Huntington Says Goodbye
to Joan Esposito
Saying goodbye is sometimes a very hard thing to do. As Joan Esposito prepares to retire after nearly 20 years in the Huntington School District, her colleagues and friends gathered at The Bay Club last week to toast her career and wish her well.
A crowd of about 50 assembled to say goodbye to a person that everyone agrees is a classy woman. "The party was lovely and I was overwhelmed by the turnout," Mrs. Esposito said. "It was so nice to see so many friends from my years in the district."
Mrs. Esposito has been Superintendent John J. Finello's secretarial assistant since 2006. "She has served the district well, always a lady with great dignity and class," Mr. Finello said. "She has been cheerful, diligent in her work, poised and sensitive to faculty, staff and parent and community issues."
Mrs. Esposito's last day in the district is this Friday, March 11. She's been anxiously looking forward to retirement and spending more time with her husband, Vincent and their four children.
The Esposito's third daughter (of four) is getting married in Key West, Florida on March 19. Ironically, considering Mrs. Esposito's long association with schools and education, the soon-to-be husband and wife are both teachers.
"My husband and I will be there a week before the wedding with our daughters, their husbands and our grandchildren," Mrs. Esposito said. "I think it's a great way to begin retirement. There is so much to celebrate and be thankful for."
Mrs. Esposito began working in the district in November 1991. She was initially assigned to the office of James Edwards, who was then the assistant principal at Huntington High School. After Mr. Edwards moved over to J. Taylor Finley Middle School in 2000, Mrs. Esposito spent a year working at the high school for administrative assistants Jarrett Stein and Wayne Ebanks.
Mrs. Esposito moved to the district office in July 2001, going to work in the office of Assistant Superintendent Joseph Giani. When five years later an opening occurred in the superintendent's office, she sought out that challenge and quickly mastered the position.
Those who have worked with her or needed her services have come to rely upon Mrs. Esposito's professionalism and ability to get things done. "We remain in her gratitude for the wonderful job she has done and wish her the best as she joins the ranks of our retirees who served our district with great dedication and pride," he said.
After a two-decade career in the district, Mrs. Esposito is happy to be able to shift her focus exclusively to her husband, family and favorite hobbies. "Both our mothers live out of state and I look forward to spending more time with them, enjoying our family camp in northern Vermont and tackling projects I have been putting off," she said. "No excuses now! I look forward to my time being more spontaneous, but will miss my friends and colleagues."
The new retiree hopes "to spend more time in my garden, dust off my golf clubs, read more books and spend time with family and friends," she said. "Three of my daughters live out of state (Florida and California) and they are looking forward to frequent, impromptu visits."
The recent retirement party at The Bay Club was a celebratory affair. It drew many retirees who worked with Mrs. Esposito over the years, as well as current administrators and secretaries.
Mrs. Esposito said she was able to gain valuable working knowledge through her job assignments. "I have been fortunate to learn the district from the building level, the central office level and the superintendent level," she said. "Working with Jay has been a great experience and I have learned so much. There are so many facets to a school district! It has been a wonderful education."
As the retirement party wound down, one-by-one those in attendance offered Mrs. Esposito their best wishes for health, wealth and happiness for many years to come.