Ana Virginia Ortiz
Ana Virginia Ortiz, 86, of Pompano Beach, Florida, peacefully passed away on February 23, 2024.
Ana was born May 17, 1937, in New York City to Cristobal and Trini Colom. The family lived in Astoria, Queens. In 1955, Ana graduated from High School at St. Angela Hall Academy in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after graduation Ana married Daniel Ortiz (to whom she was married for 64 years), and began a family, having 4 sons: Daniel, Gregory, David, and Christopher.
While caring for her four children, Ana earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hunter College in NYC, graduating Cum Laude in 1968, with a dual major in Education and Anthropology. Ana was also named a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Ana completed her Master of Arts in Education from the State University of New York in New Paltz in 1973. In 1968, the Ortiz family moved to Bloomingburg, NY, where Ana began her career as a school teacher in Pine Bush, NY. She began as an elementary school teacher and reading specialist. Ana pioneered the Special Education program of the school district and became the Special Education department head. Ana also taught English as a Second Language, Spanish, tutored countless children, and ran education clinics for children of migrant farm workers. In addition to teaching, Ana was a Teachers Union representative and union president for the district. She also was a member of the Committee of 100 as a lobbyist for the NYS Teachers Union in Albany, NY. Retiring in 1995, Ana and Dan moved to Ft Lauderdale, FL.Ana kept busy volunteering at Love Thy Neighbor Food Distribution Center, cooking a few days a week.
Ana was known for her love of food and cooking. Especially for her desire to share that love with her family and friends. Above all, Ana was known for the way she cared for other people, especially those who were most needy. She had an extraordinary love for her family, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ana’s life will be remembered with a Mass of the Resurrection and Celebration of Life at 11 am on March 23, 2024, at Christ the King CEC, 2 Eugene L Brown Drive. New Paltz, NY 12561. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Tidewell Foundation.
