{"id":26951,"date":"2021-04-08T20:20:33","date_gmt":"2021-04-08T20:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cmshub.wpengine.com\/?p=340453"},"modified":"2024-11-03T15:14:58","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T15:14:58","slug":"beloved-kindergarten-teacher-who-inspired-her-community-dies-of-breast-cancer-at-48","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ogkologos.com\/en\/beloved-kindergarten-teacher-who-inspired-her-community-dies-of-breast-cancer-at-48\/","title":{"rendered":"Beloved Kindergarten Teacher Who Inspired Her Community Dies of Breast Cancer at 48"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A hugging machine from a student so that she could still get affection during the COVID-19 pandemic. A massive parade in front of her school to encourage her. That\u2019s how much Keri Stromski\u2019s Long Island community loved and appreciated her.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 48-year-old<\/a> Aquebogue Elementary School kindergarten teacher inspired many as she lived with metastatic breast cancer, advocated for other patients, and continued teaching despite treatments for more than four years. Now those she touched are mourning the educator, as she passed away from breast cancer at the beginning of April.<\/span><\/p>\n

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PHOTO: TWITTER\/KERI STROMSKI<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Riverhead Interim Superintendent of Schools Christine Tona spoke of her district\u2019s grief at the news, saying<\/a>, \u201cI am saddened by the news of Keri Stromski\u2019s passing. She was incredibly dedicated to her family, her students, the Riverhead Central School District, and the Riverhead community and will be greatly missed. We can all learn from Keri\u2019s example of strength during the most difficult of circumstances.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Stromski was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in November of 2016. She shared her journey with the disease on her blog<\/a>, Faith Over Fear. In her last post, from February, she touched on the isolation of getting treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She wrote<\/a>, \u201cI spent Christmas Eve in the hospital getting chemo. New Year\u2019s Eve too. But I\u2019m grateful for my nurses, and we laugh at my tik toks and props that I bring with me. It\u2019s hard mentally and emotionally going there, as many are very sick and sleeping. I close my curtains and dance to keep myself occupied, plus I\u2019m lonely. My husband hasn\u2019t been with me to an appointment now in almost a year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To help bolster her spirits, one of her students decided Stromski needed a hug<\/a>, and he wanted to make sure she got one, despite social distancing. That\u2019s when five-year-old Avery Green came up with the idea of a hug machine.<\/span><\/p>\n

He said, \u201cWe made it out of a shower curtain and we cut holes \u2026 and then you start hugging.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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PHOTO: TWITTER\/KERI STROMSKI<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Avery\u2019s mother Cathie Green explained that they wanted to keep Stromski safe due to her illness, but they also wanted to allow her a way to hug her students because she said she missed doing that.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the time, Stromski said<\/a>, \u201cYeah, one of the biggest things about being a kindergarten teacher is the hugs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t just a hug machine, though. There was also a drive-by parade held<\/a> in her honor days before she died. Nearly 100 cars decked out in Aquebogue Elementary\u2019s blue and white colors lined up to drive past the school in the Glass Slipper Parade, which included glass slippers for people to slip donations into to help the Stromskis with medical costs. Many students dressed in superhero costumes in honor of their favorite superhero and teacher.<\/span><\/p>\n

Touched by the effort, Stromski posted to social media that day, saying<\/a>, \u201cWords cannot express the gratitude and love I feel for the Riverhead community. Thank you for helping me make today about the children and our Blue Wave family. I love you all and feel your prayers every day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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PHOTO: TWITTER\/KERI STROMSKI<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stromski leaves behind her husband Rob and their three children, Madison, Morgan and Quinn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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