Thinking about in 2016 the first time Trump got elected, I woke up and went to school feeling scared, confused, and completely unsure of what it meant for the world. My first period class was English with Ms.Zabar and she took the entire period to let us vent and discuss our feelings with one another. It was a safe space to share our anger, sadness, and overall grief. Waking up today I am thinking a lot about her and so grateful we had such an honest, safe, and charismatic teacher to talk to in such a scary time.  Ms.Zabar I hope you are resting easy, and my memories of you are helping me get through today.

High up above the Hudson, suffering few hours of sleep and seated next to the radiators, it would've been easy for a student like me to not do the reading, to fall asleep. Ours was never a liberal arts focused school. But Ms. Zabar managed to foster an environment that had me looking forward to her class more than any other I'd have. I only knew her as my sophomore English teacher, but that didn't change how she treated her students with warmth and respect, how she would crack joke with us like colleagues. 

Learning now of her eclectic background, it's no surprise that Ms. Zabar worked film, theater, and philosophy into our lessons, recognizing a critical gap in our education. She taught us how to analyze media, how to construct an argument, how to communicate it. In her classroom I realized these skills stretched across disciplines, and would be relevant to me long after grades ceased to.

One day during midterms week, she caught me plagiarizing, in a day before plagiarism checkers and AI tools. Pressures were high and I had a moment of weakness. I could have done it myself if I really tried. I usually held my work to a higher standard. Ms. Zabar was very straightforward, and I came clean. Then she sat me down and kindly asked how I was doing in my other classes, at home. Her biggest concern was not that I had infringed on a sacred rule, but me and my health. Eventually, at no cost to my grade, she had me redo my paper in a time I could afford. It was only because of her approach that I realized I'd disappointed not just her, but myself, and that had to change.

Because of people like Ms. Zabar, there exists a trope of English teachers being the strongest influences on students in their most formative years. English class can be so much more than an hour-long sit-down where one studies dusty classics. A teacher can be more than an educator. Ms. Zabar was a parent away from home and I miss her as though she were family.

I can't even fully express what Ms.Zabar meant to me, but I can say that she is undoubtedly one of the most influential people in my life. She was a fantastic teacher who brought life into the classroom. Her lessons put me on the path of philosophy, spiritual enlightenment, and so much more. I can proudly say I am the person I am today because of her. It's because of her that I sought to discover my true self and I'll always remember that. 

I don't know what was the cause of her death, but I can only hope that her last moments were enjoyable ones. In my culture, we see death as a celebration of one's life. I don't mourn Ms.Zabar's passing, but rather celebrate all that she's done, all the people she's helped guide, and all the hearts she's touched with her kindness. Her death isn't the end, for she's simply moved onto the next stage in life. 

Rest in peace

I knew Ms. Zabar as my teacher in senior year. Though I knew her briefly, her personality and wit will stick with me for the rest of my life. She was so generous and kind, I'll always remember how she sort of miraculously would continue fostering cats. We talked about everything in class from Judaism to haggis, and would try to outsmart each other at Scattergories every chance there was. I truly felt less like a student and more like a friend to her. I am terribly sorry for your loss and blessed that I ever met her. 

Ms. Zabar was my only friend in art and design high school. i graduated in 2017 and i would sit with her in 7th period lunch every day because I did not have many friends and we would keep each other company. i ate edamame with her for the first time when she offered me some, and she lent me her favorite red lipstick on picture day for my senior photo. In my picture, my lips are bright red because she told me it'd look good on me and she was right about that! now every time i wear red lipstick I will think of miss zabar. I remember she gave me the banana book on the first day of my senior year because I pointed out how Jenny gave Forrest Gump HIV in the movie and her mind was totally blown. She was more than a teacher, she was a friend. I feel an emptiness in my heart now that she is no longer with us. What she taught me will influence me for the rest of my life. She taught me to love reading again, to say what I felt when I felt it, to stand up for myself and to not deal with anyone's bullshit if I didn't have to. I remember a year after I graduated, I wrote her an e-mail I never sent. I thought I did but, I didnt, and its still sitting in my drafts. She was very patient with me and she always gave me a chance. She is an amazing teacher and will live on forever in my heart. She made every day in high school a little bit brighter.

Maya Zabar was one of those teachers you knew would yell at you for doing something stupid and, you’d welcome it with open arms cause you knew it was coming from a place of love. She pushed me to be my best and comforted me during some of the darkest times in my life. I always talk about the one time we fought in class and she came with me into the hallway, sat on the ground with me and genuinely listened. I never be got to tell her but that small gesture really helped me. 

To her family and friends my heart goes out to you. I’m so grateful to have been yelled at by Maya Zabar, because I know that was her way of showing love. 

Ms.Zabar was possibly the best teacher I have had. She was so charismatic and passionate. Through being herself, she  truly made me love the art of writing. Forever grateful for the time I spent with her. 

 Maya Zabar was my teacher, but she was also a friend to me. During a time when I was learning to develop my own opinions, she encouraged me to think in a way that no other adult thought I was capable of. She saw her students as people, as equals. 
 In my own adult life, I often thought of all the wisdom she passed down, appreciating the foresight she had to equip us with knowledge you couldn't find in a textbook. But instead through life-changing literature, films, and her own experiences.
 My heart sinks at the thought of her passing, but I am grateful to be one of many in this world to carry her memory. Rest in Peace Ms. Zabar. 

