Stony Lane Renames and Dedicates Playground to Beloved Late Teacher

The late Pamela J. Lemoi left a powerful mark on the community of children, parents and educators at Stony Lane Elementary School in North Kingstown through her compassion, understanding and mastery of the craft of teaching.

Though her imprint will live on in the hearts and minds of countless former students and colleagues, the community wanted to make a permanent, physical memorial to honor the beloved Lemoi, who died last year after a brief battle with cancer.

That desire led to a grass roots effort to rename the school’s new playground after Lemoi and it finally came together on Friday during a brief but meaningful ceremony at the school. And it was just how she would have wanted: children playing together on the new equipment, laughing, enjoying a beautiful afternoon at their school.

A kindergarten teacher at the school since 2002, Lemoi is credited with helping get the initial push to replace the playground off the ground a few years ago.

The fundraising effort resulted in $100,000 to fund the new playground. In a letter to the Town Council, which approved the name change earlier this year, ”We were constantly inspired by one of our teachers — Ms. Pamela Lemoi,” wrote Janine Patil, PTO vice president in a letter to the North Kingstown Town Council. “I remember Ms. Lemoi sharing with me stories of when her children were younger and that she had led the charge for building a new playground at their school. Ms. Lemoi was an inspiration to our entire committee and propelled the project into its end stages.”

Lemoi won the North Kingstown Teacher of the Year award in 2011.

To this day, through lasting memories, Lemoi continues to teach important lessons and those she left behind feel honored to make sure that her loving spirit is kept alive at Stony Lane.

“Ms. Lemoi truly is Stony Lane’s Teaching Treasure,” Patil said.

Photo Courtesy: Laura Pisaturo