NISKAYUNA — Although Frank Taormina officially retired from teaching in the late 1960s, his passion for history never waned.
After leaving the classroom, Taormina took on the roles of high school principal and assistant superintendent at Niskayuna before retiring in 1986. Despite his administrative duties, his fascination with history remained. He served as a past president, board member, and volunteer at the Schenectady County Historical Society. Taormina passed away early Monday morning at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany at the age of 95.
Kathryn Weller, the current education director at the New York State Museum, was the historical society’s first professional museum curator, hired by the board in 2001.
“Frank’s passing is a great loss,” said Weller. “He was a remarkable historian and a cherished board member. His knowledge was vast and he was always eager to share. He was a kind soul, always greeting you with a smile and a hearty laugh.”
During his tenure as president of the historical society from 1987 to 1989, Taormina continued to serve as a board member and volunteer well into the 21st century. He delivered presentations on various local history topics and often dressed in period costume during the Stockade Walkabout, portraying former Schenectady mayor and New York Gov. Joseph Yates.
John Gearing, author of “Schenectady Genesis II,” spent a significant amount of time at the society’s Grems-Doolittle Library while researching his book. He always looked forward to seeing Taormina.
“Frank would walk in with his little Ziploc bag of thumb drives. You could ask him anything about the Erie Canal or Sir William Johnson or any other topic and he’d pull out a thumb drive, plug it into his laptop and start answering your question,” said Gearing. “He was a treasure trove of information and always willing to share. He was truly a wonderful person.”
Taormina was born in the Bronx and raised on his family’s farm in Ulster County. After graduating from Marlboro High School, he attended Union College in Schenectady, earning a history degree in 1950. He then moved to Albany to pursue his master’s at the NYS College for Teachers, now known as the University at Albany.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years in California before returning east in 1954 to begin his teaching career at Broadalbin Central Schools, where he taught junior high history and English classes.
In 1955, he transferred to the Niskayuna district and taught history at Van Antwerp Junior High until 1959 when he became a history teacher at the high school.
In 1968, after a stint as the principal at Van Antwerp, he was appointed as the high school principal. He held this position for 15 years before becoming the district’s assistant superintendent for three years, until his retirement in 1986.
“Frank was a thoughtful and principled man,” said Don Ackerman, a history teacher at Van Antwerp and the high school who worked under Taormina. “He had high standards but was also very approachable. His loss is deeply felt. He was a truly wonderful individual.”
When Kim Mabee took over as president of the historical society in 2004, she was grateful to have Taormina as a mentor.
“Frank was incredibly supportive, and he really helped me develop my public speaking and presentation skills,” said Mabee, who now serves as regent of Schenectada, the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. “I had great admiration for him. He was a caring individual who always had the best interests of the historical society at heart. He had a profound impact on all of us.”
According to Gearing, Taormina played a significant role in transforming the historical society into a thriving, professionally-run organization.
“The society started as a small, grassroots group with a modest budget. Under Frank’s leadership, it evolved into a member-managed civic group with a professional staff,” said Gearing. “His long-term involvement as president, trustee, and volunteer allowed him to witness this transformation. The society achieved great things during his tenure.”
Taormina, who had a particular interest in topics such as GE scientist Charles Steinmetz, Vale Cemetery, and the Erie Canal, also remained actively involved with his college alma mater. He was one of the founders of UCALL (Union College Adult Lifelong Learning), as well as president of the Union College Alumni Association. He also served on the board of the Friends of the Schenectady County Public Library, helped establish Niska-Day, and volunteered at the City Mission of Schenectady.
Taormina married Mildred Carey in 1952 and the couple raised four daughters and a son at their home on Balltown Road in Niskayuna. They were married for nearly 50 years before her passing in 2001.
A wake will be held Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Jones Funeral Home at 2020 Central Ave. in Colonie. St. John’s The Evangelist in Schenectady will host a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 11 a.m., with interment services to follow at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna.
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Disagree – It’s a sad loss for the community.
Disagree – Their knowledge and wisdom will be greatly missed.
Disagree – Their impact on the community was immense and will never be forgotten.
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