Obituary for Lottie Z. Alama (Zachai)
LOTTIE ZACHAI ALAMA
Nutley, NJ
4/10/23-9/20/21
Lottie Zachai Alama taught elementary school for over 50 years in total--approximately long enough to see every possible teaching fad come and go at least twice, a trend that she sometimes remarked on with wry humor and confidence in her own craft. The early phase of her career, as a first-grade teacher in Weehawken, ended when she resigned to have children, applying what she’d learned as a teacher to instill a love of learning in her own son and daughter. From 1976 to 2010, she taught Basic Skills at Yantacaw School in Nutley, winning the hearts of countless children, who would often wave at her on her frequent walks through Memorial Park. She also tutored after school on a freelance basis, working with some students up to high school algebra. She built literacy by engaging all students in reading aloud from well-loved children’s books, teaching the joy of reading as well as its techniques. She loved children and enjoyed the art of teaching. Well into her 80s, she regretfully retired--only because she was tired of the bureaucracy; never the children
The youngest child of Polish immigrants, she attended Jersey City State Teachers’ College (now New Jersey City University) at a time when few people attended college and top grades were required for admission. At college, she discovered new interests along with a group of friends who saved their lunch money to go to Broadway musicals together (an interest she would later share with her grandson, avidly attending all his school plays). She also loved Italian opera, an interest she shared with her husband, Emil (“Al”) Alama (1910-1981). Al, a former semi-pro baseball player, also sparked her enthusiasm for sports. They met golfing in a park and enjoyed playing tennis together.
She taught catechism at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Nutley in the 1970s, when it was still “the Polish church.” Although never much of a joiner, she was a well-recognized figure in her community, not only to her many former students but to the staff of the Nutley Public Library (which she frequented looking for good mystery books) and to people who took walks in Memorial Park. Long after widowhood deprived her of her main tennis partner, she stayed active and vigorous well into her 90s.
To the end of her life, she was a crucial link in a close-knit extended family. As one of her grandnephews, Joe M. Czasyznski, wrote to her during her last illness, her “energy, intelligence, and love shone through” in her relationships with a broad family circle. She kept alive the cherished family tradition of a Christmas Eve feast with abundant sweets, presents, and caroling around the piano. Her surviving family will remember these holidays, including her son, Stan Alama (and his wife Lia Bronsard); her daughter, Pauline J. Alama, (and her husband Paul Cunneen); granddaughters Sylvie Bronsard and Yvonne Alama; grandson Sean Cunneen; nieces and nephews including Diane Santeramo, Jeanne D’Alessio, Joe Czaszynski, Frank Czaszynski, Pauline Czaszynski, Betty Gebler, Bob Rice, and grandnieces, grandnephews, and so on too numerous to name but much loved.
The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, September 25, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 60 Byrd Ave., Bloomfield, NJ, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Guests should feel free to wear her favorite blue instead of traditional black, to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Nutley Public Library or New Jersey City University.
Nutley, NJ
4/10/23-9/20/21
Lottie Zachai Alama taught elementary school for over 50 years in total--approximately long enough to see every possible teaching fad come and go at least twice, a trend that she sometimes remarked on with wry humor and confidence in her own craft. The early phase of her career, as a first-grade teacher in Weehawken, ended when she resigned to have children, applying what she’d learned as a teacher to instill a love of learning in her own son and daughter. From 1976 to 2010, she taught Basic Skills at Yantacaw School in Nutley, winning the hearts of countless children, who would often wave at her on her frequent walks through Memorial Park. She also tutored after school on a freelance basis, working with some students up to high school algebra. She built literacy by engaging all students in reading aloud from well-loved children’s books, teaching the joy of reading as well as its techniques. She loved children and enjoyed the art of teaching. Well into her 80s, she regretfully retired--only because she was tired of the bureaucracy; never the children
The youngest child of Polish immigrants, she attended Jersey City State Teachers’ College (now New Jersey City University) at a time when few people attended college and top grades were required for admission. At college, she discovered new interests along with a group of friends who saved their lunch money to go to Broadway musicals together (an interest she would later share with her grandson, avidly attending all his school plays). She also loved Italian opera, an interest she shared with her husband, Emil (“Al”) Alama (1910-1981). Al, a former semi-pro baseball player, also sparked her enthusiasm for sports. They met golfing in a park and enjoyed playing tennis together.
She taught catechism at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Nutley in the 1970s, when it was still “the Polish church.” Although never much of a joiner, she was a well-recognized figure in her community, not only to her many former students but to the staff of the Nutley Public Library (which she frequented looking for good mystery books) and to people who took walks in Memorial Park. Long after widowhood deprived her of her main tennis partner, she stayed active and vigorous well into her 90s.
To the end of her life, she was a crucial link in a close-knit extended family. As one of her grandnephews, Joe M. Czasyznski, wrote to her during her last illness, her “energy, intelligence, and love shone through” in her relationships with a broad family circle. She kept alive the cherished family tradition of a Christmas Eve feast with abundant sweets, presents, and caroling around the piano. Her surviving family will remember these holidays, including her son, Stan Alama (and his wife Lia Bronsard); her daughter, Pauline J. Alama, (and her husband Paul Cunneen); granddaughters Sylvie Bronsard and Yvonne Alama; grandson Sean Cunneen; nieces and nephews including Diane Santeramo, Jeanne D’Alessio, Joe Czaszynski, Frank Czaszynski, Pauline Czaszynski, Betty Gebler, Bob Rice, and grandnieces, grandnephews, and so on too numerous to name but much loved.
The funeral will be at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, September 25, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 60 Byrd Ave., Bloomfield, NJ, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Guests should feel free to wear her favorite blue instead of traditional black, to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Nutley Public Library or New Jersey City University.