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Passaic County Educator Hajja Safinaz Matter Dies—Masjid Fundraiser Launched In Her Memory
A trailblazing educator who shaped generations of students has passed away.
Hajja Safinaz Matter, known to many as Tante Safi, Sr. Safi, or Ms. Safi, dedicated over 50 years of her life to teaching Arabic and inspiring young minds around the world. Her death was recently announced by her family.
She was the widow of the late Elsayed Elmenshawy and the sister of Atef, Farida, and Niveen. She was a grandmother to Ahmed, Mariam, Aly, Nour-Eldeen, Abdulrahman, Abdullah, Selma, Mohammed, Ahmed, Amaly, Yusuf, and Ameer.
Matter, a graduate of Al-Alsun specializing in Italian and French, later ear…
Lodi Teacher Diana Pereira Dies, 42: 'Heaven Gained The Greatest Angel'
Diana Pereira, a longtime teacher in Lodi and Washington Township mother, died on Wednesday, Jan. 29, according to her obituary on the Di Chiara Funeral Home website. She was 42 years old.
Diana worked in the Lodi School District for 18 years as a teacher at the Hilltop Elementary School.
"Diana’s spirit was fulfilled when spending time with DJ, family, and friends, whether it was at the Caribbean Sea in Punta Cana, on the boat at Tice’s, or dancing to her favorite country and freestyle music," her obituary reads. "Diana had an infectious smile that would brighten any room she wal…
Teacher Pulls Off Epic Surprise, Introduces Students To Paul Rudd On Field Trip To NJ Mall
In 2014, "People" named Nicholas Ferroni "Sexiest Teacher Alive."
Ten years later, he may just be the coolest teacher alive, too.
The Union High School teacher surprised his students with Paul Rudd, the magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 2021, during a field trip to the NJ Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Ferroni works closely with the NJ Hall of Fame, having interviewed inductees, such as Danny DeVito. While organizing the field trip, one of the officials mentioned that Rudd was going to be there that day.
"We then kind of said it would be fun to surprise some students who were thinkin…