She was one of the teachers on the A&D Japan trip back in 2017.  I remember our last morning in there she had a grand idea to go out at 5am and take pictures while the sun was rising.  We all looked at each other like…”are you crazy…let me sleep!”  But then we thought about it a little more and realized, why not?  So I got up at 4:30 am to be ready by 5 and it was one of the best sunrises I’ve ever seen, even years later.  This is just one of many members from that trip <3. 

Thanks Maya Zabar for the memories, I’ll miss you!

Ms.Zabar was  a teacher that I utterly adored talking to after school. She made highschool worth it for so many other children at A&D. It's utterly heartbreaking to hear of her passing, she will be missed and thought of foundly. Sleep well.

I have two vivid memories of Ms. Zabar that make me laugh just thinking about it. One day I made it into her class 1 minute before the bell rang. I made it about four to five steps before dropping my large hot chocolate all over the floor. I was standing there in shock and tears forming because I loved having a drink in the morning during her class. She turned around and saw it, gave me some paper towels to help clean up, and told me a story of how one of her cats took something she had sitting around and spilled it all over her floor at home. We laughed about it for weeks to come especially because it literally took me the entire class time to clean up the mess the hot chocolate made on the floor. The other memory was when we were in Japan and went to this all you can eat ninja restaurant where you have to eat everything you put on your plate. Zabar saw the mountain of food I put on my plate and asked if I was going to be able to finish it all. I replied with of course and asked in return if what she had on her plate was all that she was going to eat. We then had a little challenge of how many dishes we could eat before feeling full. I ended up winning and it turned out Zabar snuck a miniature banana out the restaurant. I called her a ninja for the rest of our Japan trip and we laughed. 
Ms. "Banana" "Ninja" Zabar, you are greatly missed! Rest in peace 💖

- ms.Zabar you were an amazing teacher who taught with your heart and mind 
She truly understood each and every student and continuously taught us the truth without fear when it came to our curriculum she taught us to read between the lines and opened up a whole other way of thinking critically I absolutely adored her class and will miss her, she often crosses my mind from
Time to time because that’s how much she was an impact in my highschool days 

I didnt spend much time with her during my time at A&D but whenever I got the pleasure to see her she was very sweet with me. I wish you all the best and im sending my love♡

Maya Zabar was such a wonderful and bright person, so humorous, and so incredibly caring. It was an amazing experience being her student, she impacted my experience in high school along with so many others. She started as my English teacher and then became my friend. One I will never forget. I often share fond memories of her with people I have come to know, and will continue to do so. My condolences to her family and friends.

I will miss her dearly. 

thank you for being such an amazing teacher and someone I could confide in. a highlight on the art and design staff. she will be so, so missed

Ms. Zabar was a vibrant and passionate woman who truly cared about her students. I am honored to be one of them. Though the loss of Maya is a shocking one for me, I am confident in knowing that the memory of her will live on in us who loved and cared for her. May she rest in peace. 

Ms. Zabar was one of the best teachers I ever had . She went out of her way to help and mentor me , she knew how to engage the whole class and make learning interesting…Not to mention her great sense of humor. She will be dearly missed.

Ms. Zabar was my favorite teacher of all time. I'm glad that at my years at Art and Design I got to have her as a teacher, she truly had an impact on my life. her personality and her wittiness were unlike any other. I'm glad I got to meet such a wonderful person. she will truly be missed. my thoughts and prayers are with her family. Ms. Zabar was truly an amazing person.

Ms Zabar was exactly the kind of teacher I needed last year. May her name be for a blessing. 

Thank you Ms Zabar for everything you’ve done for me. From being such a dope teacher to later becoming a friend of mine. You really were an amazing human being. Im sad to know you’re gone but the memories live forever with me. Rest peacefully 🕊🤍.

My well wishes and condolences to Mrs. Zabars family. She made my high school experience all the more better and was a shining light every morning. 

Her approach to learning was one unlike any other teachers, and had an amazing sense of humor. 


I love you my dear friend. You were the glue that kept everyone connected. I will forever remember your strength, courage, sarcasm, intellect, wit and especially your humor. I love you and will forever miss you. 

Ms.Zabar was one of the only people that made high school enjoyable. If not for her I would have never found my passion and love for film. She taught with such enthusiasm and energy. You will never be forgotten Ms.Zabar thank you for the tremendous impact you made.

Ms. Zadar has prepared me for college in ways that many teachers before her have not. She listened to my feelings and gave me the benefit of a doubt when I was at my lowest. Her commentary on our shared interests were always greatly appreciated, and I would always look forward to a story about her cats. Although my time under her guidance was short, she will always be remembered and greatly missed.

Maya was brilliant, funny as hell, and had a giant heart. She truly cared about those around her. I am so saddened by her passing, and will miss her greatly. 

Whenever i saw Maya, she was an extremely animated, vibrant personality; an adventurer who took risks and chances that no one else would, often leaving people in hysterics.  
She is an important part of A&D's history and she will be greatly missed.

I only had the pleasure of knowing Maya for a year or so, but her tremendous humor and love for life were infectious. She was a wonderful colleague, and will be greatly missed.

Sending my deepest sympathies for Maya’s friends and family at this challenging time. Maya’s deep intellect and passion for education will be sorely missed.


I worked with Maya for many years at the high school of art and design.   She was a dedicated . passionate teacher with so much life in her.   I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing.     May her memory be a blessing and may she Rest In Peace ❤️🙏🕊

With love and deepest condolences,
Dena fiddle 

OBITUARIO

Maya Zabar

23 diciembre, 1971 – 9 septiembre, 2022

Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapels

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