When people think of East Memorial Elementary School's auditorium, they will no longer just picture a large room with rows of seats and a stage. They will also be reminded of the late Dr. Gary E. Karp, a committed community leader who for years used the room as a forum to help people laugh.

School officials, the Karp family and several other community members and local public officials on Saturday dedicated the auditorium to Dr. Karp, the former Farmingdale Board of Education president who died suddenly at the age of 42 in October, 1996. For years while his two children attended Farmingdale's East Memorial, Dr. Karp headed an annual talent show at the school, at times organizing hilarious acts by not only the children but also school administrators. The school board chief also spoke at the school's annual 6th grade graduation for many years. His son, Adam is still a student at East Memorial, while daughter Lauren has moved on to Farmingdale's Howitt Middle School.

Over 100 people attended Saturday's ceremony, which included speeches by school and public officials, as well as Dr. Karp's widow, Ilene. Many remarked that an emotion-filled highlight of the event was a performance by East Memorial's sixth grade chorus, which sang under the direction of Claire Zatorski.

The dedication entailed three physical reminders of Dr. Karp. A stained glass window conceived by a community-based committee and funded by community donations was unveiled. In addition, a plaque with his portrait and description of his contributions, and a sign above the entrance to the auditorium were provided by the Board of Education. The center of the stained glass window contains the message "Children First." Through this, its creators aimed to express Dr. Karp's philosophy of putting children first as a community volunteer. The plaque describes Karp as "a man whose boundless energy, enthusiasm and optimism vitalized his huge commitment to the children of Farmingdale," and vowed to honor him by carrying on his devotion to the children of the district. The sign outside the auditorium reads: Dr. Gary E. Karp Auditorium.

Those involved in the dedication noted that it was a fitting tribute to Karp because of his close connection to the school.

"It was different from anything we've ever honored him with, because this is where he thrived," School Board President Josephine Macchia said Tuesday. Referring to his work on the talent show, she noted, "He had a special way of just bringing out the child in everybody, and that's a special gift." Macchia said Dr. Karp will be remembered as someone who loved life, loved to laugh, loved to make people smile, and loved to help people. "He was so many wonderful things to so many people. There wasn't another one like him. He was very special. If you had to give a definition, he was like an angel," she added.

Farmingdale Schools Superintendent Gerard W. Dempsey, Jr. said Tuesday that both the theme of the stained glass and the location - East Memorial - are very appropriate for Dr. Karp. "It was a very central place in his experience here in Farmingdale Schools," he said, adding. "I think that the hope is that the dedication of the stained glass and auditorium will keep his memory alive for the children of the school and for all of the people of the community."

In addition to his service as school board president for five years (1992-1996), Dr. Karp's many community-related activities included a total of 10 years as a school board member (1987-1996), leading the Farmingdale Youth Board, and serving as charter member and past president of COPE (the community council for substance abuse). He was involved in various other groups connected with education and young people, including Big Brothers, and he gave free blood pressure screenings several times a month to the members of the various senior citizen groups in Farmingdale. He was also a charter member of the Farmingdale Breakfast Rotary Club.

Dr. Karp was also organizer of the Farmingdale Fair Funding for Education Forum, dedicated to securing a fair share of state funds for education, in the face of aid cuts. He helped form a consortium of other communities facing cuts and a successful lobbying effort in Albany. He was recognized for his tireless community efforts in 1992 when he was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Interservice Club of Farmingdale, which represents the Farmingdale Kiwanis Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rotary Club, and the Breakfast Rotary Club.

Dr. Karp had started a chiropractic practice in Farmingdale shortly after moving into the community with his wife, Ilene, in the early 1980s, and maintained the practice until his death.

Jeanne Pleickhardt and Connie Sheehan, who knew Gary Karp not only as school board president but also a fellow East Memorial parent, led the efforts to erect the stained glass. They were overwhelmed with the outpouring of community support for the project.They started raising funds for the project last October. From that time until the end of March, they received over $6,000 in individual donations.

"We really want to thank the community for their support," said Pleickhardt, adding that it was a fitting tribute because, "He was so involved with the community, and he always put the children first regardless of anything."

Sheehan also commented. "We had donations big and small, and we had these wonderful notes from people saying what a dedicated man he was," she said. "He was like a permanent fixture up at the school...You always remember Gary being in the auditorium." She added, "Everyone still talks about him."

Describing the stained glass inscription, "Children First," on Monday James Faivre, acting principal of East Memorial who previously had been assistant principal of the school for 15 years, said, "That was his whole life."