This October, junior and senior students in Spanish teacher William Luzzi’s 4H and AP Spanish classes organized a Day-of-the-Dead-inspired altar, or ofrenda, to honor former Lynbrook Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino who passed away in 2012. The Day of the Dead, also known as Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2; on this occasion, people commemorate their deceased loved ones and invite them back into the world of the living. Students took special care in preparing the ofrenda for Dr. Barbarino.
The process of assembling the ofrenda began with choosing a prominent spot in the school where everyone could see and visit the display. The open space in front of the staircase in the Alicemarie Bresnihan wing was chosen for this year’s ofrenda. Students were then tasked to ask teachers around the building to share a remarkable memory with Dr. Barbarino. “They brought [and shared] their ideas, trying to get an understanding of who he was as a person, what he meant to the [teachers] individually, what he meant to LHS, and what he meant to Lynbrook as a community,” Luzzi explained.
Students offered and signed up to bring several items to place on the altar that either represent Dr. Barbarino or are instrumental components of an ofrenda. Such items include candles (to light a path for the deceased souls to follow), incense (souls are drawn to the scent of the smoke), flowers (the vibrant colors and scents attract souls), photographs (encourage souls of loved ones to return), and more. Other personal items included a Lynbrook lacrosse jacket, as Dr. Barbarino was present at almost every sporting event, and a piano and a vinyl record to show his love for music. Junior Julia Quinn brought flowers to decorate the altar. “I learned that flowers symbolize the beauty of life and are used to decorate the ofrenda,” she said. Junior Samantha Marsiglia brought in incense. “Incenses are meant to guide the spirits back to the altar. It also cleanses the space,” Marsiglia explained.
On October 31, the ofrenda was nearly completed. Students added final touches and brought in food, such as Pan de Muertos, “Bread of the Dead” (a traditional orange-flavored bread baked for Dia de los Muertos). Then on the morning of November 1, the candles on the ofrenda were lit to mark the completion of this labor of love.
Later that afternoon, fifth-grade classes from West End Elementary School visited the ofrenda to learn about Dia de los Muertos and who Dr. Barbarino was. During this time, Luzzi explained the history behind the holiday, while the fifth graders took the opportunity to ask questions about the ofrenda and Dr. Barbarino; Luzzi’s junior and senior classes took part in helping answer their inquiries.“It was so cute to see the children and explain what an ofrenda is to them!” Quinn expressed.
Three years ago, Luzzi’s Spanish class decided to make an ofrenda dedicated to Princess Diana. However, Luzzi wanted to find a way to make this activity more intimate to the Lynbrook community. “My goal was to choose someone whom everyone would know, but it wouldn’t be too emotional. Last year, 2023, I thought of Dr. B. The activity kind of blossomed organically with students asking questions about who he was; it was then I decided to send them out to the teachers and learn about him from others. The ofrenda was such a hit last year that we decided to do it again this year, and I think it will now be a yearly tradition,” Luzzi shared.
