Bay Shore Mourns Death Of Longtime Teacher

BAY SHORE, NY — The Bay Shore school community is mourning the death of longtime teacher Heather D'Antoni.

Schools Superintendent Steven Maloney posted a letter Monday on the district website. He said D'Antoni, who taught at Gardiner Manor Elementary, had died over the weekend.

A fourth-grade teacher, D'Antoni had worked in Bay Shore since September 2001. She received her bachelor's degree from College of the Holy Cross and a Masters from Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus.

"During her twenty-two year career in Bay Shore Schools, Ms. D’Antoni touched the lives of the many students who sat in her classroom. Throughout the morning, I have heard reflections from teachers, administrators, and support staff, that make clear she also touched the lives of many staff members," Maloney said. "She will be greatly missed by the entire Bay Shore family."

Commenters on the district's Facebook post about D'Antoni's death wrote about her kindness as well as her teaching skills.

Maloney urged parents to reach out to the social worker, psychologist, guidance counselor, or principal in their child's building if they think the student would benefit from talking to someone about D'Antoni's death.

There is also information available on the district's Office of Instructional Services webpage on how to speak to children about loss, he said.