Every year, Staten Island’s Borough President presents a Patrick F. Daly award to outstanding borough educators who shows ongoing commitment to their students.
This is something that should be done in Brooklyn as well.
The Red Hook community grieved on December 17, 1992, after Daly was caught in a gang crossfire while looking for a student who ran out of the school in tears. The entire city was shocked by his tragic death.
He was always doing things like that,” PS 15 parent coordinator Melissa Campbell told us in a recent interview. “I remember him being in the trenches and putting himself on the line and overextending himself every day.”
“He was a good, very honorable man,” Campbell said. “A very kind soul. But he was very stern, he did not put up with much or tolerate things. He was a very strong individual.”
Campbell was a PS 15 student in 1992, and like so many others has fond memories of him.
Daly commuted to Red Hook from his home in Staten Island. He often took his students by the hand through the violent streets to try to make sure they were safe.
Edgardo Torres, a former Marine and police officer, ran out and gave mouth-to mouth resuscitation to Daly. Torres tore off the shirt and stuck it on the wound on the right side of Daly’s chest. However, it was hopeless.
“I asked him not to give up,” Mr. Torres said in a NY Times story in 1992 after the shooting. “I told him he had to breathe, and he said, “Thank you,’ before he passed away.”
The previous year Red Hook saw 20 murders, 10 rapes, 526 robberies and 364 assaults.
Daly had chances to move on to different schools but the passionate educator chose to stay here since this was where he felt needed.
James Oddo is the current Staten Island Borough President.
“I’m grateful to be able to continue this award in honor of fallen principal, Mr. Patrick Daly,” said Oddo recently. “This award gives us a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to his sacrifice and legacy, while also recognizing outstanding educators who have made an impact in our community. This year, we have seen many educators go beyond the call of duty and I look forward to recognizing two of them.”
In Staten Island, anyone who wants to nominate a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal or principal can do so. The nominations come from community members, parents familiar with the teachers as well as fellow staff.
When Campbell heard that there was an award in Daly’s honor in Staten Island she thought it was awesome and is in favor of a similar award in Brooklyn.
“I think it would be a phenomenal idea for us and the borough of Brooklyn to offer such an award,” Campbell said. “I mean, Patrick F. Daly did come into Brooklyn every day to work. Unfortunately, this is where he lost his life, but he loved Brooklyn. This community was his community.”
Going the extra mile was what he did and she thinks it would make him happy to give an award to an educator who has similar goals and values that he had.
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