Eric Chasanoff, 69

East Islip, LI

Arthur Goldstein, a teacher at Francis Lewis HS in Fresh Meadows, Queens, remembers his friend and former colleague, who died on May 5.

Blogging was a new thing some 15 years ago, and dozens of New York City teachers started them. Only a few of us remain, and one was Eric Chasanoff, who produced the popular Chaz’s School Daze.

Eric taught earth science in my school for a year. I was just starting out as union chapter leader of the largest school in Queens, a borderline impossible job. He was always willing to help.

We teachers can be very nervous, but Eric was fearless. Over the years, he openly challenged mayors and chancellors and stood up for his fellow teachers.

Eric joined the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR), a pool of educators without permanent positions who serve as floating substitutes. They teach Chinese today, English tomorrow and math next week. He wrote about each and every school where he worked, and rated them on a scale of A to F. Others assigned to the substitute pool would check to see what schools were like.

When fellow teachers had problems, he answered their questions. He advised where to look for permanent positions, and where not to. He knew where to park, where to eat — and he knew the NYC subway system like the back of his hand.

Sadly, he only got to tap his retirement expertise for himself since February 2019, when he entered that phase of his career after 22 years as an educator in city schools.

He became a teacher after prior careers as an environmental engineer and a meteorologist for NBC’s “Today” show. Eric leaves a wife, three adult children and three grandchildren.

As a blogger, he was tough and uncompromising. But up close and personal, he was always kind and gentle. His readers, colleagues, friends and followers will miss him tremendously.