Smiles...it's a surname some might find hard to live up to. However, it was the perfect name for Martha, better known in Glen Cove by her married name, Singer, a name no less appropriate.

Glen Cove lost a treasure on Sept. 15 with the passing of Martha Singer. A longtime resident, Mrs. Singer taught elementary education in Glen Cove for 30 years, following a six-year stint in Westbury. She taught mostly kindergarten classes, making her way from Deasy to Coles to Landing to Gribbin, and coming full circle when she completed her career back at Deasy. By that time, Mrs. Singer was teaching students whose parents she had taught, and in time, she touched three generations of students.

Martha's life encompassed much more than teaching, but it is through her dedication to her beloved vocation that she made her greatest mark on the community at large. There were always more parents requesting Mrs. Singer's class for their children than there were seats in the classroom. Mrs. Singer was a hands-on teacher before the phrase was popular, let alone requisite to the position of educator.

Given the credo that "If you don't have confidence in yourself, how can you expect anyone else to?" Martha Singer's students could be counted on to gain that self-confidence, as well as self-expression. Mrs. Singer also strove to instill in her students a wonder and love for life and for the world around them. Known as "the trip lady," through the years she organized hundreds of field trips to such diverse places as the local post office, the circus, beaches and parks, and museums and theaters. Students were guaranteed to have experiences like no other with Mrs. Singer at the helm, and all knew that each experience would be fun, as well as educational, as the teacher never missed an opportunity to teach. Even a student's belch in class, following the obligatory laughter, would turn into an impromptu lesson on the functions of the human body. Some Glen Covers might remember being lucky enough to have been in Mrs. Singer's class the year she had her students successfully lobby then-Mayor Thomas R. Suozzi to erect a new playground at Morgan Park.

Always immersed in her community, Mrs. Singer often said that some of the best parent/teacher conferences took place in the supermarket.

In1990, Mrs. Singer's daughter Beth was involved in a CBS weeklong program titled Project Education. As school classes were an integral aspect of the program, Beth asked her mother if she would be interested in taking part. Not only did Mrs. Singer agree to participate, she went so far as to contact the local press on the day CBS came to Glen Cove, inviting them to "shoot the shoot," Beth recalled. In addition, Mrs. Singer's class was chosen to pose for a promotional photo as the field of stars on a U.S. flag with the stripes being represented by pencils, which was used to advertise the program. Sans students and accompanied by husband Burt, Martha attended a daylong conference on education that was also attended by the upper echelon of education, business and government, including then-First Lady Barbara Bush, an ardent proponent of literacy and education. Martha wore the same dress she wore for the promo...not that she was looking to be recognized. She happily hobnobbed with one and all, and managed to find herself a seat right next to Mrs. Bush's press secretary. Never one to miss an opportunity, Martha charmed her way to an invitation to meet and speak with Mrs. Bush, and a photo of Burt and Martha Singer with First Lady Barbara Bush sits proudly in the Singer home.

Good friend and fellow teacher Naomi Sukman fondly remembers the days of working with Martha Singer. Most vivid is her memory of Halloweens, when the teachers would coordinate outfits, showing up in the classroom as Raggedy Ann and Andy, witches, clowns and cheerleaders. After school, the duo would go trick or treating to show off their costumes. Burt Singer recalls more recent days spent with Mrs. Sukman. "Martha and I would pick up Naomi," he said, "and we'd go to lunch. I'd sit with them while they talked and talked and talked, often finishing each other's sentences." Just a word or two could evoke laughter between the friends.

At home, Martha certainly practiced what she preached. Along with husband Burt and children Beth, Mark and Ellen, she epitomized the adage "Live life to its fullest." Martha imbued a love for, and offered exposure to, every beautiful thing the world had to offer, with the arts taking a front row center seat. Laughter was another of Martha's great gifts to her children. Beth remembers laughter in their home every day as the children grew into teens and then young adults, often "cathartic laughter ... laughing until we cried," said Beth. Martha's delight in life only increased with the addition of each of her beloved four granddaughters, Lena, Lucy, Libby and Sophie. After taking the children to see Peter Pan on Broadway, Martha noticed that audience members in front row seats were sprinkled with fairy dust. She proceeded to buy tickets to another performance, and yet another, until the children had the complete theatrical experience, and floated from the theater sprinkled with the magical dust. Never naïve, the girls knew that the true magic emanated from their bubbe.

Martha had an amazing capacity to see good in the worst of things, said Burt of his wife of 54 years, and "found any excuse to celebrate and make a special day out of an ordinary one." As the couple attended plays, shows and concerts, Martha would be thrilled to find herself seated behind Jerry Orbach, or rubbing elbows with Liza Minelli. She was as comfortable and delighted with the illuminati as she was with neighbors and local shopkeepers and the Singers could often be found in Martha's favorite local restaurant, Stango's, where she would invariably order lasagna, always followed by Stella's chocolate chip cake. Chocolate was another of Martha's great loves.

She enjoyed nothing more than connecting with any and all people, eager to hear their stories. Steven Singer, who was 6 when he met his future sister-in-law, said Martha "opened the world to him" and called her "interesting and interested." Acknowledging with a smile that Martha was no slouch when it came to conversation, he said with obvious affection, "but when she stopped talking, she would listen...really listen ... and you became the only person in the room."

Martha Singer can be called a character in only the most complimentary definition of the word ... unique, fascinating, fun and distinctly individualistic. Not only did she share her laughter with others, she kept a reserve in her heart for herself. With her trademark good nature and sense of humor, she enjoyed any teasing which came her way and could easily laugh at herself. She especially enjoyed listening to others repeat one of her many adventures, escapades or mishaps.

A fond memory of this reporter, who has managed to finagle her way into the periphery of the Singer's mishpocha, is that of running into Martha, exchanging kisses, and being asked, "So how's your daughter?" When asked if she was "ever going to ask how I am first?" Martha's reply, as always, was a lesson. "No," she said, as her mouth smiled and her eyes twinkled, "because if your child is doing well, you are doing well."

In her inimitable way, Martha dictated some rules regarding her funeral, which, it went without saying, would be a celebration of her life. "Don't let Daddy pick out my coffin," she told her children. "He'll pick one that's too plain." And in her honor, upon her death, her coffin was filled by her grandchildren with sparkling beads, glittery notes and fairy dust, which was also sprinkled on her grave. In bittersweet expression, many friends and family called the occasion of loss "the best funeral I've ever been to."

For everyone fortunate enough to have had their lives touched by Martha Singer, the lessons of her indefatigable zest for life will carry on. Just remember: smile and be a singer.

Donations in Martha Singer's name may be made to the Lena Singer Memorial Fund (an educational foundation), c/o Congregation Tifereth Israel, Hill Street, Glen Cove NY 11542.