Bay Ridge

St. Patrick students walk in memory of academy’s maintenance coordinator

October 8, 2014 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Anne Strafaci (second from right) and members of her family took part in the annual walk-a-thon for Saint Patrick Catholic Academy in Bay Ridge. The event was dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Thomas J. Strafaci. Anne is pictured on the walk-a-thon route with her daughter Beth Albano and grandchildren Luka, Emily and Nicholas (left to right).
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It isn’t just the teachers who influence students at Saint Patrick Catholic Academy. The students dedicated this year’s annual school walk-a-thon, which took place on Oct. 2, to the memory of Thomas J. Strafaci, the maintenance coordinator for the Bay Ridge school, who died in July after a nine-year-long bout with cancer. He was 73 years old.

“Tom was such an inspiration to our students. He was such a kind man. He was a quiet man. But he had a real impact on the lives of the students. The students looked up to him. He was so much a part of our lives here at St. Patrick,” Principal Andrea D’Emic told the Brooklyn Eagle.

The entire school took part in the walk-a-thon by walking for several miles, starting from the school building at 401 97th St., then over to the Shore Road Promenade, then along the Promenade and back. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which can be seen from the Promenade, served as a backdrop for the event.

The walk-a-thon raised funds that will go toward the purchase of a statue of Saint Joseph the Worker that will contain a plaque bearing Strafaci’s name, D’Emic said. The statue will be placed in the academy’s front hall. Much of the money raised by the walk-a-thon came from the sale of T-shirts that were specially made for the event. The proceeds were still being tallied at press time.

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D’Emic said the idea to hold the walk-a-thon in Strafaci’s memory came from the St. Patrick Home Academy Association, a group similar to a public school PTA. Once the students learned of the plan they were fully on board, D’Emic said.

Strafaci’s wife, Anne Strafaci, who is the director of development at St. Patrick Catholic Church, said she and her family were grateful for the walk-a-thon. Strafaci, her daughter, Beth Albano, and three of her grandchildren, Nicholas, Emily and Luka Albano, took part in the walk-a-thon, walking alongside the students. “It was so heartwarming. My daughter was in tears. It’s amazing to me that these students remember what my husband did. He was just such a quiet guy. You go through your workday thinking that no one notices what you do and then you find out that you made a real impact,” Strafaci told the Eagle.

“My husband loved St. Patrick’s. All of the teachers were like his kids. And of course, he loved the students,” Strafaci said. The Strafacis were married for 58 years and have three children and eight grandchildren.

It was Anne Strafaci who suggested the statue of St. Joseph the Worker for the school. “My husband’s middle name was Joseph. Also, my husband was such a worker. He would get to school early in the morning, just to make sure everything was in order. I thought it was fitting,” she said.

Prior to his years at St. Patrick, Thomas Strafaci was the golf pro at the Dyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn and was the score keeper for the Metropolitan PGA. He joined the staff at St. Patrick when he retired from his golf career.

Strafaci’s wife, Anne Strafaci, who is the director of development at St. Patrick Catholic Church, said she and her family were grateful for the walk-a-thon. Strafaci, her daughter Beth Albano and three of her grandchildren — Nicholas, Emily and Luka Albano — took part in the walk-a-thon, walking alongside the students.

“It was so heartwarming. My daughter was in tears. It’s amazing to me that these students remember what my husband did. He was just such a quiet guy. You go through your workday thinking that no one notices what you do and then you find out that you made a real impact,” Strafaci told the Eagle.

“My husband loved St. Patrick’s. All of the teachers were like his kids. And of course, he loved the students,” Strafaci said.

The Strafacis were married for 58 years and had three children and eight grandchildren.

It was Anne Strafaci who suggested the statue of St. Joseph the Worker for the school.

“My husband’s middle name was Joseph. Also, my husband was such a worker. He would get to school early in the morning, just to make sure everything was in order. I thought it was fitting,” she said.

Prior to his years at St. Patrick, Thomas Strafaci was a golf pro at the Dyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn and was the score keeper for the Metropolitan PGA. He joined the staff at St. Patrick when he retired from his golf career.


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