Mourn Asst. Principal At Queens School As 1st Swine Flu Fatality

Mitchell Wiener, a Queens Assistant Principal, died of complications from swine flu May 17, becoming the first fatality in the city since cases were reported in schools last month.

Mr. Wiener, who worked at I.S. 238 in Hollis for more than 30 years, died five days after entering the hospital and three days after his school was closed due to safety concerns. Nine schools have been closed in the past week after hundreds of students reported flu symptoms.

'Well-Liked, Devoted Educator'

"Mr. Wiener was hired as a substitute teacher in March 1978 and quickly began shaping generations of students from Hollis, Queens—as a math teacher from 1978 to 2007, and since then as Assistant Principal," said Mayor Bloomberg in a statement. "He was a well-liked and devoted educator, and his death is a loss for our schools and our city."

Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein stated, "He was committed to the success of his students, and was loved and respected by the school community."

"It is with great sadness tonight that we learn that New York has lost one of its residents to an illness related to H1N1," Governor David Paterson said. "Speaking for all New Yorkers, our condolences and prayers go to Mitchell Wiener's family, friends, coworkers and students."

Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Ernest Logan called Mr. Wiener "the truest kind of educational leader, unsung, yet absolutely dedicated to his students, his Teachers and fellow administrators."

Mr. Wiener had a history of medical problems, including gout, that could have left him more vulnerable to the virus, which apparently overwhelmed his system despite a battery of antiviral drugs. Health department officials have cautioned against alarm over the case, noting that it is normal for there to be deaths even in a regular flu season.

Bonnie Wiener, Mr. Wiener's wife, is a reading Teacher who also works at I.S. 238. She spoke harshly to reporters about the city's reluctance to close her school and others, telling the New York Times May 15, "I know we have a duty to educate the children of New York, [but] something just doesn't fit right."