John F. "Jack" Britton Jr., 75, of Vallejo, CA, died on April 9, 2004. Born on July 30, 1928 in Rockville Center, he grew up in Manhasset where he met Patricia Faldi, his beautiful wife of 55 years who passed away recently on Nov. 26, 2003. Jack, Pat and their family resided many happy years in Port Washington.

Jack was a gregarious and multi-faceted character who enjoyed life to the fullest. A prominent member and registered principal with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Jack was a marketing pioneer in the mutual fund industry. He used a prolific IBM sales background along with invaluable Madison Avenue copywriting experience as the first National Sales Manager kicking off the original Dreyfus & Putnam Funds. Jack was Vice President of Marketing for Supervised Investors Services and a Vice President and National Sales Manager/Partner for Hayden Stone, a Member of the New York Stock Exchange. He was later President and Chief Executive Officer of Metro-Dyne Securities Corporation, a member firm of the National Association of Securities Dealers Inc.

Jack "Red" Britton served in the U.S. Navy and was a graduate of Syracuse University. He was an All American Lacrosse player and was a passionate devotee to the sport. He helped found and coach the original Long Island Lacrosse Club and the Port Washington Youth Athletic League. Jack coached the 1977 Albemarle High School Virginia State Lacrosse Champions and the Charlottesville Lacrosse Club.

Jack will be remembered as a generous man who cared passionately for his wife, children, pets and friends. His sense of humor, quick wit, implausible memory and far-reaching vocabulary were unmatched. He loved music, dancing, good food, red wine, vigorous debate and heart-felt laughter. His larger-than-life persona touched many.

Jack is survived by children Britt, Michele and Cassie and his two grandchildren Sophia and Rosalyn Lemmo. He will be greatly missed.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to your local SPCA.

Ruth Botensten, 93, passed away on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 at Bishop Glen Nursing Home in Holly Hills, FL. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles E. Botensten, and is survived by her daughter, Judith Fornasar of Manhasset, her son, Kenneth Botensten of East Williston, her five grandchildren: Lauren Barrett of Manhasset, Greg Fornasar of Garden City, Scott, Kerry and Charles Botensten of East Williston, and four great-grandchildren.

Ruth was a resident of Munsey Park and a very active member of the Church of Our Saviour, Lutheran, for more than 40 years. Ruth's church activities included her love of singing in the choir and participating in Ruth Circle. She also found time to be a volunteer, including the Brownies, Girl Scouts and delivering meals in the Meals on Wheels program for the housebound.

It is with great sadness and a profound sense of loss that The Green Vale School shares the news that its beloved assistant headmaster and upper school director, John A. Cosentino, suffered a fatal heart attack while hiking out of the Grand Canyon in Arizona on Thursday, May 6. John, 46 and a resident of Syosset, was leading the ninth grade class on a week-long camping trip, an annual tradition for ninth grade students. With him on this trip was his son, James, who will graduate from Green Vale next month. John's daughter, Christina, now a senior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy in Syosset, made the same camping trip with her father while she was a ninth grade student at Green Vale.

In addition to his two children, John is survived by his beloved wife, Susan, his cherished parents, Joseph and Jean Cosentino, his siblings, Andrew (Eileen), Joseph, Ann Marie, Vickie (John) Beck, Terry, and Michael (Julia), and 22 nieces and nephews.

Mr. "C" (as students fondly called him) began his 25 year career in education as a science and reading teacher at The Green Vale School in 1979. He also taught English, History and Math over the years, was the director of the middle school from 1984 to 1993 and in 1994 was appointed upper school director and assistant headmaster. Directing the annual ninth grade play was a labor of love that earned John the additional, yet unofficial, title of musical and creative consultant for all of the School's class plays.

Prior to taking his position at Green Vale, John received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from SUNY Potsdam. He earned his Master of Science degree at LIU-CW Post, and his Certificate of Advanced Study - Educational Administration at Hofstra University.

John was a creative, talented, passionate and inspiring educator who touched the lives of more than a thousand young students, and mentored scores of young teachers. His genuine affection and respect for students of all ages, love of life and loud, contagious laugh will never be forgotten.

John Cosentino's legacy is all those students who became life-long learners because of the foundation he helped them build for themselves. His final moments were spent doing exactly what he loved doing - leading and teaching children. As Thomas McPartland, President of Green Vale's Board of Trustees, said, "His life was a gift to the children."

In lieu of flowers, John's family has requested that donations be made to the American Heart Association. In addition, The Green Vale School community is in the process of establishing an educational support fund for John's two children. Details on this will soon be available. Anyone interested in supporting the fund may contact the school directly, at 516-621-2420, extension 117.

A funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, May 12, at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Brookville, NY.