Katie Duval Captures Steve Tribus Memorial Scholarship
When Huntington School District teachers and administrators learned that retired Assistant Superintendent Steven Tribus had unexpectedly passed away on January 28, 2013, his former colleagues were stunned and saddened.
A consummate professional who was proud of his chosen career, Mr. Tribus took delight in his time in the Huntington School District, interacting with teachers, students and parents effortlessly and making notable contributions toward initiatives designed to improve the quality of classroom instruction.
Mr. Tribus was just 69 years old at the time of his passing. His family quickly resolved to create a scholarship in his honor and earmarked the award for a graduating Huntington senior intending to study English in college and become a teacher.
The inaugural recipient of the $1,000 Steve Tribus Memorial Scholarship was Anna Garfinkel, one of the leading members of Huntington’s Class of 2014. She is set to enter her sophomore year at Skidmore College, where she is pursuing English education studies in preparation for a teaching career.
This year’s Tribus scholarship honoree is Katie Duval, whose key to success has been a genuine love for knowledge, which was guided and focused by her family and teachers. While the teenager is fond of every academic area, she discovered a particular passion for literature.
Ms. Duval is headed to Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she plans to major in literature. She has enjoyed the tightknit community that comprises Huntington High School. The teenager said she “loves how supportive the school is over everyone’s differences and how everyone looks out for one another.”
A participant in the League of Women Voters’ Shadow a Legislature conference in Albany, Ms. Duval served as co-editor of The Dispatch student newspaper as a junior and senior.
Joseph Leavy, Huntington’s chairperson of humanities, 7-12 and English teacher Michael Schwendemann presented the Tribus scholarship to Ms. Duval at the high school senior academic awards ceremony in June.
Steve Tribus a longtime educator
Steven Tribus earned a BA in history at Hofstra University and a master’s degree in administration and supervisor at St. John’s University. He came to Huntington in January 1995 and retired June 30, 2000. The final months of his career in the district were spent serving as interim superintendent, following the departure of Kevin Colpoys.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Tribus was residing with his wife, Marilyn in Henderson, Nevada, near Las Vegas. A member of Far Rockaway High School’s Class of 1961, he participated in the school’s 119th commencement exercises on Thursday, June 29, 1961. He received the Henry Koslan Memorial Medal for excellence in health education.
Steven Charles Tribus began his career in 1965 as an English teacher at Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. In 1973 he moved to Grover Cleveland High School in Queens, where he worked as an assistant principal and English department faculty member.
In 1982, Mr. Tribus was promoted to director of English, K-12 for the New York City public schools, a post he served in until 1991 when he was named director of curriculum and program development for New York City.
A talented high school pitcher at Far Rockway and a baseball fan his entire life, Mr. Tribus was given tryouts by the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies organizations. The retired educator also enjoyed playing golf and was a wine enthusiast. Traveling was another favorite pastime, as Mr. Tribus and his wife of 45 years traveled throughout the world, taking delight in experiencing different cultures.
A funeral service was held for Mr. Tribus on January 31 at King David Chapel in Las Vegas with interment immediately following. In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Craig (Melissa) Tribus of Henderson, NV and Evan (Alison) Tribus of Montclair NJ; and grandchildren Jaelyn and Jordyn Tribus of Henderson.
Mr. Tribus would surely have enjoyed meeting and conversing with Ms. Duval, delighting in discussing their joint passion of literature.