Emotional street renaming ceremony held for beloved Farmingdale High School educators
News 12's Thema Ponton was in Farmingdale for the heartwarming street renaming ceremony at the high school for two educators killed in a bus crash last year.
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Two streets by Farmingdale High School are now renamed in honor of Gina Pellettiere and Beatrice Ferrari.
Pellettiere, the high school's band director and Ferrari, a retired teacher and band chaperone, were killed last year, when the band's bus crashed down an embankment in Wawayanda, on its way to a band camp in Pennsylvania.
Forty students were also injured.
Tuesday's emotional street renaming ceremony was held on the football field and was attended by members of Pellettiere's and Ferrari's families, the marching band, the school community and elected officials.
10th Avenue in Farmingdale is now also known as Gina Pellettiere Way.
Paul Defendini, Farmingdale's superintendent, tells News 12 the street was chosen because it is right in front of the band room.
Defendini says 11th Avenue, which is now also known as Beatrice Ferrari Way, was chosen because it intersects with the street she lived on.
"Gina was the 'Pied Piper' for our band program here in Farmingdale and Bea Ferrari was the Grandma of the marching band, she's been around since I was in high school," said Defendini.
