Hewlett-Woodmere teachers say goodbye

When the next school year begins, several longtime Hewlett High School faculty members who were familiar to students and colleagues alike will no longer be seen in the hallways.

The retirees include science teacher Ilene Gabel; music teacher Eric Williams; English teacher Patricia Curran; the district’s chair of business, Rose Panarelli; and its director of music and arts, Walter Lastowski, as well as teacher’s aide Leslie Turner.

Panarelli has worked in the district for 22 years, and headed its business education department for seven years. She said she was proud of the programs she was involved with.

“I’ve had a wonderful career at Hewlett, and have thoroughly enjoyed the interactions with students and staff,” Panarelli said. “I’m proud of the development of a very robust computer technology program at the high school as well as being part of a comprehensive Business Education program that offers students relevant coursework to enhance their academic experience in high school.”

Both Williams and Lastowski have been in education for 34 years. Williams began his Hewlett-Woodmere career as a student teacher at Woodmere Middle School in January 1987, and conducted his first concert two days before he graduated from college on the stage of Hewlett High. Over the years, he received state and national recognition for his work in choral conducting and performance.

“My greatest accomplishment would be to have instilled a sense of integrity in my students, with the hope that music would help them realize how important others are in their lives,” Williams said. “I wanted them to know that respect, understanding and acceptance are fundamental life values.”

Lastowski’s tenure with the district began in September 1996, and he succeeded Kevin Bayen as the district’s director of music and arts five years ago. Lastowski helped develop the musical theater departments at both the middle and high schools.

His productions gained accolades not only from the community, but also from nationally respected theatrical professionals. He helped organize the first evening at Carnegie Hall in 2011 for the performing ensembles of the middle and high schools.

“Among all the accolades I received during my time at Hewlett-Woodmere, what I’m most proud of is helping instill love and a sense of worth in the students,” Lastowski said.

The Herald spoke with Gabel last November, after she retired in late October. The Five Towns native taught in the district for roughly 50 years. “I was active in multiple roles with the union, and I helped co-produce the drama productions,” Gabel said. “I wasn’t just a teacher, and I think that contributed to my longevity. I never had time to get bored.”

Ric Stark, president of the Hewlett-Woodmere Faculty Association, said that the school district, and Gabel’s union colleagues, would sorely miss her. “Ilene is a great lady who was also a great teacher and HWFA officer,” Stark said. “She had a long and distinguished career in our district. She never showed anything but the greatest care for her students and her colleagues.”

After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry, Gabel looked to her old high school to get into teaching. “After I got married, I called my high school chemistry teacher and asked to student teach,” she recounted. “I eventually became a faculty member in September of 1971, and the rest is history.”

Curran and Turner could not be reached by press time.