Marie L. Hakim

Clifton Education Foundation
Marie L. Hakim Scholarship For Future Educators

In memory of Marie Hakim, the Clifton Education Foundation has established a scholarship fund through the Guidance Department at Clifton High School. It will be entitled the  Marie L. Hakim Scholarship for Future Educators, and will be awarded to students who plan to further their education for a career in teaching. Donations may be made payable to the Clifton Education Foundation and sent to P.O. Box 2071, Clifton, NJ 07015.

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HAKIM Marie L., a lifelong Clifton resident. Her parents, Alexander and Ramza Hakim, were business owners for over 42 years. Marie received both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Montclair State University. She taught Health, Family Living, Physical Education and Driver Education at Paramus High School for 34 years before retiring in 1996. At Paramus she coached the Varsity Cheerleaders, Girls' Varsity Tennis Team and NNJIL undefeated Girls' Gymnastics Team. Marie was an adjunct professor at William Paterson University in supervision of student teachers.Marie served 18 years on the Clifton Board of Education. In 1998, as President of the Clifton Board of Education, Marie organized and founded the Clifton Education Foundation (CEF). She served as an ex-officio trustee and a member of the grants selection committee. Marie was instrumental in obtaining a Head Start program for the Clifton District. She recommended the district join the New Jersey Network for Education Renewal at MSU, a partnership aimed at improving the quality of K-12 education. Marie was also the President of the Passaic County School Boards Association and has attained the designation of Master Board Member through the NJSBA Board Member Academy. Marie was a member of the City of Clifton Clean Communities Committee, the Cultural Awareness Committee and she chaired All-A-Day 2000, a festival to celebrate Clifton's ethnic diversity. Marie gave oral and written testimony before the State Legislature, the State Department of Education and Federal Legislators. Marie wrote and circulated a "Pledge and Promise" form for legislators statewide to sponsor and support meaningful property tax reform. In 2002, before the NJ Assembly Education Committee, she provided guidelines for additional aid to school districts bordered by Abbott Districts. In Passaic County, Marie promoted a grassroots advocacy network so as to provide other boards of education with legislative information that affects their school districts.Marie was one of a select group of exceptional women who were honored for Women's History Month 2001 by Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. for outstanding achievement in making our community a better place in which to live. For her efforts to improve education on the local, state and national level, Marie was named the 2006 School Board Member of the Year by the New Jersey School Boards Association. Marie was a competitive skier and tennis player, a former USTA tennis official and was a certified hypnotherapist. Marie had a boundless supply of energy, enthusiasm and passion for keeping abreast of recent education trends and legislation that affects public education. Her devotion and dedication to the children of her city, our county, our state and our nation is second to none! Marie is predeceased by her parents Alexander and Ramza Hakim and brother Louis Hakim. Survived by her sisters Virginia Contrino of Oakland, Gladys Shema of Oakland and Lila Czaplicki of Livingston, Aunt Virginia Sowma of Paterson, nine nieces and nephews, seven great-nieces and nephews and many aunts, uncles and cousins worldwide.

Published in The Record/Herald News on Dec. 7, 2008