IN LOVING MEMORY
FOREVER A PART OF OUR LIVES
“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.
Unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.”
In Memoriam
FullBloom honors our family members and partners who have passed away from COVID-19. Our mission – to provide better life outcomes for children with learning obstacles or other challenges – is only made possible because of the selfless who commit themselves to helping others. Their impact will be felt in the lives of the children and families they’ve inspired, and the friends and loved ones they leave behind.
We honor the lives of, and impact made by, the following members of the FullBloom family:
Sydney Sue Thacker
Sydney, a cherished member of our teaching staff in Okeechobee, Florida, passed away on 1/10 due to complications from COVID-19. While with Catapult Learning, Sydney was a dedicated, patient, and kind teacher, and a team player willing to help anyone. From a young age, Sydney had a passion for teaching. Prior to earning her degree in elementary education, Sydney brought energy to her classrooms as a substitute teacher. Sydney went on to teach for more than 10 years, and in 2020 she graduated with her master’s degree in reading education. She was known for her rapport with students and their families, and she engaged students through laughter and singing, building their confidence, and supporting their success. Sydney was also active in the community—she was a member of her church choir and a Girl Scout troop leader. Sydney shared with her family how much it meant to her to be a part of Catapult Learning, working with students, and dedicating herself to their individual needs. She will be deeply missed by her family, community, coworkers, and the students she served.
Arnold Carrington “Mr. C”
Our colleague Arnold Carrington passed away on 6/1 from Coronavirus. Affectionately known by staff and students as “Mr. C”, he served as a 1:1 Aide and Assistant Teacher at the High Road Program at Ferguson in Philadelphia since August 2018. Arnold dedicated over thirty years of his life to working in schools, typically with the most disadvantaged population of students. He possessed many qualities that truly embody the spirit of FullBloom and our programs – passion, dedication, and a deep caring for all students. Arnold devoted much of his spare time volunteering at a number of charitable foundations around the city of Philadelphia. Through his relationship with the Urban Affairs Coalition, Arnold organized Thanksgiving food drives for underprivileged students and families. Over the past two years he ensured that over 25 High Road families had a Thanksgiving meal. Mr. C truly made an impact in the lives of students and their families, and for that we thank him. We keep his family, friends, and co-workers in our thoughts.
Dominick Barardo
Our own Dominick Barardo passed away on 4/2 from Coronavirus after a brief hospitalization. Dominick was with Catapult Learning for almost 17 years. In his role as Maintenance Manager, he did the “heavy lifting” supporting our supervisors in the Lakewood community, setting up and taking down their classrooms each year and making all the on-going material deliveries, among many other things. We serve thousands of students in Lakewood each year and Dominick was instrumental in making it happen. He will be missed. We thank Dominick for his contribution to the community and our organization, and we keep his family, friends, and co-workers in our thoughts.
Jimmy Ramos
Team member Jimmy Ramos passed away on 4/14 from Coronavirus. Jimmy was a bilingual instructor in our Houston public school program teaching Spanish Reading. He was a caring, passionate educator with a wealth of knowledge and a great sense of humor. We first met Jimmy as a Catapult Learning partner, where he served as a principal in the Houston Archdiocese. He later came to work for Catapult so he could continue to make an impact in the lives of children. We are so grateful that he did. Jimmy was up for any challenge, always had a smile on his face, and went above and beyond to ensure a brighter future for his students. Jimmy will be sincerely missed by all those whose lives he impacted. We keep his family, friends and co-workers in our thoughts.