Forty-one years ago, Debra Stravato’s brother, Steven Michael Greene, passed away from a house fire within the family’s Byron Street home on Jan. 23, 1981 – the family lost everything. At the time, Debra was 10 and her brother had been 11. Both children attended Arlington Elementary School and after the fire, the staff created a memorial for Debra’s brother by putting together a bookshelf in the library’s resource area and donating nonfiction books in Steven’s name. Now, Debra seeks to update Steven’s memorial.

Debra, 51, teaches first grade at Orchard Farms Elementary School and lives in Western Cranston. Working in the Cranston school system for 21 years, Debra is a product of Cranston Public Schools after spending her youth attending Woodridge Elementary School, Arlington Elementary School, Hugh B. Bain Middle School and Cranston High School East. The idea for updating the memorial came from fellow colleague, Audrey Romanelli. Since Debra’s daughter, Christianna, 26, was about to start student teaching at Arlington Elementary School in January, Romanelli suggested updating the memorial due to the family’s connection to the school. Christianna is attending Rhode Island College and is pursuing a degree in education.

Debra started by creating a Facebook event and an Amazon list of books that individuals could purchase and donate to the school. The selections consisted of nonfiction science books, many focusing on astronomy and Star Wars – these were some of Steven’s favorite things. Debra then shared the Facebook event with family, friends and colleagues.

“When we started this, we said ‘let’s shoot for 25 books’ and update the shelf in my brother’s memory,” said Debra.

Little did she know that 25 books would soon turn into 50. She said the fundraiser started snowballing and that people kept reaching out to her about the endeavor. The response has been overwhelming, and Debra has received over 35 contributors.

“Teachers from 41 years ago are reaching out,” Debra said.

Debra started the fundraiser on Jan. 16 and plans to let it run until the end of January. In addition to individuals donating books, Debra has received a few hundred dollars to purchase more books in Steven’s name.

“My brother was a Boy Scout. He liked karate, everything space, bike riding, science and swimming,” Debra said.

In addition to the donated books, Karen Morocco, the reading specialist at Orchard Farms Elementary School contacted Renee Gamba, the Director at the Museum of Natural History and Cormack Planetarium in Providence, who will provide a space-related video excerpt to add to the book dedication. This video will be shown to students alongside the book donation in the upcoming few weeks.

In a way to remember Steven, Debra wants to give back Cranston kids by providing nonfiction reading material.

As for her daughter, Debra said it was coincidental that Christianna was placed at Arlington Elementary School, but she was touched by the timing of Christianna’s start time in January since that was the month of Steven’s anniversary and birthday.

“It was all a nice symbol of togetherness,” Debra said.

While Steven’s memory lives on in the library bookshelf dedication, he lives on within the family. Debra named her son, who is now 28, after her brother. Debra also has a 27-year-old daughter named Brianna. Debra’s sisters Kathy Arnold and Pattie Piscione were 18 and 19 when the fire happened, and Pattie’s children attended Arlington Elementary School, creating a bigger connection to the school. Debra’s parents are Jim and Helen Greene.