A Teacher Who Impacted Many And I Called A Friend
At best I was a very average student during my time at Central Regional High School but I developed relationships with some of my teachers that has carried on throughout the years. One of those special relationships was with identical twin sisters Lolita and Juanita Carfora who were revered Spanish teachers and spent 37 years sharing their love of the language and culture with students. I had them both during my high school years.
Here’s where the relationship gets interesting. To this day I never knew which one was which and simply referred to both as Miss Carfora I was not a good Spanish student (surprise) and whatever grades I received were likely based on the fact that both liked me. There was also a memorable trip to Spain during spring break in 1971 which they of course chaperoned. I won’t bore you with details but I was a 15-year old sophomore and discovered Sangria on that trip which almost got me in trouble when I knocked on the door of female classmates signing Christmas carols. When one of the Miss Carfora’s opened the door I was shocked but somehow avoided any problem. There’s a lot more that I’ll keep to myself.
As for our relationship, well it was based on running into one another on numerous occasions at the Pine Beach 7-11 which was close to their home and a regular stop for me. We would talk for quite a while and I was very appreciative that the two of them were largely responsible for me receiving the M. Peryl King Distinguished Alumni Award years ago. They helped create that special award and were both inducted as honorary members.
I am telling you all of this because Lolita Carfora died recently at the age of 90 at her Pine Beach home and of course Juanita was right there. Her obituary is a tribute to a life devoted to education and helping others and many benefitted from her commitment to students which was only matched by her sister. A celebration of life as well as a memorial scholarship will be scheduled at a later date.
I am forever grateful to have called her my teacher and friend. Descansa en paz