See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joanna DelBuono
Brooklyn Daily
Bay Ridge
Standing O is sending a great, big shout-out to Madeline Scotto, the beloved math teacher at St. Ephrem’s school, for turning 100 years young on Oct. 16. The birthday gal was feted at a special mass a few days later, and then at a reception where friends, family, and staff helped her blow out the candles.
The Brooklyn-born centenarian has been teaching at the school since 1960 — it’s the same school she graduated from in 1928! Madeline started out in a temporary position that grew into a career of more than 40 years. Now retired from full time teaching, she volunteers three days a week and trains students in all the grades for the mental Math Bees. Together they have produced winners in local school competitions. The Standing O pal also initiated the S.A.V.E. program which instills an understanding and importance of earning money, saving it wisely and sharing some of the proceeds with those less fortunate. She rules out the thought of complete retirement.
“Oh, that’s a bad word, I don’t ever want to hear that word,” said the spry senior who has two sons, three daughters, nine grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. “Some people like what they’re doing, but I have a passion for what I’m doing and when you have a passion for something, you never give up.”
Throughout her long and storied career Madeline has been recognized with the Florence Buechs Mathematics Teachers Award, the Elizabeth Seton Award, the Distinguished Graduate Award of the National Catholic Endowment Association, and a 1994 nomination for the Nation’s Teacher of the Year Award. In 2009 she was awarded the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice, the highest honor to be bestowed on a lay person by the Pope. She now has a Standing O to add to her list of accolades.
We wish Madeline many more years of teaching, mentoring, and sharing her passion with new generations.
St. Ephrem Elementary School [7415 Ft. Hamilton Pkwy. at 73rd Street in Bay Ridge, (718) 833–1440].