Drayton, Eleanor A. (nee Haley), age 80 of Massapequa Park passed away on October 24, 2024 due to complications of Parkinson’s disease and she was preceded in death by her adoring husband, James G. Drayton. Loving Mother of Charles G. Drayton, II (Ingrid Drayton), Heather Anne Renna (Jude C. Renna), and Christine Anne Moser (Kevin Moser). Cherished grandmother of Elizabeth, James, Vincent, Charles, Sabrina, and Gavin.
Eleanor grew up on Long Island and upon graduation from Oceanside High School, she attended Hofstra University where she majored in English, was active in student government, enjoyed the sisterhood of the Alpha Theta Beta sorority, and met the love of her life, Jim. During her years at Hofstra, she was a Recording secretary for the Board of Governors, she received the Bovenaan Award, which honors students whose co-curricular activities are characterized by variety and quality, and she was listed in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.
After graduating from Hofstra in 1965 with her BA in English, Eleanor worked as a research assistant in the library of Radio Liberty and a claims representative for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. She was a dedicated Alumna and volunteered with Hofstra University’s Alumni College throughout the 1970’s serving as secretary, executive vice president and president of the Alumni College Senate and in 1983, Eleanor was awarded Hofstra University Alumnus of the Year.
In June of 1966, Eleanor and James were married and in 1968 Eleanor decided to give up her career and start a family. They raised their family in Bethpage where Eleanor was not only a devoted wife and mother but a Girl Scout Leader, a substitute office staff in the Bethpage School District where she worked in the principal’s offices in both the junior and senior high schools. She served on the Board of Education as President and Vice President, she served as President of the Bethpage High School PTA from 1987-1989, she was President of the Bethpage Council of PTA from 1989-1991, and in May of 1991 she was presented with the Jenkins Honorary Life Member Award. Outside of the school district, Eleanor was a member of the Jones Beach Power Squadron, and maintained a membership in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in her name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research (https://www.michaeljfox.org)
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