Ex-West Orange Math Teacher Passes Away: Cindy Di Giovanna

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Cynthia Murren Di Giovanna loved traveling and cruising, visiting exotic places, spending time with her family vacation houses in Ocean Beach and near Mount Snow in Vermont. She was among a minority of New Jersey residents to call herself a die-hard Miami Dolphin fan. She was hysterically funny… creative… witty… and you counted yourself blessed if you were on her Christmas card list.

But according to her family, one of her greatest sources of pride came from helping her students in West Orange to excel.

On Tuesday, a school district that’s seen several heartbreaking losses this year announced the passing of Di Giovanna, a former mathematics teacher at Edison Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School and Redwood Elementary School.

Administrators said that Di Giovanna passed away suddenly on July 22. She was 53-years-old. (Read her full obituary here)

School officials provided a touching message about Di Giovanna’s service to her community:

“Di Giovanna spent 15 years as a teacher in West Orange and was the recipient of several accolades for teaching excellence. She served as team leader at Edison and Roosevelt… [She] grew up in Roseland and graduated from West Essex High School. She received her BA and Masters in Psychology and Elementary Education and began her career at St. Michael's in Newark, followed by the Irvington School District. She began as a teacher in West Orange at Edison Middle School in 2003.”

Di Giovanna is survived by her husband David Di Giovanna; her brother Andy Murren (Lea) and her sister Sharon Pezutti (Anthony); her beloved nieces and nephews Andrew and Ian Murren, Stephanie Pezutti, Sabrina and Jared Pelech, Austin and Monica Morris, Christopher, and Anthony and Caroline Colucci.

According to school officials, a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on July 28 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament in Roseland. Interment will follow at Restland Memorial Park. Friends and relatives may visit on July 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 pm at the Norman Dean Home For Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville. A prayer service with the KOC will take place at 7 p.m. that evening.

WEST ORANGE MOURNS

The West Orange school community is also mourning several other heartbreaking deaths that took place this year.

In February, Patricia Villarosa a first-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School, was hit by a car last month as she was walking to a Board of Education meeting at West Orange High School. After weeks of treatment, she passed away at University Hospital in Newark, West Orange officials said.

Mourners immediately took to social media to express fond memories of Villarosa and condolences for her family.

• See related article: West Orange Teacher Dies 'Surrounded By Family' After Car Strike

Earlier this month, longtime science teacher Susan Zaccaro passed away following an illness. Zaccaro, 54, a Nutley resident and Edison native, taught at Liberty Middle School and Edison Middle School during her time with the district.

She was known not only as a mentor for teachers, but students, instilling a love of science in many students that went on to major in STEM careers, administrators said.

• See related article: West Orange Teacher Dies; Gifted Students With 'Love For Science'

Last weekend, Henry Chang, 7, the child of West Orange Public School District educators Heather and Henry, and the brother of Derrick, 5, passed away after a valiant battle with childhood cancer.

The Delran Fire Department named the 7-year-old an honorary firefighter last summer.

• See related article: West Orange Mourns Teachers' Child After Valiant Cancer Battle

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Photo courtesy of West Orange Schools