Carvo, Margaret

Born June 1, 1920 Brooklyn, NY. Parents Carmine and Carmella Cava, brothers Nicholas and Edward. In 1927 the Cava family moved to Central Park where her father, a pharmacist, opened a pharmacy on Broadway, and the family lived above the store.

Education: Powell Avenue School to the 8th grade, Farmingdale High School, St John's University College of Pharmacy. In 1941, she was one of three women designated to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. Margaret interned as hospital pharmacist at St. Mary's Hospital and she continued to work with her father as a pharmacist.

During World War II William T. Schwendler, Vice President of the Grumman Corporation, was faced with the loss of engineering personnel, and he offered Margaret the opportunity to be trained as an apprentice engineer. Margaret accepted the challenge and after extensive theoretical and "hands on" training she was offered a position in the experimental engineering department. With this assignment came the distinction of being the first women to work in this department.

Margaret married Joseph Carvo, a classmate in pharmacy, and subsequently they assumed ownership of the Bethpage Harts Pharmacy. They had two children: Carol Pappas, former teacher in the Plainedge Schools, and Dr. Michael Carvo, a family practitioner in Farmingdale. At the age of 40 Margaret returned to college and started a new career in the field of education and she taught grades 1 - 12. Over the years she was and adjunct assistant professor of reading on the graduate level at Hofstra University, as well as, a clinician in the Hofstra Reading Clinic. She lent her talents as a Reading and Learning Disabilities Consultant in the Syosset School District, diagnostician and consultant at Mill Neck School for the Deaf, she provided inservice training and consulting for several Long Island schools. Margaret was a featured speaker at the International College Reading Association Conventions, recipient of an award from the Nassau Chapter of the Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, she received recognition from the Kappa Delta Pi for outstanding service in education. Margaret has authored books of methodologies for use with children with special needs.

After Margaret's retirement from the formal work world, she remained active as a consultant and speaker. She became active in Local organizations and held office in the Central Civic Association and the Central Park Historical Society. On Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1991, the New York State Museum invited Margaret, as a WWII worker, to speak at the opening of their new exhibit "The Janes Who Made The Planes: Grumman during World War II." Margaret was also honored by St John's University to be the sole recipient of the Class of 1941 to receive the "Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award."

Margaret died on August 16, 2002. Internment in Pinelawn Memorial Park. She was predeceased in l988 by her husband Joseph.