Beasties never forget

Posted 6/20/17

Beasties never forget The Beasties all had words for Barbara Morrocco, who taught for 17 years at Warwick Neck School. They said she had heart, dedication, loved children, was passionate and caring. Barbara died after a 12-year battle with ovarian cancer

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Beasties never forget

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The Beasties all had words for Barbara Morrocco, who taught for 17 years at Warwick Neck School. They said she had heart, dedication, loved children, was passionate and caring. Barbara died after a 12-year battle with ovarian cancer on Oct. 9, 2015. It was a battle that in many ways brought the Warwick Neck School community together. They held events to raise money to fight cancer. They rallied when she no longer could teach and had to leave her job. They stayed in touch and became friends with her family. But how did a core group of fellow teachers end up as “Beasties?” It was actually Barbara who inadvertently dubbed the group. In a note of appreciation for all they had done, she intended to write they were the “besties.” Instead it came out as “beasties,” a name her co-workers proudly adopted. With teacher Cathy Maguire as the key organizer, the Beasties raised the money for a “bubby bench” to be featured in a garden in the back of the school in honor of their friend. The bench was unveiled in ceremonies Thursday that included songs from students who had Barbara as a teacher in first grade and a gallery of albums and memorabilia from her years at Warwick Neck and her battle against cancer. The event also raised funds for the fight against cancer with money going to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute where Barbara had been a patient. (Warwick Beacon photos and text by John Howell)

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