My Brooklyn

Maria (Dagounakis) Castagnozzi

My Brooklyn is a wonderful place that I think of often. My family moved to Brooklyn when I was just a baby in 1972 or 1973. I lived there until I was about thirteen. Although we moved a few times, I always lived in the Kensington section of Brooklyn. I attended P.S. 179 from Kindergarten until I graduated the sixth grade. I graduated in 1984 and went to Ditmas Junior H.S. (J.H.S. 62).

At the time I may not have appreciated Brooklyn life but looking back, it was a terrific place to raise children. Perhaps I didn't care for it at the time because I was a bit mischievous and as a result of the tight-knit community, I seldom got away with anything. People in the community went out of their way to watch out for the children. So, if I crossed Ocean Parkway or roller skated into the alley or courtyard of a neighbor's building, my mother was bound to find out.

I remember the friendships. I think of Cindy and Laurie Adamsky, Alexis Garcia, Elizabeth Mroz, Giocomo Lioce, Maria Tarulli, Jennifer Berini, Jennifer Houck, and a whole host of others, frequently. I have tried contacting many of these individuals, but my efforts have not been too successful.

What I most appreciate about my experiences in Brooklyn is the wonderful education system that I benefited from. I still remember practically all of the teachers that I had at P.S. 179. Kindergarten was Mrs. Barry, then Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Singer, Mrs. Morber, Mrs. Avedon, Mrs. Issacs, and Mr. Nelson. I remember Mr. Heller read to us and Ms. Leanza taught a course in opera. I love the culture that I was taught. In addition to opera, many of the faculty members were Jewish and we always enjoyed ethnic foods and even ethnic song. I still remember Ms. Grossman singing a song entitled, "Zoom Gali-Gali." I guess most importantly, I learned the skills necessary to go on. I was reading well above grade level and doing just as well in math. I will always look back on my years at P.S. 179 with fond memories. I would love to revisit but it is hard to find the time.

My days at Ditmas J.H.S. will also be remembered throughout the years as fond times. Ditmas is where I was first introduced to the legal profession. Yes, I am an attorney. I was in the seventh grade and my class was given half a year of social studies and the other half was a course in legal studies. I absolutely loved the class and the teacher, Ms. Carol Distephano. One of my fondest memories is of myself and a small bunch of students preparing to visit an elementary school to "put on" a case. I knew, by the end of that semester, that I wanted to go into law.

I will also never forget the friend that I had in my social studies teacher, Ms. Beatrice DeSapio at Ditmas. She was a tough and demanding teacher but she was also an understanding person; someone I knew I could talk to. This, is, to me, the recipe for a wonderful teacher!

After the eighth grade, in 1986, my family moved to The Bronx. I hated the idea of moving and I resisted it all of the way. Brooklyn was all that I knew and all that I wanted to know. It was where my friends were; it was home. The move did bring about some wonderful things. Most of all, it was here, in The Bronx, where I met the boy who would grow up to become my loving husband, and for that, I am glad. However, the community was very different. The people were different. It was a different philosophy or something but people in Brooklyn were much more caring and involved. For that, Brooklyn will always hold a special place in my heart.

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