ARMOUR SQUARE — Santa Lucia School will dedicate and rename its assembly hall and cafeteria in memory of longtime former teacher and Principal Geraldine Maratea at an event scheduled for 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday.
After the 10 a.m. Palm Sunday mass, the school, 3017 S. Wells St., will cut the ribbon for Maratea Hall and serve breakfast. There also will be a guest appearance by the Easter Bunny, who will be available to pose for photos.
Maratea graduated from Santa Lucia in 1963 and returned to the school in 1971 to work as a fifth-grade teacher. She was named principal in 1983 and held that position until June.
She died from health complications Dec. 9.
Patricia Jackowiak, a close friend of Maratea and the past chairwoman of Santa Lucia's school board, remembered Maratea as an innovative educator.
"Her classroom was always bright, warm and decorated for every holiday," Jackowiak said.
In the 1970s, Maratea started the Girls Taking Action program at Santa Lucia at a time when most of the activities at the school were geared toward boys. The program encouraged girls to consider careers in law, science and education.
"She was loved by everyone in the community," current Santa Lucia Principal Eileen Sheedy said. "She was Santa Lucia."
Maratea never married or had children of her own, but her colleagues said she treated her students like her children. She loved giving hugs.
"The very first time I met her, she gave me a hug," Sheedy said.
Santa Lucia teacher Lisa Christiano met Maratea when she was a student at the school.
"Years later she became my boss when she hired me to teach second grade. I loved working for her," Christiano said. "From her example, I learned what it meant to educate and nurture children educationally and spiritually."
The two later became friends, and they started a book club with a few other teachers that would meet every few weeks at Gio's restaurant in Bridgeport.
"I remember Ms. Maratea always came prepared with handwritten notes she took while she read," said Christiano, who started a mini-book club in her classroom. "When she was able to, Ms. Maratea would join us and read alongside the students. They loved it!"
"Ms. Maratea was a remarkable woman who touched the hearts of all who knew her. I miss her every day, but there are so many things to remind me of her," Christiano said. "From books to music to her beloved Santa Lucia, her memory will continue to live on in my heart, and the hearts of many others."
Santa Lucia has also established the Tuxedo Scholarship fund in Maratea's honor. Tuxedo was the name of Maratea's cat.
Sunday's event is free but the school is asking for a small donation that will be used to buy toys for kids at Comer Children's Hospital.
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