Tappan Zee High School

Obituary

Pasquale Thomas D'Auria “Pat“ went to his eternal reward on December 24, 2004. Pat was born in Nyack on February 23, 1917 to Peter D'Auria and Pasqualina Damato. Pat had a long distinguished career as an educator. He taught at the Nyack Boys School from 1947 to 1949, Piermont (Tappan Zee High School) from 1949 to 1972, and Nyack High School from 1972 to 1977. He taught English and Historyand was a Guidance Counselor. He also coached football at Piermont High School with Nick Mottola. The team won four county championships in a seven-year period, even though they were the smallest school in Rockland County. Like so many of the “Greatest Generation“, Pat enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941, after playing professional baseball for one season in the Yankee organization. He attained the rank of Staff Seargent and served in the China Burma India (the C.B.I) Theatre of Operations from 1943 to 1945. Pat graduated from St. Ann's Grammar School in Nyack, Nyack High School, Perkinston Jr. College in Mississippi, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He attended Fordham University graduate school and Seton Hall University graduate school for his advanced degrees. In high school, he was an All-Star Football and Baseball player. On the college level he was a boxer, a football and baseball player. His accomplishments in this arenaare too numerous to mention. He was recognized by the Rockland County Hall of Fame in 1988 and was inducted that year. Although Pat had many athletic accomplishments, his life was truly marked by his modest, yet inspirational life off the “Fields of Friendly Strife“. As an educator at Piermont High School, he was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 1954. His familiar greeting of “Hey, Champ“ echoed loudly in the small hamlet of Piermont on the Hudson during the 1950's. His common phrase of “Hit that Vocab“ (ie vocabulary) was heard by generations of high school students. At St. Ann's Parish, he was a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society. At St. Anthony's he was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. Mr. D'Auria was also an elected Trustee in the Village of Upper Nyack in the early 1970's and a member of the Nyack Monday Morning Quarterbacks. He was one of the Founders of the Nyack Little League in 1952. His team won the Championship of the league that year. Mr. D'Auria also taught English to Russian immigrants during the 1950's. Many lives have been touched by this man whose legacy is the students that he taught, the family that he had with his wife, Katherine, the nieces and nephews that he counseled, the countless teacher colleagues that he worked with and inspired. This was a life well-lived, one marked by a phrase that he often repeated, “Your reach should exceed your grasp, or what's a heaven for.“ He was married to the late Katherine Farsetta D'Auria on Decemeber 26, 1948 at St. Ann's Church in Nyack. He was predeceased by his brothers: Peter, John, Samuel, Thomas. And his sisters: Angela, Anna and Lucille. He is survived by his brother Gerry D'Auria of Stony Point; five children Patrick of Nyack, Maryann Phillips of Pittsburgh, PA, Katherine DiNitto of Lynn, MA, Lucille D'Auria of Orlando, FL, and Peter Mark of Montreal, Canada. His grandchildren: Adam Phillips and his wife Andrea and great-grandchildren Samuel, John, and Paolo; Jessica Phillips and David Phillips, all of Pittsburgh, PA., Mario, Patrick and Anya DiNitto, all of Lynn, MA; Susan and Cagatay Ergun and great-grandson Aidan of Nutley, NJ; Patrick, Jeffrey and Katie D'Auria all of Nyack. Also Godsons Howard “Howie“ Pierson of Nyack and David D'Auria of Columbia, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 28th at 10:00AM at Saint Ann's Church in Nyack with Burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack. Visiting Hours are scheduled for Monday 2-4 PM and 7-9PM at the Hannemann Funeral Home, Inc., in Nyack. Donations in lieu of flowers to the United Hospice of Rockland County whose guidance and understanding are truly appreciated by those who come in contact with them, God Bless you all, 11 Stokum Road, New City, NY 10956. HANNEMANN FUNERALHOME, INC., 88 So. Broadway, Nyack (845) 358-0573