Left to right: Margarita Duncan Tomko, Lionel Knight, Maria Portalatin
Maria Portalatin, former chair of the UFT's 21,000 paras, a former member of the NYSUT Board and an AFT vice president, helped organize New York City paras and bring them to the UFT in the late '60s. Her commitment to women, to labor and to the Hispanic community have helped Portalatin win many battles, and she has inspired hundreds of minority women to follow in her footsteps.
Portalatin could not attend the RA due to illness. Shelvy Young Abrams, a Board member who accepted the honor and spoke on Portalatin's behalf, said, "Maria became a mainstay at the UFT because of her sense of commitment to the labor movement. Maria was always fully involved, always a strong advocate for working people, always a leader."
The recipients of the 2006 Retiree Member of the Year awards prove that retirement doesn't mean an end to advocacy. "We often say that retirees are the backbone of this union," said NYSUT Vice President Kathleen Donahue when introducing the honorees. "This year's recipients prove that point."
UFT retiree Lionel Knight began his working career as a machinist, later taking night classes at Queens College to earn his teaching degree. "I wanted to make a difference in the lives of children," he said.
The staunch unionist considers NYSUT an important part of an effective workplace. "With NYSUT on your side, most of your problems are finished," said Knight. "Guard your union well."
Margarita Duncan Tomko, president of the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers Retiree Chapter, thought her years of activism were over once she retired. However, once retiree chapters were organized in 1991, the leader continued her advocacy, including leading a movement to preserve retiree health benefits in 1996. "I'm grateful for all the people who have encouraged me along the way," said Tomko.