Category Archives: Grand Avenue Middle School

Grand Avenue Middle School, Bellmore, New York, USA – Part of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

Long Island, New York, U.S. Nov. 14, 2020. L-R, ANN PARRY and JOYCE CHINSKY at Terrific Tootsies event. (need photographer's name)

You Can’t Spell “Joyce Chinsky” without “JOY”

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
October 4, 2020

Friends and Families

My dear friend JOYCE CHINSKY died, after a long, spirited struggle against cancer, on September 30th – It doesn’t seem real.

Joyce and I first met in the early 1980’s when we were fellow English teachers at Grand Avenue M.S. in Bellmore. Over the following decades, our activities often included family, especially her husband BOB and son PETER, when he was a child, and my daughters SUE and LAURIE.

Merrick, New York, USA. July 2, 2016. L-R, BOB CHINSKY, JOYCE CHINSKY, BOB STUHMER are in front of Bouncy Castle at Emily's First Birthday Party, hosted by her Mom and Dad at Nana Ann's home.

Merrick, New York, USA. July 2, 2016. L-R, BOB CHINSKY, JOYCE CHINSKY, BOB STUHMER are in front of Bouncy Castle at Emily’s First Birthday Party, hosted by her Mom and Dad at Nana Ann’s home.

There were the summers we went with our young children to our friend Carolle Bendle’s beach club.

We had Broadhollow Theater subscriptions for ourselves and our children.

Joyce, my daughters and I had NYC excursions. She joined my extended family to root for the Parry Girls’ team on a game show taped in a studio in Hell’s Kitchen on a rainy day in 2006, and the three of us went to a Hillary Clinton rally in 2008.

Starting in 2012 when the first of my two grandchildren arrived, Joyce regularly asked about them and visited each.

When Sue ran for local office a few years ago, Joyce enthusiastically supported her, including going to a Merrick fundraiser.

North Merrick, New York, USA. July 31, 2017. L-R, JOYCE CHINSKY and SUE MOLLER are at Fundraiser for candidate Moller for Town of Hempstead Town Council, District 6, at home of supporters. (© 2017 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

North Merrick, New York, USA. July 31, 2017. L-R, JOYCE CHINSKY and SUE MOLLER are at Fundraiser for candidate Moller for Town of Hempstead Town Council, District 6, at home of supporters. (© 2017 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

B&W version of above photo

Bob and Joyce took me with them on day trips out east on L.I. and to enjoy Bob’s photography in exhibitions….

Every lucky group has a Connector – the person who, with love and work, keeps people in touch over the years, often as locations and circumstances change. Joyce was a Connector in so many meaningful ways, including organizing annual “Grand Girls” lunches for retired and active teachers.

Massapequa, NY, U.S. Front row, L-R: ANDREA GWOSDOW, PAT BLOODGOOD; Back row, L-R: JANE KLINE, ANN SULLIVAN, JOYCE CHINSKY, ANN PARRY are at Grand Girls annual reunion at Sergio's Italian Restaurant. (Thank you, Jane, for sending photo)

Massapequa, NY, U.S. Front row, L-R: ANDREA GWOSDOW and PAT BLOODGOOD; Back row, L-R: JANE KLINE, ANN SULLIVAN, JOYCE CHINSKY and ANN PARRY are at Grand Girls annual reunion at Sergio’s Italian Restaurant. (Thank you, Jane, for sending photo)

Massapequa Park, NY, U.S.  Front Row, Grand Girls L-R: MELISSA WILLIAMS, NANCY JACOB, JOYCE CHINKSY, MICHELLE GAGNON, and ANN PARRY; Back row, L-R: BARBARA HIRTEN, ROSANNE WALKER, CHRISTINE LATORRE, RITA CALZETTA, MARY ELLEN GASPAREC, KATHY WARD HAGGERTY and JANE KLINE pose for group photo at Asian Moon restaurant during annual reunion lunch.

Massapequa Park, NY, U.S.  Front Row, Grand Girls L-R: MELISSA WILLIAMS, NANCY JACOB, JOYCE CHINKSY, MICHELLE GAGNON and ANN PARRY; Back row, L-R: BARBARA HIRTEN, ROSANNE WALKER, CHRISTINE LATORRE, RITA CALZETTA, MARY ELLEN GASPAREC, KATHY WARD HAGGERTY and JANE KLINE pose for group photo at Asian Moon restaurant during annual reunion lunch.

