to help became principal of Manor Ele- people — it was an inclination,” mentary School, where he he said. “But I wasn’t sure how I served for nine years. He was was going to do it. Then I stuthen appointed assistant super- dent-taught my senior year, and intendent for cur riculum, fell in love with teaching. I never instruction and personnel before looked back.” being named deputy superintenThe most rewarding part of dent this year. working in education was helpPrior to working in Seaford, ing kids reach their full potenStriffolino taught upstate for a tial, he said. number of years before moving “I’ve always loved school,” back to Long Island and working Striffolino said. “I still love in Rockville Centre to be close to Continued on page 8
By miChaEl malaSZCZyK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
J
ohn is the quintessential educator.
Courtesy Cheryl Latif
WaNtaGh rESidENt ramy Latif rode his Sea-Doo in the bay. A year ago, he helped save the life of a victim of an accident on the water.
Wantagh H.S. student looks back on day he became a hero A year ago, Ramy Latif helped save woman’s life By miChaEl malaSZCZyK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
Wantagh High School freshman Ramy Latif rode his Sea-Doo in the bay near the Wantagh Parkway Bridge in Seaford on what started out as a normal Friday about a year ago. Little did Latif know he was about to help save a woman’s life. On June 25, 2021, Latif noticed something in the water right under the bridge. He saw a number of people on the bridge who had gotten off their bikes, and they were shouting and
pointing down at the water. That’s when Latif saw a crashed personal watercraft, and blood in the water. “I move closer, and near the crashed jetski I see a man swimming, carrying an unconscious woman,” Latif recounted. “The woman’s head was caved in — I knew she was not all right.” The man was 35-year-old Shane Rossi, and the woman was his girlfriend, Pamela Gonzalez, 28. The two had been out for a ride in the bay, with Rossi in his new boat and Gonzalez Continued on page 8