Just two weeks short of her 79th birthday, Miriam Russo died on Oct. 19, 2006, due to a stroke. She had lived in East Hills for 50 years with her husband Jack, where they raised their children, Jonathan, Seth and Emily. She is also survived by their spouses, Deborah, Sylvie and Peter as well as four grandchildren, Laura, Steven, Mabel and Maisy.

After rearing her children, Miriam went back to school and earned a master's degree in library science at C.W. Post College. She worked as a librarian first at the Shelter Rock School and later as the reference librarian at the West Islip Public Library. After retiring she devoted much of her time to volunteer work in the community. She served as co-chairman of the Interfaith Outreach Committee at Temple Sinai, where she sang for many years with the Temple Choir. She was a member of the Adult Education Advisory Committee for the Roslyn schools, as vice president and then as membership chairman. The NC Museum also benefited from her volunteer efforts.

In addition she was an ardent folk dancer, usually at the Great Neck Senior Center. She also played tennis and did tai-chi exercises. Her many friends and neighbors noted her passing with sorrow.

Betty Mueller died on Oct. 25, 2006. Loving wife of Fritz; mother of four; grandmother of eight; elementary school teacher of hundreds; and good friend of many. Betty passed away peacefully after months of compassionate care by the staff of Cypress Court at Mesa and the comforting care of her final days at Mesa Family Hospice.

Betty Mueller was born, in Brooklyn on Oct. 27, 1926 to her loving parents, Lillian and Herbert Rocker, and is survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, Fritz Mueller; her children, Glen Mueller (Loretta) of San Diego, CA, Gail Fischer (John) of South Lyon, MI, Donna Finkelstein (Ray) of Roslyn Estates and Dawn Preston (Steve) of Port Washington. As a teacher and educator, Betty was a reading specialist who instilled the importance and joy of reading in her eight beloved grandchildren; Gretchen and Eric Mueller, Jaime and Danielle Stilson, Evan and Dana Finkelstein, and Andrew and Daniel Preston.

Betty graduated from Hempstead High School in 1944, received her bachelor's degree in education from SUNY Cortland, and later in her career received her master's degree in education at Arizona State University. Her teaching career began in Cornwall, NY for three years, followed by 22 years teaching second and third grades in the Port Washington Public School District. Betty loved her students and as an outstanding teacher she enriched the lives of each and every student; was a great peer to her fellow teachers; and served in the role of mentor to many student-teachers during the course of her career.

Retirement to Mesa, AZ in 1982 gave Betty the opportunity to enjoy traveling with Fritz in their RV; meet new friends in their Apache Wells retirement community, play golf, and continue serving the community through her extensive volunteer work. Betty's high energy level and desire to help others fueled her devotion to volunteer more than 5,000 hours as chairperson of the gift shop at the Valley Lutheran Hospital; volunteer for 20 years at the LPGA Tournament; and serve many years as a volunteer at the ASU Ladies Gold Tournament and in the scoring tent at PGA tournaments. Betty also served as President of the Apache Wells Golf Association 18 Hole and Nine Hole Swingers golf associations and as President of the Central Arizona District Golf Association.

A celebration of Betty Mueller's life will be held on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 12 Franklin Ave., Port Washington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice Family Care Center Foundation, 1550 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 102, Mesa, AZ 85210.