There is a great loss to our school community, as we have lost Mr. Cerdan. He served many roles in Passaic Schools, including as a Parent Liaison at schools number 7 and 19. As a paraprofessional, he worked for the welfare of the students of PHS. Those who knew Mr. Cerdan were able to see his commitment to the students and families of Passaic. He was a constant advocate for the students, and he was a great man to work with. Some of those who knew him best shared a few memories of this tireless advocate for students and an all-around great friend.
“Mr. Steve always had a story to tell and boy could he tell it. Coupled with his humor and serving heart, he was a joy to be around and delightful to work with. He was an ‘unsung’ hero that did not get half of the recognition that he deserved… .”
– Mrs. Roach
“Thinking about his laugh and facial expression brings a smile to my face. Working with him was a joy. Wow, did he have a heart for the students and make things happen! He had an even bigger heart for the children he fostered. God bless his soul.”– Mrs. Torres
“ ...I did see Steve in action one day. As I provided a day of administrative coverage at the school where the secretary was also absent, in a short time frame he displayed many ways he served other with care and action with solutions during a little hectic star of a school day with unexpected challenges. He simultaneously answered phones, helped ensure that a class had a sub, explained the day’s plan to me and some of the operations. He did this while welcoming and helping parents and helping young students get to where they needed to be… .”– Mr. Acevedo
“I remember when Steve would say: ‘This is not Mr. Cerdan talking to Mrs. Torres-Gomez...this is Steve talking to Jeannette… .”– Mrs. Torres-Gomez
“Steve was a very caring person who loved his kids. He was a gentle person who advocated for our students. I will always remember our conversations about how we can help our students.”– Mrs. Presto
“You never heard the following sentence in the history of time: Hey, is Cerdan here? If Steve was in a room, you knew it. He was a presence and a force of nature. You knew he was in the room because you heard him and if you didn’t hear him, you felt his energy. He was a giant personality who was passionate about our kids. You never had to ask what he was feeling because honesty was his default setting. And he swung his truth like it was a blunt instrument. It’s what I appreciated about him most. And if you needed to be checked, he was there for the checking and did it enthusiastically. …”– Mr. Martinez
“I remember meeting Steve for the first time during a mediation dispute. During the early 2000’s PHS had a peer mediation program. I was so impressed by the skills he demonstrated. He skillfully diffused a very tense situation. I learned so much from this young man. I came to respect him as a valued colleague.”– Mr. Bian
