George DeLuco is known throughout the Mohawk Valley for his dedication, work ethic and attention to detail. Ilion Junior-Senior High School's excellent reputation - for academic excellence, positive school-community climate, innovation, student accountability and success- are a credit to his leadership. We will miss him.

Joseph Collea '65 will begin his appointment, as Principal of Ilion Junior-Senior High School, on November 1, 1999. He will be filling the position vacated by the retirement of George DeLuco. Mr. Collea began his teaching career in the Ilion District, 30 years ago, as a Junior-High, Social Studies teacher. He taught in the District for 15 years and later served as Vice-Principal, until 1993. He was principal at Middle-High School, principal of Mohoseon High School, near Schenectady, and most recently, principal of 330 students at Oxford Academy and High School.

The new principal was chosen from 15 applicants. Each applicant was screened by the superintendent and finalists were interviewed by the department chairmen, site-based team, the superintendent and the Board of Education. Mr. Gary Tutty, Superintendent said the Joe Collea was chosen based on his skills as " ...a leader and manager."

Joe Collea also was mayor of Ilion, from 1987 to 1993, and still maintains a home in Ilion, as well as a home in Afton.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Collea said, "Since the 1950s, I've known Ilion principals and its kind of nice being part of that line. I'm big on tradition and history. Ilion has always been a school where tradition is important." (September 25, 1999)

Condolences.....

Miss. Leona M. Whiter, 86, passed away on August 4, 1999, in St. Luke's Memorial Hospital, Utica. She was born, Dec. 22, 1912, in Ilion, the daughter of the late Roscoe and Anna Wenner Whiter. She graduated from Ilion High School, Oneonta Normal School and received her master's degree at Buffalo State. Miss Whiter was employed in the Ilion Central School System, teaching at the East Frankfort School and the West Hill School for 35 years retiring in 1971. She is survived by two sisters and a brother-in-law, Erminia Hendrix of Ilion and Verna and Robert Sampson of Blairsville, Ga.; four nephews, Len Hendrix of Ilion, Brian Hendrix of Merrick, Jeff Samson of Denver, Co., and Jerry Samson of Ravenna, Ohio. She was predeceased by a nephew, Wayne Hendrix. Funeral services will be Saturday, at 11 a.m., from Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home. Intermment will be in the Armory Hill Cemetery. Friends are asked to consider donations to the Ilion Ambulance or the First United Methodist Church, Ilion. (August 5, 1999)

12 Retirements Within the District.....

George DeLuco, Ilion Jr./Sr. High School Principal, along with 11 other staff members, accepted a retirement incentive offered by the Ilion School District. Mr. Deluco received his teaching degree from St. Lawrence University. He began his teaching career, in 1967 as a math teacher, with the Ilion Central School District. Mr. DeLuco also served the district as busniness manager. He was named interim principal in 1983. Since then, Mr. Deluco has held the principal position. He will return to the district in September as principal, on a per diem basis, while a search is conducted for a new principal. The district hopes to have a replacement by November 1.

Mr. Gary Tutty, District Superintendent said, "The only unfortunate part of the incentive was losing many fine staff members who were first-rate employees and who worked hard on behalf of the children of the district." The list of retirees include:

• George DeLuco - Principal
  
• Nick Pannes - Athletic Director
  
• Regina [formerly Muto] Nicolette - English Teacher
  
• Diane Williams - English Teacher
  
• Gail Brown - Elementary Teacher
  
• Sharon Corriero - Elementary Teacher
  
• Pam Davies - Preschool Teacher
  
• Norma Karla - Elementary Teacher
  
• Margaret Stoffolano - Elementary Teacher
  
• Jean Putch - Library Aide
  
• Frances Retzloff - Teacher Aide
  
• Sue Thomas - Teacher Aide
  

Best Wishes to all on their retirement!

Other staff members leaving the district, to take jobs in other districts or to return to graduate school, are:

• Jeffrey Allen - Social Studies Teacher
  
• Krisanne Hailey - Social Studies Teacher
  
• Jennifer Cohen - Art Teacher
  

(August 5, 1999)

Condolences.....

