Long Island Teacher Dies In Skiing Accident In Vermont

KILLINGTON, VT — A teacher from Mepham High School in Bellmore was killed over the weekend after a skiing accident in Vermont, according to police, leaving behind a wife and young daughter. Jason Vitale, 48, of Baldwin, was skiing on an intermediate slope at Killington Ski Resort when he lost control and hit a tree, Vermont State Police reported. Police said he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Vitale was taken down the mountain by the Killington Ski Patrol and went into cardiac arrest on his way to the hospital, where he later died.

Vitale was a science teacher at the school.

"Jason was a well-respected science teacher at Mepham High School," Superintendent John DeTommaso said in a statement. "He cared about kids and families and will be missed by the entire Bellmore-Merrick community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Vitale family."

Vitale was also active in his community of Baldwin. He was the chair of the Baldwin Civic Association's Quality of Life Committee, which sought to make sure Baldwin's businesses and parks were clean. He had been involved in the Civic Association since its founding.

A life-long Long Islander, Vitale grew up in Merrick and attended the University at Buffalo and Stony Brook University. He started teaching in 1998. He was also a member of the Baldwin chapter of the Knights of Columbus.

Vitale is survived by his wife Jennifer, daughter Katherine, parents Glen Vitale and Patricia Napoli, brother Michael Napoli, step-parents Michael Napoli and Debbie Vitale, in-laws Joseph and Jane Teta, nieces Juliet, Lily, Elle and Bryn, and brother-in-law David Teta.

There will be a wake at Fullerton Funeral Home at 769 Merrick Road in Baldwin on Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at St. Christopher's Roman Catholic Church in Baldwin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by an interment at Greenfield Cemetery in Uniondale.

In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made in Vitale's name to the Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center of Huntington.