To the Editor:

On April 25, 2013, the City of Cranston lost a great educator. Pasquale “Pat” Castelli was a Spanish teacher and then Department Head of Foreign Language at Cranston West for 30 years. During those 30 years Pat made many friends as well as memories at CHSW. He would always arrive to school early and be around late after the bell rang to help any students with their Spanish work. So many students loved my father and his room B2-1. I can remember back when I was a student at CHSW hearing my father’s voice coming from the B2 wing. Students and teachers would stop in just to say hello.

After retiring from West, my father took a job teaching Spanish at The Prout School in Wakefield. This job lasted until the last day of his life. Pat was still teaching at the age of 68. I bet one can say he definitely loved what he did.

Pat was set to retire in June 2013 and enjoy his life with his wife Janice. Unfortunately, God had other plans for him.

I have never attended a funeral that had so many friends, students and family in attendance. Past and present students were traveling through the line to pay their respects, some were in groups, others were with their parents crying, and telling us what a great man and teacher Mr. Castelli was. Teachers came through telling us how much Pat spoke about his family especially his five grandchildren. It was a very humbling experience that will stay with me always.

It has been just a year that we had to say goodbye to my Father. He was a wonderful husband, father, friend, teacher, mentor and especially a papa! He will forever be loved and cherish by so many people.

My father was the reason that I became a teacher; if I am half as good as he was, well, that is awesome. With teacher appreciation approaching, remember to thank a past teacher, or have your child bring to them a small token to say thank you. As you can see, teachers have a huge impact on a student’s life.

Kristyn A. Robbio

Cranston