Stephen Messina by Kristie Sushko

Congrats!!!

jduchin — 2020-05-29 14:47:06 UTC

We are going to miss your calm and respected presence at Howitt! Who else could convince people to allow dogs in the school!
Enjoy your retirement, you deserve it!

Congratulations!

mdevine10 — 2020-05-29 16:40:12 UTC

You have been such a wonderful support to our students and staff. Enjoy your next chapter!

Congratulations!

2020-05-29 17:02:48 UTC

It has been an absolute pleasure working with you. Will and I wish you an amazing future filled with all great things. We also want to thank you for reminding us how much we needed the presence of a dog to complete our family and that was because you let us watch Doug that one time. That experience brought much joy to Anabella.
Much love and best wishes,
Cristina and Will

MAZEL!

egeiger8 — 2020-05-29 18:57:37 UTC

Wishing you a long and happy retirement!
Good Health ~ Happiness ~ and Wonderful new adventures!

Congrats!!!

2020-05-29 19:40:21 UTC

It has been so great getting to know and work with you over the years. Not only were you loved as a PE teacher, but you truly helped create a safer track program for all the kids at Howitt. Thank you for getting me started with all the subbing gigs back in 2012 and for recommending me to coach. I clearly have never looked back!! Wishing you a ton of happiness and relaxation in retirement.
Erin Garvey

Congrats!

2020-05-29 20:29:47 UTC

... And so the adventure begins. May you be proud of the work you have accomplished over the last 34 years, the person you are, and the difference you have made. All our love, Diane, Michael, Jenna, and Doug

Congratulations!

ksushko — 2020-05-29 22:42:05 UTC

I hope retirement is everything you dream it will be. I will miss seeing your dogs almost as much as I will miss seeing you. Howitt will not me the same without you. I'm including a picture a student took during cross country

Congratulations!

tgreene18 — 2020-05-30 15:54:26 UTC

Steve,
Enjoy your retirement, may it be filled with health, happiness and adventure.
Love,
Tatiana

Congratulations

2020-05-31 00:28:32 UTC

Thank you for all you have done for the students at Howitt! They will miss you! I wish you a happy and healthy retirement!
Jessica Aliendro

Congratulations!

epaget1 — 2020-05-31 18:09:38 UTC

I have so many fond memories of our conversations both at Howitt and during our Northside days. You've given me great tips about sports, school and even driving- for my own kids. I wish you much joy health, happiness as you enter the next amazing phase of your life. I'm sure we'll keep seeing each other around the neighborhood too! Love and kisses, Liz

Congratulations!

acamisa1 — 2020-05-31 23:53:51 UTC

Here’s to a well-deserved and happy retirement! You will be missed! - Antoinette Camisa

Cheers to one of the Best!

2020-06-01 16:11:55 UTC

Patty Caracappa here wishing you an amazing year ahead and a well deserved retirement!
I will miss our hallway chats and your amazing smile. You have such style and grace with our Middle School students and have always had the patience of a saint. You have taught me a great deal from our little chats and you have Always been a role model. Teaching with grace, love and compassion for all. These are pretty big sneakers to fill and I pray that they find someone with your beautiful way. You will be missed but I know that you will have some amazing days ahead with your family. Enjoy!
Be well, stay healthy and always smile! Miss You!
Patty Caracappa

I am going to miss you in all of my tech classes. I know the kids will miss your smile! I hope you have many amazing days during retirement. Now you can get two dogs! Ha! Congratulations : )

sbyrns — 2020-06-01 23:38:16 UTC

mlangon — 2020-06-03 02:09:28 UTC

Wishing you ALL the best for a healthy and happy retirement. It has been wonderful working with you. Keep up the great work with the guide dogs. Hope to see you and Diane on one of our trips! :-)
Love,
Mary L.

Congatulations!

mdriscoll6 — 2020-06-03 03:31:46 UTC

We wish you all the best on our next chapter. It has been wonderful to work with you. Now you can train more dogs...or just stick with the one you have and go for a long walk.
Love
Mary & Brian

Congratulations!

2020-06-03 14:43:21 UTC

Wishing you new adventures and lazy mornings in retirement! You will be missed. Sarah DiRe

Congratulations

2020-06-03 17:40:14 UTC

Wishing you all the best in your retirement! You always had such a positive attitude and calming way about you. You will be missed at Howitt! Thank you for being such a positive role model to the students. Enjoy this next chapter of life.
Love,
Lauren Castellane

Congrats!

jklock2 — 2020-06-03 20:23:03 UTC

Congratulations Steve! Thank you for helping fill the halls of Howitt with positivity and puppies! I hope that you enjoy your retirement. You will be missed!
-Jen Klock

Congratulations!!

