Johanna E.

Veiga

Johanna Estelle Veiga, 88, a retired New Jersey educator, guidance counselor, and substance abuse counselor died at home on May 24 of respiratory failure surrounded by her extended family. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, she lived in New Jersey and New York City. Upon her retirement she settled in East Hampton in 1989.

Johanna received her Bachelor's degree in 1953 from New Jersey's Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene. Her early teaching career included not only physical education and hygiene, but also New Jersey history.

In 1957 she joined the physical education staff of the New Providence, New Jersey, School District. There, she taught both elementary and high school level physical education where she developed and implemented the girl's physical education curriculum. She was advisor to the cheerleaders and the girl's athletic association, which included intramural and interschool programs.

Subsequently, Johanna chose to teach on the high school level, and joined the physical education staff of New Providence High School, where she remained until her retirement in June of 1987. At New Providence she developed an effective Leaders Program through which students were trained to assist other students in development of physical skills.

In 1975 the school administration requested that Johanna participate in the Family Training Program, designed to develop better understanding and more effective communication between parents and children. She, along with several parents, organized, implemented, and monitored this program in the New Providence community.

In 1979 Johanna received a Master's degree in Pupil Personnel Services from Jersey City State College, and in 1981 she became a member of the Guidance Department of New Providence High School. After having served two years as a counselor, Johanna began training to become the District's first substance abuse counselor. Her training was initiated at Community Intervention Inc., in Minneapolis in 1983. That same year she revised and implemented the District's policies and procedures for a student assistance program called the Chemical Health Assistance Program or CHAP. The substance abuse counselor became known as the I CARE Counselor (Intervention-Chemical Assistance Resource Educator). Johanna also outlined procedures that formed the basis for the District's policy on suicide.

Johanna maintained membership in the School Chemical Health and Intervention Professionals Association (SCHIPA) of Union County and the New Jersey Association of Student Assistance Professionals (NJASAP). In that capacity her responsibility was to define types of memberships for the new organization. She also served on the Public Relations Committee of NJASAP. In preparation for the First Annual NJASAP Conference in October 1986, Johanna assumed an active role as a member of the Planning Committee, as co-chair of the Registration Committee and as coordinator of the production and distribution of NJASAP literature for the conference.

Johanna was a respected, devoted teacher, loved by her students, their parents, and the New Providence High School administration and teaching staff.

She is survived by her sister, Claire Minarck, her niece Colleen Moore, her nephew Michael Minarck, her Great Aunt, many cousins, Kelly Foran, whom she considered as a daughter, Kelly's husband Sean, their daughter Grace, whom she considered as a granddaughter, and her companion for 45 years, Carol Crasson, as well as many friends.

She was an avid gardener, enjoyed carpentry, and had a great fondness for East Hampton, the ocean and the bay. There will be a memorial gathering in East Hampton and New Jersey at a later date.

Donations in her name can be made to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978-7048