Since I can’t find words to share how I feel right now, here’s some of what my daughters group-texted when they read Joyce was gone:

LAURIE: “Oh my god I’m so sorry to hear this!!! This is so awfull!!! I’m so sorry…She was suuuuuch a sweet woman….❤️”

SUE: “Oh my gosh. I’m devastated to hear this news. This is so sad 😢 Oh my gosh 💔”

  • FEATURE PHOTO –  at top: Long Island, New York, U.S. November 14, 2010 L-R, ANN PARRY and JOYCE CHINSKY are at Terrific Tootsies event. (if you know photographer’s name, please contact me)

Joyce was an active volunteer and docent at HMTC in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY, for many years. To learn about, and donate to, that non-profit:

The Holocaust Museum and Tolerance Center: hmtcli.org

To learn more about pancreatic cancer and donate towards its research:

The Lustgarten Foundation: lustgarten.org

________

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Merrick, New York, USA. September 11, 2011. Removing American Flag to reveal monument made with steel from World Trade Center, at the Merrick Post #1282 American Legion Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 event are, L to R, Rabbi Paul Kirchner, Father Eric Fasano, Adjutant Robert Tom Riordan PCC; and North Merrick Fire Dept. Ex. Chief Henry Hinrichs, at Merrick Veterans Memorial Park.

To Light a Candle… 9/11

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
September 11, 2017

On each anniversary of September 11, 2001, but not only on each anniversary, I remember the events of that day and how they’ve changed our world.

On Sept. 11, 2001, we were a week or so into the new school year at Grand Avenue Middle School in Bellmore, Long Island. Except for our class computers suddenly losing internet access early that morning, it began as an ordinary Tuesday.

[You can click on each photo below]

Sept. 11, 2012 - Merrick, New York, U.S. - LYLA W., 3, and KATE O., 2, helping place 500 Luminary Bags (votive candle in each bag will be lit at dark) in front of 215 Wenshaw Park homes, on 11th Anniversary of 9/11, by Wenshaw Park Civic Association (WPCA), Long Island, with over $500 already raised for Twin Towers Orphan Fund. (Ann Parry/-)

Merrick, NY, USA. Sept. 11, 2012.  LYLA W., 3, and KATE O., 2, help place 500 luminary bags (votive candle in each bag will be lit at dark) in front of 215 Wenshaw Park homes, by Wenshaw Park Civic Association, Long Island, to raise funds for Twin Towers Orphan Fund. (© 2012 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Then, as students passed from one class to another, a few of my writing students came in announcing news they’d heard on the radio in art class: “Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers!”

“What?!” I said. “Well… one plane might have that sort of accident, but not two – the same day. Someone must’ve heard the info wrong.”

But, over the loudspeaker later that morning, our principal, Fino Celano, gave us the news – calmly, solemnly – of the terrorist attacks on Manhattan’s Twin Towers, the Pentagon… then the plane crash in the Pennsylvania field. No one had heard the info wrong.

East Meadow, New York, U.S. March 31, 2012. Back row L-R, Firefighter RAY PFEIFER and Congressman PETE KING (Rep. - NY02), and, front row, son TERRENCE PFEIFER, daughter TAYLOR PFEIFER, and wife CARYN PFEIFER, pose for photo at fundraiser for Ray Pfeifer, an FDNY firefighter battling cancer after months of recovery efforts at Ground Zero following 9/11 2001 Twin Towers attack. Benefit was held at East Meadow Firefighters Benevolent Hall. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

East Meadow, NY, U.S. March 31, 2012. Back row L-R, Firefighter RAY PFEIFER and Congressman PETE KING (Rep. – NY02), and, front row, son TERRENCE PFEIFER, daughter TAYLOR PFEIFER, and wife CARYN PFEIFER, pose for photo at fundraiser for Ray Pfeifer, an FDNY firefighter battling cancer after months of recovery efforts at Ground Zero following 9/11 2001 Twin Towers attack. Benefit was held at East Meadow Firefighters Benevolent Hall. © 2012 (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When I got home from school that afternoon, the tile floors our construction workers had ripped up from the kitchen and surrounding rooms the day before were more scattered than stacked. We were replacing our radiant in-floor heating, and the ground floor looked “like a bomb went off” – though I felt guilty even having that thought.

So the night of September 11, 2001, my husband Len, my older daughter Sue and I ate dinner at a local cafe.

Throughout the meal we watched the news coverage of the attacks on the TV up in the corner, and whispered “Nightmare… surreal… oh my god….”

Manhattan, NY, USA. March 17, 2009. FDNY firefighter LUKE ALLEN wears in his hat a card with photo of his older brother firefighter RICHARD D. ALLEN, one of 343 FDNY firefighters killed responding to terrorist attacks on Twin Towers 9/11. (© 2009 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Manhattan, NY, USA. March 17, 2009. Marching in St. Patrick’s Day Parade, FDNY firefighter LUKE ALLEN displays on his hat a photo of his older brother firefighter RICHARD D. ALLEN, one of 343 FDNY firefighters killed responding to terrorist attacks on Twin Towers Sept. 11, 2001. (© 2009 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

My younger daughter Laurie was at college in Westchester. During one of our calls later that week, I told her I wanted to get her a cell phone, especially because of her trips between college and home.

