Obituary of Aurora Ronco Bernard

Aurora Ronco Bernard, 79 of Annandale, NJ, passed away on August 25, 2016 after a protracted illness. She is survived by her sister Lucille Fea, her daughter Aurora Bernard King and granddaughters Madison Aurora King and Carmen Elizabeth King. Aurora was born in 1937 in Newark, NJ and graduated with honors from Saint Vincent’s Academy, Newark NJ in 1954. In her youth she was an accomplished Accordionist, performing in variety shows and charity benefits throughout her grammar school and high school years. Aurora graduated from Montclair State Teachers College in 1958. An English major and Physical Education minor, she taught English and Physical Education in the West Orange School System. While teaching in West Orange, she also directed musical plays and dance recitals. She moved to Plainfield, NJ in 1963, and several years later began teaching Physical Education in the Edison Township School System. During her career in Edison she installed the Standards outlined in the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. She then introduced aerobic dancing to the curriculum a decade before it became a popular form of exercise. As a member of the Teacher’s Political Action Committee she interviewed candidates for political office and headed the Edison teachers efforts to elect Senator Bill Bradley. In 1977 she was elected Vice President of the Edison Township Education Association, and in 1979 she was elected PRESIDENT OF THE EDISON TOWNSHIP EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. During her tenure as President, she negotiated labor contracts called “benchmarks” by the New Jersey Education Association. She served as President until 1992 when she retired and moved to Annandale NJ. Family and Friends will gather on Monday, August 29, 2016 from 5 pm – 8 pm at Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31, Clinton, NJ. A Memorial Mass will be held 10 AM on Tuesday, August 30th at Saint Ann Church, 32 Main Street, Hampton, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ASPCA Tributes, 520 8th Ave, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or Memorial Sloan-Kettering Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 (www.mskcc.org).