There were shouts of delight and laughter at the UFT New Retiree Luncheon on Nov. 22 from three members who hadn’t realized the event would be a reunion 33 years in the making.

Alison Shepherd, Judy Forbes and Jill Mimaran all started teaching at PS 202 in East New York, Brooklyn, in 1989. Shepherd and Mimaran taught at the school for 33 years while Forbes retired from MS 318 in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Erica Berger

A line dance class from the Bronx Si Beagle Learning Center entertains at the Nov. 29 luncheon with a group called Keep It Moving.

“I did not know that they retired the same time as I did,” Forbes said as she caught up with her former colleagues during the reception at the New York Hilton Midtown.

The three retirees were among 600 members who attended the Nov. 22 event to celebrate their retirements between September 2021 and August 2022. One week later, another luncheon was held for the 800 members who retired between September 2019 and August 2021 — a time when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented large events.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew congratulated everyone for reaching “the promised land” after so many years of hard work, perseverance and dedication in New York City public schools.

“How many people get to say that during my lifetime, I helped thousands of children get to a better place in life?” he asked at the Nov. 22 luncheon.

Erica Berger

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy congratulates new retirees at the Nov. 22 luncheon.

Mulgrew encouraged the retirees to stay active in the union. “I don’t really like talking about politics, but we don’t have a choice,” he said. “When people try to use our profession for their own political gain, when they try to demonize teachers for political strategies, we have no choice but to stand up because we’re not going to allow that to happen.”

Retired Teachers Chapter Leader Tom Murphy had some simple advice for retirees: “Let it go.” Whether it is anger over a letter a principal was wrong to put in their personnel file or frustration about not getting a class preference they deserved, it no longer matters. He mentioned a former colleague at Tottenville HS on Staten Island who retired 15 years ago and still eats lunch during fifth period.

“Now let me tell you, you can eat lunch any period you want to, so don’t worry about that,” he said as the crowd erupted in laughter.

Retirees at both events cited a variety of reasons why they decided to call it a career.

Clifton Sherman, who retired from PS 306 in East New York, Brooklyn, said he felt it was time to move on after 31 years of teaching. “I was teaching the grandchildren of the children I had in my early years,” he said. “I had a feeling that I had done what I had set out to do — give back to the community, especially in a minority community which was underserved.”

Cindy Peng retired from her job as an English as a new language teacher at Long Island City HS in 2020, just after the pandemic started. After a pandemic-induced pause, she has been able to indulge her love of travel. This year, she has taken an Alaska cruise, gone island hopping in Greece and visited her parents in Taiwan. She also has been working on her wellness, with yoga, swimming and weight lifting.

Lori Spector, who retired from PS 48 in Washington Heights in November 2019, has been working in a community early-intervention program to keep busy. She recently returned from visiting relatives in Israel and said she was “really starting to enjoy retirement.”

Spector was a special education teacher and a chapter leader at PS 48. “I loved being a chapter leader; I loved getting involved,” she said. “I’m very pro-union. That I really miss.”

Hector Romero, a paraprofessional who retired from JHS 220 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, in September after 31 years of service, said he plans to take care of his health and spread his love of music. “I would like to see if I could open up a place and teach guitar,” he said.

Earl Fuller, who retired in 2020 after 38 years as a paraprofessional, spoke for many when he said that retirement agrees with him.

He can meet up with friends whenever he wants, go shopping or even visit his old school – MS 668 in Brownsville, Brooklyn – to say hello.

“I don’t have to get up early anymore,” he said with a smile.