West Babylon Schools Says Goodbye to Five Retiring Teachers

Five teachers with a combined 147 years of service to the West Babylon Union Free School District retired with the close of the 2011-2012 school year. Their contributions to the district represent a combined 147 years of service.

The retirees include Lynn Bermont, an art teacher who started in 1986; Paul Bryan, an art teacher who also started in 1986; James Lynch, who started as a Social Studies teacher in 1964 before becoming the assistant principal of the high school in 1996; Patricia Tomeo, a part-time Health and Social Studies teacher from 1997 to 2003 before becoming a full-time teacher in the latter in 2003; and Diane Wolff, a Special Education teacher who started in 1980.

With 48 years of service to the West Babylon UFSD, James Lynch retires with the most seniority. Lynch began his teaching career in West Babylon in 1964. During his nearly half-century career in West Babylon, he taught social studies in both the junior and senior high schools. Although he was named Teacher of the Year by the Town of Babylon in 1995, Mr. Lynch’s commitment to the district was not limited to the classroom. Throughout his tenure, he also coached football, lacrosse, baseball and basketball.

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In 1972, he was named West Babylon's varsity basketball coach, a position he held for 24 years, accumulating nearly 300 wins. He was named League Coach of the Year seven times, as well as Coach of the Year for Suffolk County, Long Island, New York State and the tri-state area. He served as vice president of the Suffolk County Coaches Association and was honored with the President's Award for lifetime achievement in 2006.

Lynch donned the title of administrator for 20 years, serving as a dean of students and assistant principal. He chaired numerous educational committees, including the Governor's Award for Excellence committee, which resulted in the Silver Award for Excellence being presented to West Babylon in 1998 – the highest honor awarded that year. Serving as the president of the West Babylon Administrators’ Association for four years, Lynch was honored by BOCES as an Administrator of the Year in 2012.

"The district is grateful to all of the retirees who gave of themselves in the spirit of helping the students," said a statement by West Babylon Schools. The statement said the teachers continued "enhancing programs and making the West Babylon School District the special place that it is."