2020-06-03 20:32:56 UTC

We've known each other since elementary school at Northside, and it has always been a pleasure to call you my friend. Your integrity and dedication to the students of Farningdale has been an inspiration to us all! I wish you every happiness as you retire and hope that you and Diane share many new adventures together!!

Best wishes,
Anna McCarthy

Steve, I wish you all the best that life has to offer as you begin your retirement! Sue Abruzzi

2020-06-03 23:52:02 UTC

Congratulations, Steve! Wishing you all the best in your retirement. I truly enjoyed working with you the past few years. Best of luck! Hope to see you around!

brabin3 — 2020-06-04 13:06:31 UTC

Bonnie

Dear Steve,

arapinat — 2020-06-05 03:23:02 UTC

I will miss your positive, easy-going, kind nature in the school. May you have an awesome, long, healthy, joyful, fun-filled, well-deserved retirement! I am sure the kids are going to miss you and the dogs very much! Many blessings to a very special guy.
Love, Arlene <3 :)

Congratulations!!!!!!

mblasi2 — 2020-06-05 05:00:45 UTC

Dear Steve,
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to get to know such a nice, friendly person, and will miss seeing you every day at Howitt. Your students were extremely lucky to have had such an amazing gym teacher! May your well-deserved retirement be filled with good health and happiness! I hope that you and Diane have many wonderful adventures together!

Love,
Michelle Blasi

Congratulations on your retirement! I wish you nothing but the very best as you begin this new and exciting adventure! You will be missed.

ksidewitz — 2020-06-05 14:03:09 UTC

Love,
Kathi

Steve

rborawski — 2020-06-05 14:06:14 UTC

Absolute pleasure working with you these past 20 years! You are the ultimate gentlemen and caring individual! Enjoy all the time you will have with your family! Well deserved!

Thank you for offering a warm, friendly smile anytime, anywhere in our building. That's a lot. Enjoy a retirement filled with lots and lots of smiles.

2020-06-05 14:39:19 UTC

Liz Voelker

CONGRATULATIONS STEVE!!

2020-06-05 14:43:31 UTC

It has been such a pleasure working with you! I'm going to miss your kindness and positive attitude... it's always brought so much joy to our building. Wishing you all the best in your retirement!!

Love, Annmarie Boyon

Hi Steve! Congratulations on your retirement! Wishing you lots of good health and happiness on your next journey.

2020-06-05 15:22:23 UTC

With Love, Peggy Maccarrone

Happy Retirement Steve!

msullivan148 — 2020-06-05 15:43:22 UTC

Wishing you the best of health and happiness as you embark on the next chapter.
Enjoy!
Maureen

Congratulations

mltg78 — 2020-06-05 15:45:54 UTC

Wishing you all the best in your next phase of your life!
Best,
Meghann Goff

Congrats Steve

msavino6 — 2020-06-05 16:59:57 UTC

Wishing you a very happy retirement! I will miss your kind spirit and all the pups you have had the incredible patience of training! Talk about patience and in a middle school environment! Kudos to you! May this next chapter of your life be filled with much health, happiness and adventure! Enjoy!

Love
Michelle

Happy Trails!

2020-06-05 19:00:24 UTC

Congratulations on your retirement! May you enjoy the next chapter of your life!
Best,
Dina Bellomo

Congratulations on your retirement, Steve.

cmcgillcunningham — 2020-06-05 19:05:42 UTC

I will miss your positive attitude and bright smile. Thanks for sharing Doug with us ~ he became part of the Howitt family too and brought us so much joy. Wishing you a relaxing healthy retirement, although I'm sure Diane has a honey-do list ready.
All the best, Carol

Dear Steve,

2020-06-05 20:27:28 UTC

Congratulations Steve on your retirement.
It has been a pleasure working with you.
I loved seeing Doug in the hall!!!
Enjoy every day!!
Love, Barbara B

Heyhandsome

aconroy5 — 2020-06-05 21:56:02 UTC

It's been a long journey for us. We were supposed to go together but I had Mary too late. Thanks for getting me through my pregnancy and parenting. Thanks for convincing me to go to Howitt. You are a great friend. Love to Diane. Let's go camping. xoxo

Congrats Steve!

adonroe1 — 2020-06-05 22:16:51 UTC

Thank you so much for your kindness the past 3 years! I was so excited when I found out we had our Kings Park connection. Hopefully I'll see you around town. Enjoy! Best to you and your family!

All the best,
Audra Donroe

Congratulations!

2020-06-05 23:34:12 UTC

I wish you the best of love, health, and happiness in your retirement! You deserve it!
Love,
Christine Krivicic

Congratulations!

