Barbara Martorana

Barbara was born and raised in Queens, N.Y., where she attended Our Lady of Sorrows School in Corona, St. Clement Pope School in South Ozone Park and Dominican Commercial High School in Jamaica, N.Y.

After high school, she worked as a secretary for American Petroleum Institute and the Research Institute for Catholic Education. She also worked in the Garment District and later as a secretary for a law firm while studying nights at St. John’s University to become a teacher.

As a young adult, she was an active member of the Interparish Club of Nassau County, a social organization for Catholics 18-35, serving on the board and as president in the early 1970s. She maintained close friendships with members for over 50 years and considered many to be her dearest friends.

She began her teaching career in the early 1970s at St. Martin of Tours School in Amityville, N.Y. In the late 1970s she joined the faculty of Freeport High School where she taught English for over 30 years. A devoted educator, Barbara was immensely proud of helping students of all ability levels achieve success. The quintessential English teacher and grammarian, she co-authored a grammar textbook and was involved with The Long Island Writing Project. In 2003, Barbara earned a doctorate in education from Hofstra University writing her dissertation, Invitations to Dialogue: The Role of a Letter Exchange in a High School English Classroom.

Barbara loved animals as much as she loved literature and named her dogs after her favorite authors (Charles Fido Dickens, Agatha Christie, Daphne du Muttier, etc.). A self-professed dog lover, she became a cat lover as well when she took in a stray, Webster.

Barbara loved gadgets, especially electronics, and was always the first in her family to have the latest technology—including a VCR and a home computer. In the 1980s, she was involved with the early adoption of computer use in Freeport schools.

In retirement, Barbara enjoyed photography, reading, playing Wordle (she had a 650+ day streak) and making greeting cards with her pets’ photos. A voracious reader, she could finish a 500-page book in only a few hours. And every summer she hosted pool parties for her friends and family.

Barbara is survived by her sister Janet Porstner, brother-in-law Frank Porstner, nieces Laurie Porstner and Donna Lucas (Jonathan Lucas), great niece Jolie Lucas, dozens of cousins and many close friends.

A service will be held at noon on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum in Farmingdale, N.Y., followed by a celebration of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Save-A-Pet in Barbara’s memory. saveapetusa.org/donate