Librarian's Death a 'Big Loss' for Hopatcong

The last time Joan McCormack read to Danielle Kovach's class, in January, she read about Martin Luther King Jr.

"Which is ironic," Kovach said. "Because [King] was also reflection of Mrs. McCormack. So loving. So peaceful. It was a fitting way for her … we didn't know it would be the last book she would read to my students."

McCormack, a librarian in the Hopatcong school district for 27 years, died at Morristown Memorial Hospital on May 16. She was 79.

Kovach's third-grade special-education class will honor McCormack for her service 2 p.m. Thursday at . The 12 students will head outside during their library time and release white balloons with the names of their favorite books into the sky.

"For us to not do anything would certainly be an injustice for her because she touched so many lives," Kovach said. "My students had her as a librarian. They want to honor her and pay respect for her and the work she did in our district."

Stacy Yanko, a Hopatcong educational support professional, worked closely with McCormack over the last three years. Yanko said she might get emotional during the gesture.

"It's been rough because not only was she my mentor, but she was my friend," Yanko said. "So I know that it will be hard, but it fills my heart that Danielle and her students want to do something to remember her. I know that would mean so much to her. I know that will be a sad but happy time."

Tulsa Trail Principal Joanne Mullane said McCormack "encouraged a love of reading."

"I know she loved working with children," Mullane said. "That was apparent. She was very passionate in her work."

Born in Whippany, McCormack received her bachelor's degree in library science and education from Kean University before joining Hopatcong. She loved spending time at her Point Pleasant home, being with family and trying new things, according to her May 18 obituary.

McCormack spent the last two years at Hopatcong's only librarian after budget cuts forced the district to trim library staff. Each of its five schools has a library.

Yanko likened McCormack to the tree in Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree," a character whose only concern was the happiness and health of a child.

"She was just was a very genuine person and she truly loved coming to work every day," Yanko said. "It was really the students that she enjoyed. She called herself a teacher-librarian. She loved to teach them and she truly, truly was interested in any information or any stories or anything that they ever wanted to share. She would listen to them and would take the time to really appreciate not just the students but all people for what they were."

Yanko said McCormack taught students that they could do anything.

"She also learned from them," Yanko said. "She truly instilled in them the importance of reading and the fun you can have in the library.

"I can't say enough about her. It's been a big loss for the district, for her family, for her friends."

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