If you have ever taught or worked in the Weehawken School District, you come away with the feeling that your are part of an extended family. On Saturday, September 27, 2003 the family of Weehawken lost a wonderful individual. Annette Nunziato, a special education teacher and volleyball coach at the high school, passed away at the age of 42. You could easily see from the massive numbers who attended her wake that she will be sorely missed. The outpouring of emotion was clearly evident and heart felt; our school district lost a gem.
For those of you who did not know, Ms. Nunziato often suffered from ill health and returning to the volleyball sidelines each season for the past 12 years was not an easy task. This past June, she decided not to return to her coaching ranks in the fall of 2003. I wish that I had known of her decision to leave the coaching ranks sooner so that she could have been recognized and honored for all of her years of service and dedication to the students/athletes of the Weehawken School District.
I had often approached Ms. Nunziato about coming forward and speaking to the press about her schedule during the volleyball season. Three days a week, she had to undergo dialysis. She would often leave practice or a match and remark that she had to go "to her other job." Very few of her players knew of her condition. The other coaches and I would often marvel at her dedication and commitment to her profession. Even when she seemed less than 100 percent, she refused to miss matches or practices. She was truly an inspiration to us all, and I wished that she had been able to share her situation with others. Every time I hear one of the players utter that he or she is too sick to practice, my mind would often think of Coach Nunziato and her condition.
Hoping not to sound melodramatic, God served an "ace" when he sent Annette to play on these earthly courts. Now it is her time to play on his courts.
Richard Terpak
Weehawken High School Athletic Director
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