Tribute Wall
Tuesday
8
February
Visitation at Funeral Home
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, Inc.
200 East Main St
East Islip, New York, United States
Tuesday
8
February
Visitation at Funeral Home
7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, Inc.
200 East Main St
East Islip, New York, United States
Wednesday
9
February
Funeral Mass
9:45 am
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
St. Mary's R.C. Church
20 Harrison Avenue
East Islip, New York, United States
Final Resting Place
Queen of All Saints
Wheeler Road
Central Islip, New York, United States
Obituary
Dr. Alfred F. Monaco Ph.D., of Bay Shore, New York, passed away at South Shore University Hospital on February 5, 2022, surrounded by his family. The cause of death was complications from covid. He was born on January 31, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York to Alfonse and Lucia Monaco. Dr. Monaco attended Richmond Hill High School and received his BA from Queens College and his master’s degree from St. John’s University from which he also received his doctorate in educational administration. He taught English at New Hyde Park Memorial High School for 34 years where he was a beloved teacher, colleague, and mentor. After retiring from teaching high school, he was an adjunct professor at C.W. Post University and Five Towns College. Dr. Monaco was a brilliant pianist, music teacher, and performer playing at Carnegie Hall in his youth. He directed the high school musical productions for several years to rave reviews. “Doc,” the “Monsignor,” and “Muncle Al,” as he was variously known, had a wicked sense of humor and told a story like no other. He was warm, kind, and dynamic, lit up every room. He is survived by his partner Ronald Burns, his sisters Lucy Fois and Grace Castelli, his nieces and nephews Andy and Cindy Fois; Vicki, Roxanne, and Joseph Castelli; and the late Christopher Castelli, as well as great-nieces and nephews. Mass will be held at the Parish of St Mary’s in East Islip with interment at Queen of All Saints Cemetery in Central Islip. www.chapeyfamily.com
In Lieu of Flowers
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dr. Monaco's loving memory to:
The New Hyde Park Memorial High School Alfred Monaco Scholarship Fund
c/o Andrew Fois
5020 Sedgwick Street, NW
Washington, DC 20016
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Allison Gronert posted a condolence
Friday, April 7, 2023
I heard this news last year but never posted here. I’m posting now because I just woke up from a dream in which I was hugging my favorite teacher from high school and saying good bye to him. But, even though in the dream it was understood that I was graduating high school, he and I were much older. He had gray hair and a gray scraggly beard. Except in real life he never looked scraggly.
I graduated in 1995 and Doc taught almost all the honors English courses in NHP Memorial so there were several of us that had him for several classes during our 6 years in high school. Just before we graduated we all stood on our chairs and recreated the O Captain, My Captain scene from The Dead Poets' Society for him. I’ll try to find the photo we took of our class that day and post it here.
I woke up so overcome with grief. He is deeply missed.
Anyway, in honor of Doc …
O Captain! My Captain!
BY WALT WHITMAN
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.
My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
S
Sheila ewall posted a condolence
Sunday, July 10, 2022
Read on my smartphone about Alfred's passing. I knew him from Richmond Hill hs and we were graduated in June, 1961. We were in the same music class in our freshman year. I am sorry to learn of his passing. I want to convey my condolences and express my heartfelt sympathy to his family. Sheila ewall Richmond Hill hs class of 1961
J
John Gallo posted a condolence
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Deepest and sincerest condolences to family and loved ones. “Doc” was such a huge part of our lives during a time when we needed someone like him, high school. His dedication to teach while providing humor along the way was exactly what we needed. I spent years trying to find him, to thank him for the positive influence and impact he had on my life. I have too many stories to share and probably not enough space in this box haha. I was lucky enough to be “Doc” on senior student teacher day and even wore a suit (I think I even had a mustache). Thank you Dr. Monaco for all you have done for us, your students. Forever grateful!
John Gallo ‘86
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Guido Abbruzzese posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Condolences also from me. If my father Luigi Abbruzzese were still alive he would be very sorry. He always spoke to us about Aunt Lucietta and his son Alfredo.
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Maria Enrica posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Unforgettable, dear Alfred!
You’ll stay alive forever in our heart❤️
Maria Enrica and family
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NHP Memorial Class of 68 (Alison MacMillan) posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
From the Class of 68 of NHP Memorial we send our sincere sympathy. Every once in a while you have a teacher who had an impact on your life, Mr.Monaco was one of them. He wasn’t just a teacher, he wasn’t just a mentor, he was the whole deal. Always there when you needed him. A true loss for all.
~ Class of 68 ~
P
Patrizia Abbruzzese posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Alfred, you will be missed from far away too! You were the one who reunited the Italian with the American family.
We are all thinking of you, and we grief together with your friends and closer family.
You will be remembered by me for your smile and good spirit, your positive approach to the same disease that my dad had too, your curiosity about Italy and the Italian language, your emails of family love. I am so sad that I couldn’t visit you last year. A trip that we planned for a long time and that needed to be postponed.
Lots of love to you, and to my American cousins too.
D
Deborah Provenzano Moore posted a condolence
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
To the family of “Doc” Monaco - There are not enough words to express how I felt about this man. I was a junior in HS during his first year of teaching in NHP. I was lucky enough to have him again in my senior year. He taught my daughter some 20 years later and she became an English teacher because of him. A wonderful friend I was blessed to know. My heartfelt condolences for your loss.
M
Mark posted a condolence
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Al, so sorry to lose you as a friend and neighbor, it was a pleasure to have you on the block all these years. Rest in peace my friend, and sincere condolences to your family at this most dificult time.
D
The family of Dr. Alfred F. Monaco Ph.D. uploaded a photo
Saturday, February 5, 2022
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