NED O'GORMAN

with prayers,

My daughter was a student at The Garden from 2007-2010. She started off as a quiet, hanger-on and ended up a brilliant light of the school. Ned and his staff - Frances, and Barbara, and Chris, and Cass and Lynette and everyone else that came through The Garden - educated her, encouraged her and most of all, loved her. When it was time for her to get into kindergarten, Ned and I had a horrible disagreement because I thought she should go to one school and he thought she should go to another...

Ned was a special guest speaker at the McCarthy Arts Center in 1984 when I was a graduate student at Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vt., our alma mater. Though 30 years ago, I clearly remember his expression of deep love for his students, and his critical analysis of effective teaching strategies. I learned a lot from him in just a couple of hours. Kevin Mann (MATESL 1984)

Ned was a shining light for all those kids seeking love and education. His devotion to Ricky, his son, was extraordinary. As neighbours, my late wife and I were lucky to have met him more than 30 years ago. I will cherish forever his devotion to people in need. New York City and the Upper West Side is poorer by this loss. My sympathy goes to his family and to all those children who lost their "father".