Anita Seminara, activist, teacher, wife and mother, dies

Anita Seminara, a well-known teacher and community leader in Bay Ridge, died on May 20. Born on August 24, 1930, Anita graduated from Bay Ridge High School and Brooklyn College.

A math teacher, she taught for many years at McKinley Junior High School, though she also taught for a while in Arkansas where she followed her husband, Joseph Seminara, a JAG attorney stationed in Fort Smith.

Joe and Anita were both active in many Bay Ridge organizations. Anita served on the board of the Bay Ridge Day Nursery and in the Bay Ridge Forum, where she served one term as president and was known for her participation in the roasts that the forum used to hold.

Born to Peter and Mary Garofalo, sister to the late Frank Garofalo, she was the mother of four. Her eldest, Joanne, is also a well-known community leader, who has served on Community Board 10 for 22 years, three years as chair, and who is the Democratic female state committeewoman of the 64th AD.

Her other three children, Juliette Campasano, Joseph and Frank Seminara all live in New Jersey. Frank is also known in the community because after attending Xaverian and Columbia, he became a major league pitcher, playing for the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets.

Anita Seminara will be waked at Clavin Funeral Home on Saturday and Sunday, and funeral services will be held at St. Andrew the Apostle RC Church, 6713 Ridge Boulevard, on Monday at 10:30 a.m.

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