By Tim Cho
Student Life & Web Editor

A living legend, Al Durante walks the halls of Carl Sandburg Middle School and has influenced over three generations of students. Recognized by students and adults as one of the kindest people they ever knew, Durante has also been recognized by the community, both by students and adults.

Every year, a Carl Sandburg student receives the Al Durante Service Award for their contribution to the community in honor of Durante’s own community contributions. Kennith Gurysh, former math teacher at Carl Sandburg and currently at Neshaminy High School, recalls how, “every year when they present the Al Durante Service Award, you see how humble and caring he is and how crazy the student body gets when they introduce him!”

Standing outside the front entrance every morning, Durante greets every person that enters the middle school. He reminds students how wonderful they are and how lucky he is to be able to know them. “He is arguably the kindest man to ever walk the earth,” Gurysh said.

Staci Speece, Spanish teacher, at Neshaminy High School, remembers attending Carl Sandburg and seeing Durante every morning.  “I’ve known Mr. Durante for 13 years now. I met him as a 6th grader at Sandburg and really looked forward to seeing him every day as a student there. He was always so positive and cheery, and always had something nice to say about everyone.”

Community members reciprocate Durante’s love for others; many have described him as caring, kind, affable, honest, and steadfast. “His smiling face and his awesome, ‘I love yous,’ that he gave every morning made everyone feel great about themselves,” Carl Sandburg alum, Kelly Sauer, said.

Rhianna Mabin, Neshaminy High School sophomore, shared memories of Durante while she attended Carl Sandburg. “He is so caring. He is always giving and reminding people to smile, he shines light on everyone’s life he passes through and he is truly one of the best men I have ever met.”

“I was new to the district in sixth grade and on the first day I had no clue what I was doing or where I was going and I remember Mr. Durante helping me out with what to do, he was there for me since my first day at Neshaminy,” Mabin recalls.

Teresa Bidwell, 51, Cobalt Ridge native and current Redrose resident, has known Durante’s daughter, Cheryl Durante, since kindergarten, but remembers Durante since their earlier years; “He was always smiling, out there waving  to everyone, especially saying, ‘Hi gang’ even if there was only two people hanging out.”

Anita Rubin Getz, family friend of 44 years, remembers being Durante’s paper girl and his kind behavior, especially how, “he always talked to me…even when collecting; always made me feel comfortable, and leave with a smile; always took the time to chat, even if just for a few minutes.”

One of Durante’s daughters, Donna Durante, attributes his kindness to his love and how he, “truly loves everyone and…it’s wonderful that they [the students] can get it at Sandburg; he truly does change their lives and I couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Many admire Durante and strive to be like him, including Speece. “The mark he has left on generation after generation of students is something I want to do as well. He teaches us to stay humble when we’re at our highest points and to stay hopeful when we reach our lowest of points,” she said.

Durante’s response to public opinion of him does not do justice to the kindness he radiates; “I love them and they bring me great joy. I am truly blessed to still be working at Carl Sandburg Middle School, it is an amazing school with amazing students and staff. [I] hope that I can work there another ten years.”