By Nick Buglione
News of her passing sent shockwaves through the community, as parents, students and administrators alike mourned the loss and shared stories of Diton's compassion as a person and dedication as an educator.
"I have never in my life met someone that had such a love of life," said Deborah Coates, member of the East Meadow School District Board of Education. Coates, who was once a part of the W.T. Clarke PTSA, knew Diton well.
"She was just someone we admired and looked up to and yet she was just the type of person who didn't want to be recognized," she said. "You could walk into her office with the most minuscule problem and she treated it like it was the most serious thing."
Gail Widro, a parent whose children attended Clarke Middle School, called Diton a phenomenal principal and an even better person.
"She was just the kindest, most compassionate woman. She always had a smile on her face and a nice word for everybody," Widro said.
"The Clarke kids were her kids. Even after my youngest child graduated middle school, anytime she would see me she would always ask 'how's my Brian doing'."
Students were especially fond of Diton, recalling that they viewed her more as a friend than a principal. Antonia Diglio, 12, who recently completed the seventh grade at Clarke Middle School, remembered a particular instance when Diton assumed the roll of pal.
"We were in the bathroom and one of my friends was putting makeup on when she (Diton) walked in," Diglio said. "We were afraid we were going to get into trouble."
Rather than dole out the tongue lashing they all expected, Diton ordered the children to her office at lunch for an impromptu lesson on how to apply makeup.
"She was just a nice person all around," Diglio said. "She had a great personality. You didn't really consider her a principal she was more like a friend."
Diton leaves behind an incredible legacy of community service and education. Graduating from Brooklyn College, she went on to get her master's at Queens College. Receiving a full scholarship to attend Bank Street Principal's Institute, Diton eventually was granted a fellowship to NYU to pursue her doctorate in educational leadership.
Joining the East Meadow School District in 1993, she was named assistant principal of W.T. Clarke Middle School and in 1999 was promoted to principal.
Founder of the New York Metropolitan Service Learning Institute, Diton infused the service-learning program into the East Meadow School District and throughout New York and Long Island.
"She truly was one of the pioneers of that," said Leon Campo, assistant superintendant for finance and administration, who estimated that the service learning was introduced in the district about three years ago. "She took a very good school and turned it into an even more exceptional place. She really left behind a positive imprint."
Service learning is a program that seeks to integrate community service along with curriculum-based instruction. For instance, a middle school science class studying the environment might take water samples from a local waterway and analyze them for pollutants.
Rather than ending the lesson with the discovery of any toxins, the students would then perhaps write to local elected officials informing them of the problem and urging them to take action.
During Diton's tenure as principal, Clarke Middle School gained national attention when it received the highest honor from the President of the United States, making it a national service learning leader school. Clarke was only one of two schools in the state and 34 in the country to receive this distinction.
The East Meadow Board of Education chose to honor Diton's time at Clarke by renaming the library after her. The announcement was made at the June 20 meeting, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd.
"It was a very moving experience for the Board of Education," said Clement Grieco, then-president of the board, at the meeting. "This was the smallest thing we could do in appreciation of her great contributions."
Friends and colleagues of Diton emphasized her resiliency and dedication to her job, despite her long struggle with cancer. She never complained, many said, and right up to her final days assured everyone she was feeling 'fine'.
After finally succumbing to the illness, she was cremated and a private ceremony was held for her at the Fresh Pond Crematory.
Diton is survived by her husband of 20 years Paul Becker, her twin brother Jeff, sister-in-law Liz and nephews Rob and Matt.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, donations may be made to W.T. Clarke Middle School, East Meadow Public Schools, 740 Edgewood Dr., Westbury, NY 11590.
