County Honors Division Avenue Faculty Who Saved Student's Life

LEVITTOWN, NY — Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti honored four faculty members from Division Avenue High School on Jan. 23 for saving the life of a student last year.

On Oct. 17, 2022, student Haeleigh Ortiz collapsed on the floor of the gym locker room due to a rare, undiagnosed heart condition. Her friend rant to get help. School nurses Patty Leavy and Debbi Larkin rushed into the locker room and found Ortiz unresponsive and with nu pulse.

Physical education teacher Brian Maloney rushed into the locker room with an emergency automated external defibrillator to help the nurses revive Ortiz, while school psychologist Dr. Thomas Tuchiano performed chest compressions.

Because of the quick action of the four, Ortiz is alive and well today.

“As a lifelong resident of Levittown and an alumnus of Division Avenue High School, it fills me with pride and a sense of security to know that the faculty in the school districts in my community are so committed to the well-being of their students,” Ferretti said. “Because of dedicated heroes like these four faculty members who go above and beyond the normal responsibilities of their job, we all live in a better world today. I am very proud to honor these four for their work in saving Haeleigh’s life. Thank you for all you do.”