Obituary of Carmelo Michael Bennardo

The Long Island community mourns the passing of lifelong educator Carmelo Michael Bennardo. Carmelo was born in 1930 in Astoria, Queens, to Michael and Maria Bennardo, who emigrated from Sicily in search of a better life. The hard working first-generation Americans raised Carmelo, known to family, friends and co-workers as Michael, and his sister, Anne, and brother, Joseph, to believe in the American Dream and cherish the blessings of family. Carmelo remained close with his siblings throughout his life, while welcoming Anne’s husband, Jim, and their children, Thomas and Edward, as well as Joseph’s wife, Gloria, and their family of Mitchel, Vivian and Brian into the clan. After graduating Stuyvesant High School and City College, Carmelo went on to serve in the United States Army before continuing his life of service as a teacher and coach in the New York City schools. Carmelo then earned his Masters and Professional degree in Administration and took his unwavering passion and trademark work ethic to Long Island serving as District  Athletic Director and Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Plainview School District. Carmelo was joined on this wonderful personal and professional journey by his bride and lifelong partner, Sandra, who added immeasurable joy to his life. Carmelo and Sandra went on to live in Plainview and raised four children, who represented their greatest source of pride and joy in the world. The Bennardo children began with Michael Lawrence, now deceased, who became an attorney, before marrying Marie and raising Michael Joseph and Thomas. Carmelo was also blessed with his only daughter Laura, who he called “the rose among his thorns.” Laura grew up to become a teacher and married her husband Al, before raising Alfred, Christine, and Michael Ed in Albany, New York. Carmelo and Sandra then added son David to the family, who also went on to become an educator, marrying Jill, and bringing Tiana, Connor and Jenelle into the clan. “Plainview Bennardos” then rounded out the family with youngest son John, who owns Legacy Builders in New York City and lives in Cold Spring Harbor with his wife Michele and twins, Samantha and Zachary. Carmelo and Sandra considered their family as life‘s greatest blessing and were happiest when surrounded by their grandchildren, as well as great grandchildren Carina, Madeline, and Michael, who were born to grandson, Michael Joseph, and his wife Tara. Carmelo spent the vast majority of his professional life as an administrator in the very school district where he and Sandra lived, and he embraced the ideas of helping children while helping his own community flourish. Carmelo was universally respected for his cornerstone principles of loyalty, hard work, and service and passed these priceless “guiding lights” onto his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Carmelo was a teacher to the very core of his soul and whether in the classroom, boardroom, or Sunday dinner table was listening, learning, and teaching each and every day. In Carmelo’s world there was no greater privilege than teaching others and no greater gift than that of public education. Carmelo will be deeply missed by his family, school district, and community that he loved so very dearly, but his lessons of human decency and compassionate strength will endure through all that he touched during a life of family and service. Visitation will be held at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station on Sunday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM. A religious and military service will be held at the funeral home on Monday at 10:30 AM.