Memorial dedicated to former East Meadow H.S. teacher
Ken Mushorn remembered by family, friends, former colleagues and students
Friends, family members, former colleagues and students gathered on an overcast summer morning to celebrate the dedication of a memorial for the late Ken Mushorn, a beloved teacher and coach at East Meadow High School.
An emotional ceremony, conducted on July 23 in the EMHS courtyard, focused on Mushorn's colorful personality and the legacy he left behind as a teacher, coach and family man.
"The turnout here is indicative of who Ken was and what he meant to all of us," said brother-in-law Richard Reck. "His caring, his humor, his passion for being a grandfather and devotion for his family was quite
evident."
The event was held a day before the one-year anniversary of Mushorn's death on July 24, 2009. Mushorn, who taught at East Meadow from 1964 to 1999, died at the age of 66 after a long battle with kidney cancer.
With assistance from the East Meadow School District and EMHS Principal Richard Howard, the Mushorn family built a memorial that includes a tree, a plaque, plants and two benches signifying the life of the man known for devoting himself to his family, students and players throughout the years.
Leading the ceremony was Ken Mushorn's daughter, Michele Mushorn-Ungania and her husband, Mark Ungania, along with her brother, Michael Mushorn and his wife, Jackie. Standing with her children was Ken's wife, Rosanne Mushorn and their four grandchildren — Brianna and Nicholas Ungania and Emily and Zachary Mushorn.
Ken Mushorn, who taught history at EMHS, coached the bowling and softball teams to multiple county, Long Island and state championships. His other hobbies included, reading, e-mailing, railroading, puzzling, gardening and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.
The memorial sits a few feet from the EMHS greenhouse, where Mushorn was known for starting the plants he would later transfer to the garden at his Seaford home.
