Todd Branden Hack of Tottenville, a long-time fourth-grade teacher at PS 8 in Great Kills, died Sept. 12. He was 46 years old. He died of natural causes, a pulmonary embolism.
Mr. Hack began his career with NYC’s Department of Education about 22 years ago at PS 3 in Pleasant Plains. In 2003, he was transferred to PS 8, where he has spent the remainder of his career, primarily as a fourth-grade teacher who in recent years, headed up an ICT class, where special needs students are integrated with general needs students.
According to his principal, Lisa Esposito, Mr. Hack’s passing was “a profound loss” to the PS 8 community.
“Mr. Hack proudly served the PS 8 community for years, with the greatest levels of commitment, care and integrity. He will be missed by all,” she wrote.
Mr. Hack was born in May 1978 in Washington, D.C. to parents David Hack and the former Marjorie Branden. The family moved to the Stapleton community of Staten Island in 1979.
Mr. Hack attended Building Blocks Montessori School in Silver Lake and IS 61 (Morris Intermediate School) in New Brighton. He graduated from Staten Island Academy in 1996, where he played goalkeeper on the school’s varsity soccer squad under legendary coach Peter Rapp.
Mr. Hack earned a bachelor’s degree from Goucher College in Baltimore and a master’s degree in education from Goucher.
Todd Hack as a senior at Staten Island Academy in 1995. (Family photo)family photo
He returned to Staten Island to teach in the public school system.
Staten Island Academy’s Head of School, Eileen F. Corigliano, announced Mr. Hack’s death to the school community with “a heavy heart,” calling him “a devoted soccer parent and a proud Tiger through and through.”
Mr. Hack married his wife, Dr. Maria Sarabok, a pediatric physical therapist, in 2005. They met when Dr. Sarabok came to collect a student from his class for a session. She went home from work that day and told her roommate that “I have met the man I’m going to marry.”
The couple first lived in Huguenot, before settling in Tottenville. They have two children — David Hack, 18, a 2024 graduate of Staten Island Academy, now a freshman at Bucknell University, and Gabrielle Hack, 15, who transferred into Staten Island Academy as a sophomore earlier this school year.
In addition to his afterwork activities at PS 8, Mr. Hack, who grew up an avid soccer player with Silver Lake Soccer Club, coached a girls soccer team for the same club for several years. Both of his children played soccer at Staten Island Academy.
A devoted family man, Mr. Hack included many instructive details while teaching based on family members like his mother, wife and son — all with funny, made-up names. It was his way of getting young children to relate to the larger meaning of the subject matter. Many of his students and their families consider him to have been instrumental in changing the trajectories of their kids’ lives, including Denise Rossilli. Mr. Hack taught both of her children.
Mr. Hack was a dedicated Green Bay Packers fan. He also loved to cook, and fish for freshwater salmon with family members on Lake Ontario. He was an accomplished trivia expert and knew almost every college mascot when asked. His favorite color was orange, and he wore orange clothing as often as possible, which sometimes appalled his children. He and his wife hosted many celebrations at their home in Tottenville, like Thanksgiving, and he strove to help people in need.
Mr. Hack is survived by his wife of 19 years, Maria; his children, David and Gabrielle; his mother, Marjorie Hack Wright; his brothers, Adam (wife, Michelle) and Charles Hack (wife, Eliza); nieces and nephews, Jane, Elsie, Jordan and Nori Hack. He is also survived by his wife’s family, Inez and Michael Sarabok, and Patricia Odessa of Ward Hill, and several uncles and cousins. Mr. Hack was predeceased by his father, David, 28 years ago.
“He was one of the most multi-facted and ever-engaging people I have ever known,” said his mother. “He was only getting more skillful in every way every day.”
The wake will be held Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., at Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home in Tottenville. A Mass will be held on Wedneday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m., Our Lady Star of the Sea, Huguenot.
The outpouring of love, respect, support and sorrow that has been extended to his family in recent days has been staggering. Unbeknownst to anyone, his reach had become enormous.