Though she didn’t think she needed one, by the end of the call she understood that her mom really needed her to have one.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th September 2015. L-R, Bellmore Fire Dept. Chief DANIEL HOLL, Pastor and Chaplain JAMES BARNUM, 1st Deputy VINCENT MONTERA, 2nd Deputy TOM STOERGEN, and Chaplain DENNIS RICH stand next to a monument that's a piece of structural steel from the Twin Towers, during the Bellmore Memorial Ceremony for 3 Bellmore volunteer firefighters and 7 residents who died due to 9/11 NYC terrorist attacks. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th September 2015. L-R, Bellmore Fire Dept. Chief DANIEL HOLL, Pastor and Chaplain JAMES BARNUM, 1st Deputy VINCENT MONTERA, 2nd Deputy TOM STOERGEN, and Chaplain DENNIS RICH stand next to a monument that’s a piece of structural steel from the Twin Towers, during the Bellmore Memorial Ceremony for 3 Bellmore volunteer firefighters and 7 residents who died due to 9/11 NYC terrorist attacks. Elevated platform of Bellmore LIRR Station is in background. (© 2015 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Our neighbors across the street lost their son who worked in the Twin Towers.

A Grand Avenue coworker lost her first responder firefighter husband, and two of our students lost their fathers.

During lunch period, a fellow teacher told us how ever since 9/11 he was having nightmares about being trapped underground.

And American flags multiplied everywhere, and so did patience and kindness. I didn’t notice a car horn honking for at least a year.

And we also had color-coded terrorism threat advisories….

Manhattan, NY, USA - January 9, 2012: Movie poster

Manhattan, NY, USA. January 9, 2012. Movie poster EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE is displayed lit at night over Penn Station subway entrance with Empire State Building in background. Fictional movie is set at time of 9/11 terrorist attacks on Twin Towers in NYC. (© 2012 Ann E Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Since 2001 our country and many others continue to have terror threat alerts — for events, buildings, airlines & metros, cities…. 

And I do feel a bit reckless, a tiny bit brave, heading to Manhattan when a terror alert’s been issued.

North Bellmore Fire Department 9/11 remembrance ceremony and unveiling of two pieces of steel from World Trade Center added to existing 9/11 monument, North Bellmore, New York, USA, on September 10, 2011. (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. Sept. 10, 2011. North Bellmore Fire Department 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and unveiling of two pieces of steel from World Trade Center added to existing 9/11 monument. (© 2011 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

My young grandson and younger granddaughter, along with all children, can only imagine the world before 9/11/2001 through images and stories that grow older as they do.

And I can barely begin to imagine the feelings and pain of those killed, injured, struck with cancer, and of those who lost loved ones, due to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Removing American Flag to reveal monument made with steel from World Trade Center, at the Merrick Post #1282 American Legion Tenth Anniversary of 9/11 ceremony, are (left to right) Rabbi Paul Kirchner, Father Eric Fasano, Adjutant Robert Tom Riordan PCC, and North Merrick Fire Dept. Ex. Chief Henry Hinrichs, at Merrick Veterans Memorial Park, Merrick, New York, USA, on September 11, 2011.(Ann Parry/Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Merrick, NY, USA. Sept. 11, 2011. Removing American Flag to reveal monument made with steel from World Trade Center, at Merrick Post #1282 American Legion 10th Anniversary of 9/11 ceremony, are (L-R) Rabbi PAUL KIRCHNER; Father ERIC FASANO; Adjutant ROBERT TOM RIORDAN, PCC; and North Merrick Fire Dept. Ex. Chief HENRY HINRICHS at Merrick Veterans Memorial Park. (© 2011 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

With gratitude to the first responders and other 9/11 heroes – and with hope – I can never forget.    – Ann

“It’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”  – Chinese Proverb

East Meadow, New York, USA. Summer 2017. Four birds fly over Twin Towers sculpture monument at Eisenhower Park 9/11 Monument section. (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

East Meadow, NY, USA. Sept. 10, 2017. Four birds fly over Twin Towers steel sculpture at Eisenhower Park 9/11 Monument. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

UPDATE   July 30, 2019: Head of the U.S. Executive Branch signed bi-partisan 9/11 Victim Compensation bill: “Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act.”

9/11 Over the Years:   PHOTO GALLERY

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