St. Stephen's teacher retires after 35 years in education

Barbara Limberg recognized for affecting the lives of 'hundreds and hundreds of children’ WARWICK - Barbara Limberg, a Catholic educator for 35 years, will retire this month from St. Stephen’s - St. Edward’s elementary school in Warwick, where she has taught since 1984. Limberg, who currently teaches grade 2 and has also served as assistant to the Religious Education Program for the past 10 years, was recently honored at a Mass and reception held on Sunday, June 12. “Barbara has been a fantastic teacher and we love her very much,” said Father Michael McLoughlin, pastor of the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr. “She has affected the lives of hundreds and hundreds of children.” After Mass, many of those same children, past and present, assembled on the steps of the altar to sing a couple of the same songs, such as, “Fifty Nifty,” a memory aid for the names of all the states that Limberg had taught to every class. During the reception Limberg was presented with gifts as principals and teachers, past and present, praised her for her service. “I want to thank her for being one of the finest teachers I’ve ever worked with,” said current Principal Mary Lou Moccia. “It’s been a wonderful 14 years that I’ve spent with her.” Limberg, then Barbara Brennan, was raised in the Parkchester area of the Bronx, where she attended St. Raymond’s elementary and high schools. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Mercy College and her master’s degree in education at Mount St. Vincent College in Riverdale. In 1986, her husband, New York City Police Lt. Joseph L. Limberg, was killed in an automobile accident. It was left to Barbara to raise their three daughters: Amy, Beth and Meg, while commuting daily from her home in Washingtonville to St. Stephen’s in Warwick. She soon earned a reputation for arriving early and leaving late. “I loved working here,” said Limberg who, other than spending more time with her grandchildren, has no particular plans for retirement. Limberg loves to hear from former students who credit her teaching skills and some of her unique methods for their success in higher education. “I ran into one of my students, a high school senior,” she said, “and he told me that he recently had a problem remembering the name of a particular state for a Regents examination. But then he recalled the words to 'Fifty Nifty,” and that gave him the answer he needed.”

I ran into one of my students, a high school senior, and he told me that he recently had a problem remembering the name of a particular state for a Regents examination. But then he recalled the words to 'Fifty Nifty,’ and that gave him the answer he needed.” Barbara Limberg, who is retiring from St. Stephen’s - St. Edward’s elementary school in Warwick after 35 years as a Catholic educator