Mrs. Eileen Klippel, passed away on July 6, 1999, in St. Joseph's John Knox Village, Tampa, Florida. She was born in Herkimer, the daughter of the late Atty. William J. and Minnie Gardinier. She graduated from Herkimer High School and Utica School of Commerce. Mrs. Klippel was secretary-treasurer of Ilion High School for many years. She was predeceased by her husband, Erwin Klippel, and lived in Ilion until moving to Orange City, Fla, in 1983. She is survived by three children, Carol J. Piser of Tampa, Fla, Ardis E. Gilbert of Oxford, Conn, and Kenneth Klippel of Raquette Lake; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Klippel was cremated and will be interred in Cedarville Cemetary beside her husband, Erwin. (July 10, 1999)

Faculty Positions Available.....

Ilion Central School District anticipates the following teaching positions for the 1999-2000 school year:

• Elementary Art
  
• Elementary Education
  
• Elementary Special Education
  
• English
  
• Home and Careers
  
• Mathematics
  
• Physical Education
  
• Social Studies
  
• Reading
  
• (Teacher and Cafeteria Aide positions are also available)

Potentail candidates should send a letter of intent, resume, copy of certification and placement folder to:

Gary Tutty
Superintendent of Schools
Ilion Central School District
Box 480, Ilion, New York 13357
(July 5, 1999)

Condolences.....

Mrs. Mary (Genatiempo) McLean, 48, passed away on June 14, 1999, at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Mrs. McLean was a faculty member, in the Math Department, of the Ilion Junior Senior High School. Our deepest sympathy is with her husband, Timothy, her family, students, co-workers, and friends. Calling hours at the Holleran-Enea Funeral Home, Herkimer, are Wed, 7-9 pm, Thurs, 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer, on Friday at 9:30 am. Interment will take place in Calvary Cemetary, Herkimer. (June 15, 1999)

Shop Talk From Vito Tisci.....

"I would like to get on your retired teachers' list, in hopes that I might hear from the students that passed through the portals of our school, since 1960. I retired in 1990 and I miss the memories. Some of the old students might remember me .......". You can catch a glimpse of Mr. Tisci's left profile on the History - 1963 fire page. Now, there's a memory! Email Mr. Tisci at VIAMIA@prodigy.net. (June 10, 1999)

White House Program Speaker Responds to Ilion Teacher's Question.....

Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate and author, Elie Wiesel, was the speaker at the White House Seventh Millennium Evening program held on April 12, 1999. Jim Mott, Senior High English teacher , uses Mr. Wiesel's book "Night" to convey lessons of the horror of the Holocaust. Mr. Wiesel was imprisoned at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp during World War II. Mr. Mott learned of Elie Wiesel's appearance on the program from surfing the internet. Mr. Weisel's speech was broadcast over CSPAN and part of the program involved answering questions that were sent in over the internet. Mr. Mott sent in questions from students and himself. His question was one of four that were asked of Mr. Wiesel. Mrs. Clinton read Jim Mott's question.

MRS. CLINTON: This is from James Mott in Ilion, New York, and it's also for Mr. Wiesel: I have taught about the Holocaust for many years as part of my English curriculum. I was wondering what advice could you give American teens today to help them understand that racism, prejudice and ethnic cleansing are all wrong, but things that are still too prevalent today.

The full text of the program is available as a White House Press Release.
[See Related Holocaust Story on Ilion Tailor Henry Lefkowicz] (April 17, 1999)

Mrs. Margaret F. Moylan, of Herkimer, received one of the YWCA of the Mohawk Valley's 1999 Salute to Outstanding Women Awards. Mrs. Moylan received the unsung heroine award. She is a founding member and past president of the Central New York Parkinson's Support Group. She is a published writer, poet and activist for people with disabilities. Mrs. Moylan was an English teacher, at Ilion High School, for almost 20 years. She retired after being diagnosed with mutiple sclerosis in 1984 and diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1986. Mrs. Moylan's writings have been published in books, magazines and newsletters. Her published collection of poetry is titled "Symphony in Conterpoint, an Overture to Hope." The award winners will be honored at a luncheon, to be held at the Radison Hotel-Utica Centre, noon-1:30 pm, on April 1. Tickets must be purchased by March 26. For more infomation, call the YWCA at 732-2159, ext. 246. (March 17, 1999)