Colleagues, Former Students Remember "Doc"

Educator. Mentor. Friend.

Those three words were heard most frequently when colleagues and former students spoke of Dr. Sal Fiore, a fixture in the West Islip School District and director of the high school’s Vocal Motion song and dance troupe, . He was 52.

Known as “Doc” to those close to him, Fiore’s passing not only shook current students and colleagues at the high school as word spread of his passing Tuesday morning, but former students as well who made their feelings known on Facebook and on West Islip Patch.

Throughout the day Tuesday, many former students migrated back to the high school to share their memories of Fiore and assist current students dealing with the loss of the popular teacher.

“The outpouring from former students was tremendous,” said Dr. Anthony Bridgeman, high school principal.

While some former students living locally made their way to Lions Path, others such as sisters Jennifer and Lisa Corey quickly decided to drive back to West Islip from the Washington, D.C./Virginia area to pay their final respects to a teacher that each said had a major impact on each of their lives.

“I don’t know where to begin,” Jennifer Corey, a member of the high school’s Class of 2005 told Patch. “He changed the life of every kid that took part in Vocal Motion. He pushed us to do more but always gave us the freedom to do what we wanted to do.”

Jennifer Corey, Miss District of Columbia 2009 and a top-10 finalist in the 2010 Miss America pageant, said Fiore always had the best interest of students in mind, even when he had them rehearsing in the high school hallways at 10 p.m.

“Doc did push you and at times you would get upset and frustrated, but at the end of the year, students would be in tears that the school year was over,” she said. “And he would always allow the alumni to come back each year to work with students.”

Lisa Corey recalled a time when Fiore provided some much needed advice just prior to her graduating from West Islip High School in 2007.

“I didn’t know what to do as I was preparing for college,” she recalled. “I wasn’t sure whether I should study business or music. He told me that since I love music that I should be a music teacher, which is what I chose to do. He is the reason why I am who I am today.”

A current student at James Madison University, Lisa Corey is graduating next month and will pursue a career in music education with an eye toward teaching at the middle school or high school level.

Colleagues also spoke of Fiore’s impact on the school district’s music program over a period of nearly a quarter century.

“He came to the district 24 years ago with great skills and enthusiasm, and he continued to grow every year,” said Bernie Jones, the school district’s director of Fine Arts and Music Education. “He would demand a lot of the kids but they loved him and every year many come back to the concerts at the high school.”

In addition to helping students, Jones said Fiore also served as a mentor to younger teachers that over the years joined the school district.

From a personal standpoint, Jones said Fiore was a person he could always trust to get the job done.

“He was always willing to tell me the way things were and always was there for the kids and worked to help them improve,” he said. “He was a teammate and along with other senior members of our team helped grow our program.”

At the high school, Bridgeman said counselors would remain available to students and faculty who needed to discuss their feelings regarding Fiore’s passing.

“Sal was someone who not only had an impact on a number of students, but was also a friend and colleague to teachers that worked with him for many years,” he said.

Funeral services for Dr. Sal Fiore will take place at Moloney Funeral Home, 132 Ronkonkoma Ave, Ronkonkoma N.Y. Visiting hours are Wednesday 3 p.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The funeral is Thursday, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Ronkonkoma, 45 Church St, Ronkonkoma NY.