Former West New York Superintendent of Schools John Fauta passed away yesterday, his widow Georgina Rey announced on Facebook. 
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I write to notify you that my husband John Fauta peacefully entered eternal life this morning,” Rey wrote on Sunday.
“John was my rock, my best friend, and the best father anyone could have for our daughter Irene. Please keep him in your prayers.”
A U.S. Marine captain who served during the Vietnam War era, Fauta, 77, worked in the West New York Board of Education for 22 years before retiring effective July 1st, 2015, which he exclusively told HCV at the time in the midst of rumors he’d be resigning.
“To be honest with you, a superintendent is only as good as the teachers, administrators, and staff that support the district,” he said at the time.
” … Honestly, I have no regrets, John. I’ve had a wonderful staff of assistants up here who have helped me guide this district. I have no regrets. If I had to do it again, I’d have done it the same way.”
Fauta had previously served as a social studies teacher, assistant athletic director, basketball coach, track coach, a class advisor for the National Honors Society, the vice principal of student personnel services at Memorial High School, head of the guidance department, and the principal of No. 3 School, and assistant superintendent of schools.
In 2011, the West New York Public Schools received the AP District of the Year Award under Fauta’s leadership.
“I was able to work with John Fauta for my first few years on the school board. It was a surreal opportunity to work with the superintendent who oversaw the district when I was a student,” said Revenue and Finance Commissioner Adam Parkinson, a longtime board of education president who served as vice president while Fauta was the schools chief.
“I learned so much about how to be an effective board member under his tenure. With over 20 years of service to the West New York School District, his loss is impactful. My thoughts are with his family as we remember John.”
🙏🙏🕯🕯❤️🌹🌹🌹
Rest In Heavenly Peace
This is very sad news. My condolences to John’s wife and daughter.
I had the pleasure of knowing and working with John when he was Superintendent of Schools when I was elected to the school board. He was, literally, an officer and a gentleman, and a scholar. His resignation was a loss for the school district and the board and he was missed when he left.
John Heinis said it well: you were one of the good ones, John. Rest in peace.