2020-06-06 18:33:19 UTC

Steve! I wish you all the best in this next chapter of life! You are an amazing teacher and a true gentleman! I loved our chats, infrequent as they were, lol! You will be dearly missed. Have a great retirement! Keep up the dog training-- you have a natural talent with it! Love to Diane and Doug!

Love,
Sue Reilly

Congratulations!

2020-06-07 01:50:45 UTC

It is amazing how time flies. We meet 27 years ago when I first starting teaching at Northside. I’m not sure how that is even possible. I thank you for guidance on investing and puppies. You will be missed. (However, I am hoping that we get to keep Diane).

Wishing you all the best,
Giulia

Congratulations!

elipetri — 2020-06-08 11:12:29 UTC

Steve,
Best of luck as you begin an exciting new chapter of life.
Keep smiling and make great, new memories with family and friends.
You will be missed at Howitt!
Here's to a long, healthy and happy retirement!
Love,
Elena

Steve- I always enjoyed our hallway chats. You are just such an easy, regular guy to talk to. I am so happy you are healthy and that you get to enjoy this well earned retirement. Come visit when you can. I'll miss seeing you everyday!

2020-06-08 15:52:30 UTC

Love,
Danielle Tucker xox

Congratulations!

jbleicher — 2020-06-09 10:32:35 UTC

Steve, it has been a pleasure working with you and I wish you all the best on your next adventure! Be well!
Love,
Jen Bleicher

Congratulation!

dcammarataepstein — 2020-06-10 15:12:55 UTC

So happy for you as you enter this new phase of your life. I will miss your smile in the hallways and your positive attitude. You will truly be missed. BTW...I love Diane and am glad that I will still be seeing her to update me on how you are doing. Enjoy your next adventure!
Love & Peace, Deb

jwalsh80 — 2020-06-10 19:02:19 UTC

Dear Steve,
I will miss your smile and your friendly manner. And of course, I will miss your special pups. Wishing you all the best in your retirement. Be well and enjoy!
Love,
Jane Walsh

Congratulations Steve!

kkrause18 — 2020-06-10 20:37:43 UTC

Enjoy your retirement! I will miss seeing you and your dogs! I hope Diane is still working next year.
Love,
Karen Krause

Congratulations, We will miss your smiling face and the puppies of course. Enjoy this new life that is well deserved.

2020-06-11 01:57:25 UTC

Judith Merritts

Congratulations Steve!

khilton9 — 2020-06-11 15:43:35 UTC

Not only has been wonderful working with you, but having you as a track coach for my boys was a wonderful experience as well. You will be missed in many ways!
Enjoy every minute!
Love,
Kristina

CONGRATS!

tstapleton1 — 2020-06-11 16:36:30 UTC

Dear Steve,
I will miss seeing you in the halls. Your smile and positivity is always so refreshing. Your commitment to the health of our students will be missed. I hope you don't make Diane work too hard while you are playing with the pups! :) All the best. Have a happy, healthy and well-deserved retirement!
Love,
Terri

Congratulations!

erobinson26 — 2020-06-12 01:29:02 UTC

Dear Steve,
Wishing you all the best as you begin this new chapter! You will be missed at Howitt!
Love,
Liz Robinson

Congrats!!!

jmerlo4 — 2020-06-12 02:18:40 UTC

It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know you over the years! I will forever be thankful for your guidance when I interned with you and the track team. You always had such words of wisdom about coaching and life in general. You will truly be missed! Congrats on your retirement!!!
Lots of love,
Jacqui Merlo

Since 1986

ljohnston71 — 2020-06-12 12:59:49 UTC

Dear Steve,
I can't believe we have worked together for 34 years. It has been a pleasure having you as my friend. I honestly can remember our first year at Northside, many kicks and giggles with the Northside crowd. Going to your wedding, and the last party was my 60th birthday . Looking forward to walking our guide dogs together down Kings Park Main street. Wishing you and your family good health, and happiness. The adventures are just beginning. I love you
Lynne

Congrats!

jehrenpreis — 2020-06-15 06:50:19 UTC

Dear Steve,
Congratulations on your retirement! It has been a pleasure working with you. Thanks for always being so flexible, helpful, and patient when the Social Media Club kids have wanted to interview you about, and take pictures of Skipper and Doug! Those were always our most popular stories.

Enjoy your retirement!

Love,
Julie Ehrenpreis

Congrats!

cquinland — 2020-06-19 18:12:17 UTC

We will miss your smile, calm demeanor, and beautiful pups. Thanks for always being receptive to helping our students. It was always "Ok and whatever you need." You will be missed. I wish you all of the best during this next part of your life.
Peace and Blessings!