St. Francis Prep remembers late ‘legendary’ teacher
Ulrich funds Jamaica Bay cleanup initiative targeting derelict vessels
BY BILL PARRY
In the ongoing battle to
clean up Jamaica Bay, Councilman
Eric Ulrich joined
members of the city’s Parks
Department and the Jamaica
Bay Ecowatchers for a demonstration
that removed a derelict
boat from its waters.
Earlier this year, Ulrich
secured $55,000 in funding
for a cleanup initiative that
will remove abandoned vessels
from the bay.
“Most people are not
aware of just how widespread
this problem is, especially
in Jamaica Bay. Abandoned
boats are one of the biggest
problems in New YorkCity’s
waterways,” Ulrich said. “Not
only are they an eyesore, they
present multiple ecological,
transportation and safety
hazards. I am proud to fund
this cleanup initiative, which
will target the most problematic
areas in Jamaica Bay, a
local treasure.”
Many vessels are abandoned
when an owner can
no longer afford to maintain
them, and leave them adrift
into Jamaica Bay instead of
performing proper removal.
Despite having removed about
two dozen of these abandoned
vessels from the waters and
marshlands of Jamaica Bay
over the past several years,
the Parks Department estimates
more than 100 abandoned
boats remain in the
city’s waterways.
“A lot of work goes into
this. We finally have a standing
contract, so as these
needs arise, we can respond,”
NYC Parks Chief of Waterfront
and Marine Operations
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.28 COM | OCT. 30-NOV. 5, 2020
Nate Grove said. “We knew
exactly what it was going to
cost, what kind of boats we
could remove with the funding
available. We work with
the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers
to identify where we get the
most bang for that buck.”
During the boat tour, Ulrich
was given the opportunity
to see the Parks Department
team remove an
abandoned houseboat from
the bay. Prior to being towed
by a tug boat, the abandoned
vessel needed to be patched to
ensure it wouldn’t sink. The
cleanup effort was contracted
out to Custom Marine,
as part of a multi-year contract
through the city’s Department
of Administrative
Services.
“These derelict vessels
cause a lot of environmental
problems, as well as aesthetic
problems when you look at the
shoreline,” said Dan Mundy,
vice president of the Jamaica
Bay Ecowatchers and president
of the Broad Channel
Civic Association. “There is
no city, state or federal agency
designated to address this,
so if the councilman hadn’t
stepped up, these abandoned
boats would stay here forever
and just continue to harm the
environment.”
Joann Ariola, a Howard
Beach civic leader and the
Republican candidate for
Queens borough president in
the Nov. 3 general election,
added her support for the
cleanup initiative.
“The dangerous debris
and abandoned vessels harm
the delicate ecosystem in Jamaica
Bay, it’s also hazardous
to boats trying to enjoy the
outdoors,” Ariola said. “I applaud
Council member Ulrich
for this much-needed funding
and commitment to making
the continued restoration of
our waterways a priority.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4538.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
The St. Francis Prep school community
in Fresh Meadows is remembering
the late John Madri as a “legendary
and enthusiastic” English
teacher who loved literature, reading
and poetry.
Madri died on Monday, Oct. 19,
at the age of 71. He was the beloved
husband of Martha Jane Madri, who
taught at Sacred Heart in Manhattan
for four years, and 44 years at Our
Lady of Hope Catholic Academy in
Middle Village. They were married
for 45 years.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered
at Our Lady of Hope Church on
Friday, Oct. 23, followed by interment
at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens,
under the direction of Maspeth’s
Papavero Funeral Home.
Students, teachers, administrators
and staff members at St. Francis
Prep attended the ceremony remembering
Madri as a dedicated English
teacher at the school for over 48 years
and an avid patron of the performing
arts.
“John really loved literature. I can
remember when I started years ago,
he and I were on hall duty and said, ‘I
started today and already started talking
about literature,’” said Brother
Joseph Castellano, an English teacher
and assistant principal at St. Francis
Prep. “He also loved the kids.”
For the last 20 years, Madri taught
ninth and 10th grade at Prep and
shared a classroom with Castellano
helping with activities for students.
Every year, Madri met about 175
to 180 incoming freshmen at Prep,
according to Castellano, and he was
considered the honorary homeroom
teacher.
“John loved poetry and he wrote
some plays also, but he always had his
kids writing a lot and in the homeroom
we shared it was always covered with
the kids’ writing,” Castellano said. “I
think John really wanted to encourage
their writing and make them feel
good about it, knowing that was an important
part of who they are.”
Madri made the decision last summer
to retire as an English teacher. In
June, he bid farewell to his colleagues
via email amid the COVID-19 shutdown.
“I have enjoyed every minute of my
48 years here and will miss you all,”
Madri wrote. “In the words of Jacob
Marley (with a little adjustment!), spoken
to Ebenezer Scrooge in Stave 1 of
‘A Christmas Carol’ (all time favorite
novel!), ‘Look to see me no more; and
look to remember what has passed between
us.’”
Madri’s 48 years at Prep left him
with unforgettable memories that he
said he’ll carry with him forever, particularly
the last few years in Brooklyn
when they came to Fresh Meadows
in 1975 and built St. Francis Prep.
“We did not have computers, iPads,
technology or SMART Boards; we had
chalk, textbooks and a lot of devotion,
and we turned out students who became
doctors, nurses, lawyers, educators,
successful business people and
much more,” Madri said.
Though they were sad when Madri
announced his retirement, Castellano
said they wish he had another 15 to 20
years to enjoy that time with Martha.
“It was a hard way to retire out of
this. There was never a gathering or
celebration for him,” Castellano said.
Aside from teaching, Madri also
loved animals, nature and life. He
would head outside every morning to
feed the stray cats, Castellano said.
The St. Francis Prep Ministry Office
is currently coordinating with
students to write letters expressing
their feelings about Madri to send to
his wife.
“John will always be remembered
as a dedicated teacher at St. Francis
Prep who provided a service to the
school and being a part of the community,”
Castellano said.
Reach reporter Carlotta Mohamed
by e-mail at cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.
JOHN MADRI
QNS file photo
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