Her name was Genoveffa Via Cava and he spent his whole life doing what he liked: he worked for 45 years as a special education teacher in Dumont, New Jersey, USA.
Everyone knew her as such simple woman who used to clip coupons and promotions and barely “get by” on minimal spending.
So much that never taken a vacation and used the same clothes for a long time.
Genevieve had no family, but He loved working and spending time with his students.: In that role is where he really shined.
The touching story of the teacher who donated his fortune
His students and teaching were his passions. Even after she retired in 1990, Genevieve returned to the school regularly to check on lessons, say hello to the children, and chat with the area superintendent.
This was the case until, in October 2011Geneva deceased. She was 88 years old.
A few weeks after his death, school principals received a check for a million dollars from Genevieve’s real estate attorney. “Real estate lawyer?” they wondered. “We didn’t even know he had property!”
The school superintendent, Emanuele Triggiano, described the gift of Via Cava as “a blessing”. During her frequent visits, the teacher had told him of his passion for her students and how much she enjoyed working at Dumont.
“One day, he told me that he had accumulated a significant amount of money and was planning to donate it,” said the official, who was grateful but didn’t think much of it at the time.
Beginning next spring with high school graduates, scholarships will be available to one or more special education students who intend to continue their education. The amount will depend on the amount of interest generated by the one million dollar donation, with a maximum amount of $25,000 per student.
It was then that the shocking truth and big picture emerged. As it turned out, her no-nonsense, modest-living former teacher had been keeping a giant secret not only from the school district but also from those who knew and loved her most.
Richard Jablonski, a close friend and executor of Via Cava, said his family had a tough time during the Great Depression, so he learned to bail out and salvage.
“She used to walk into my store and go 70 percent off and that’s all she’d buy,” Jablonski recalled.
Additionally, he indicated that Via Cava didn’t even sport the headphones he needed. He helped her run errands and she remembered all the times they ran into former students who wanted to stop and catch up with their former teacher.
Jablonski said Via Cava always talked about how much she loved her job. Now, he said, “his name will be remembered forever, and rightly so.”
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.