Recently a bus carrying members of the Farmingdale (Long Island), New York, high school marching band to band camp in Pennsylvania crashed through a road barrier and rolled down a 50-foot deep ravine. Two people were killed: the marching band director, Gina Pellettierre, and a retired teacher who was a chaperone, Bea Ferrari.

Their deaths brought an outpouring of grief from the community. Especially touching were the tributes from Ms. P’s former students. She made an indelible imprint on their lives. She also modeled the life of a great teacher, an inspiration to her students.

This article appeared in the North Fork Patch, a local newspaper. See this one too by Michael DeSantis, a reporter for The Patch.

FARMINGDALE, NY — Gina Pellettiere, the director of the Farmingdale High School marching band and wind ensemble, left a lasting impact with every student-musician she ever taught and every person she ever worked with, all agree…

Joanna McCoskey Wiltshire, class of 2010

“Gina, or Ms. P as we called her, was a force to be reckoned with, with a smile that lit up the room. She made me believe that anything I wanted to do was possible, all while being able to make me laugh until my sides hurt. I looked to her as the inspiration to go into music teaching, especially with an emphasis on wind conducting. She encouraged this love in me by giving me conducting pointers anytime I was on the podium and giving me multiple opportunities to practice in front of the band. She loved her job but most importantly, we knew that she loved us. Gina made band our home and safe space. I will never be able to thank her enough for the impact she had on my life and for showing me an example of the educator I want to become — someone who was passionate and dedicated to her craft and the music, all while never forgetting to stop and live in the moment with her students. I will miss her terribly and I mourn her loss along with the rest of the Farmingdale community

“I just am grateful to have ever had her as my teacher and to have known her. As a music teacher in another state now, I kind of took for granted how amazing our music education truly was. Her education and passion for music prepared me for a lifelong love for music, so much so that I made it my career. I can only hope to be half the teacher she was for us one day.

“My favorite memories of her were her pranks. One day when we were on spring break, it happened to be April Fool’s Day, and Joanna and I went to visit the high school and Ms. P during 9th period band. Before class started, she told us she had dipped Mike Tuzzolo’s mouthpiece in salt, so we just kept an eye on him for his reaction, and it was so funny. She fell over laughing. I think her joking around and pranking kids just made her bond with them that much stronger.”

Brian Entwistle, class of 2012

“Her love of The Office is the reason I’m a professional musician today. That piano arrangement she threw at me in music theory one day led to everything I’m doing now.

As for memories… The biggest, on a personal level, will always be the time I performed Ewazen’s ‘Pastorale’ with her and Mr. K. It’s such a beautiful piece of music, but it’s forever going to be special to me for that reason.

As for some fun memories… aside from ‘Hey Joe’ and the muffin joke, that faculty vs. student volleyball game in 2011 will always be a highlight.

And the time she got scolded by Ms. Lindsley for throwing a mannequin leg onto the stage from the pit during Prank Day.”

Alex Cox, class of 2013

“Ms. Pellettiere didn’t stand out for just a few moments of the years she was with FHS. She made every memory just by being her energetic and intense self. A passionate person without limits and made sure everyone was valued for who they were.”

Joe Pantorno, class of 2009

“Ms. P always had a knack for speaking to students on the same level. There was no air of superiority or that traditional, ‘I’m the teacher and you’re the student, do as I say,’ dynamic. She always had a way of getting the very best out of her students and knew the right buttons to press for each individual, whether it was motivation, tough love or a nurturing pat on the back. It was always so clear that she wanted us to succeed and improve, because she legitimately cared about us — and every year she seemingly had an army of 100 during concert season or 300 during marching band season that would run through a wall for her because of that.”

Deborah Kick, class of 2011

“I was in wind ensemble all four years and marching band all four years. What I loved the most about Ms. P is that she saw all of us collectively and individually as musicians and human beings.

You were a wonderful teacher and human being. You saw your students as individuals while also recognizing what we can accomplish as a group. You made band fun, even during the most grueling moments of band camp and the tensest rehearsals before concerts or NYSSMA Majors. How lucky I was to learn under you. Your lessons carry me through my career today.

I will forever miss your warmth, your great hugs, your bright smile, and shout of ‘Deb Kick!’ when you saw me (I was never just ‘Deb’). I hope I can bring a fraction of the welcome, joy, and kindness to those in my life that you brought to everyone.

I hope all of us Dalers can find some peace in ourselves and in our community soon.”

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