St. Patrick's Remembers Eileen Sadicario, Principal

Eileen Sadicario, beloved mother, principal, friend and colleague, died last week following heart surgery.

"For many years she had a medical problem that she kept to herself, but she did not let this cross keep her from being a woman of love, mercy, compassion and humility," said Msgr. Ray Walden, pastor of St. Patrick's Church.  "In her love for the students of our school she waited until the academic year was over to go for the very serious operation."

Sadicario became principal of St. Patrick's School in 1997, after working as a middle school math and science teacher.  Prior to her time at St. Patrick's, she served as principal of Our Lady of Lourdes School in New York City and as assistant principal at Ascension School in New York City. She also was a registered home tutor in the Bay Shore School District and a coordinator of the second grade Sacramental Program.

She spearheaded many new programs at St. Patrick's, like school-wide participation in "First Friday" mass each month. She also started the school hot lunch program, had lockers added to the classrooms and oversaw renovations of the library, media centers and bathrooms. She initiated a Regents Math Program that allows advanced students to take the Regents Exam in eighth grade, upgraded the school uniforms and dress code policies and secured a $100,000 donation to have SmartBoards installed in every classroom.

"She was a special person who made a difference in this world," friend Denise Napolitano recalled.

Sadicario was a graduate of Iona College in New Rochelle where she received a B. A. Degree in Elementary Education. She received an M.A. Degree in Religious Education from St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers and a Professional Diploma in Educational Administration from New York University.

Sadicario is survived by her daughters Victoria and Jaclyn, her father Patrick, siblings Debbie and Dean Carbonetti, Tish and Lou Vita, Patrick and Pam Long, and nieces and nephews Dean, Kevin,Gregory, Kaleigh, Liam, Madison and Olivia.

"She has left behind a legacy of love and goodness and a simple and beautiful example of how to carry a heavy cross and go outside of ourselves and love," Pastor Walden said.

 "She was always for the underdog," assistant principal Linda Pymm said. "Her heart always went out to children who suffered through family breakups, financial hardship, or the illness or death of a loved one."

Sadicario strongly believed in Catholic education and wrote about it last summer in the Church bulletin. "No matter what changes take place with instruction, state testing and curriculum, we are first and foremost and above all else a Catholic School. We celebrate our Catholicity in many ways," she said.

In lieu of flowers, the family set up a memorial scholarship at St. Patrick's School in her memory.

In her yearbook letter to the Class of 2010 she spoke of happiness, patience and God, values her friends and family say she exuded every day.

"Remember that real happiness is not found outside of you. True happiness comes from within you. Be patient with yourself and with others. Want what you have and not what you think you need. Above all else remember that you are a child of God. He has called you by name and is always there for you," she concluded.