Victor Mcbarnette
I first met Ruby when she joined the staff at East New York Vocational and Technical High School, now named Transit Tech High School.
She fitted in very smoothly and rapidly in the Math Department to which she was assigned. She and I especially, cooperated markedly well with lesson preparation, classroom management and various strategies for ensuring success. In the process, we developed a lasting friendship that spanned the duration of about 45 years.
What a great contribution she made to the education of students who came her way! The school was located in an underprivileged area of Brooklyn where the students were not well-motivated, and had little parental involvement. Truancy was a big problem. Despite these hurdles, Ruby persevered and succeeded in not only cutting back on truancy, but in motivating some of her students to come to class early in the morning, before their regular day, to receive extra tuition which she gave without compensation. Student prospered and did better in their exams and standardized tests.
In retirement, Ruby moved to Florida, but her work was not done. She gave free instructions to students in her area, and helped many of them to succeed.
We have lost a true and sincere friend, but her memory will remain with us forever. She was kind, generous and magnanimous. She leaves a void in our lives that will never be filled.
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vo