Obituary of Giselle Gault McGee

Giselle Gault McGee, age 62, of West Brighton, passed away on December 24, 2017 after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was the loving mother of Samantha and Sabrina DelZoppo, dear daughter of Lucette and the late Charles Gault, and the beloved wife of the late Patrick DelZoppo (2003). In 2007, after 25 years, she reconnected and married her college sweetheart, Dr. Stephen McGee, a Staten Island Chiropractor. Giselle was a member of the 1st graduating class from Susan Wagner High School 1973 graduated Wagner College as an Education major in 1977. She later earned her Masters in Education from College of Staten Island and a Masters in Administration from Baruch College. Giselle taught at St. Patrick's Elementary School in Richmond Town on Staten Island for 10 years. She even taught early childhood for NYDOE at PS126 in Chinatown NYC for 12 years. Became a staff developer for 7 years at PS 94 in Sunset Park and PS 15 in Red Hook, from 2004 to 2006 was Assistant Principal at PS 29 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. In 2006, Giselle was appointed Principal at PS 58, The Carroll School, in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn by Chancellor Carmen Farina. Upon Giselle's retirement in 2013, Chancellor Farina returned to the school and spoke to the faculty on Giselle's accomplishments and personality. Giselle was one of only three forerunners in the NYDOE to launch a French-English Dual Language Program and grew the school from 330 to 975 students. On the last day of school 2006, Chancellor Joel Klein visited Giselle's school and was quoted in the Daily News saying, "You've got a great new leader in here who really has united this community". Principal Giselle Gault McGee was made a Knight in the Order of Academic Palms in 2009 by French Ambassador Pierre Vimont for her work with the French-English Duel Language Program. She also received the Label FrancEducation, a prestigious award, given by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a formal recognition and accreditation to schools providing a French bilingual program. At the time, only eight schools worldwide had received the award, including two New York recipients. Giselle was also selected as a "Cahn Fellow"; The Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished Principals is the only program in the United States that recognizes, honors, and supports exemplary public school principals by providing them with quality professional development in a yearlong fellowship and study at Teachers College, Columbia University. Giselle was a true people person, who bought a smile and compassion to everyone who crossed her path, she enjoyed being with people, cooking, baking, reading cook books, watching classic movies and British mysteries, traveling, cruising, picnicing, golfing, swimming, Watching sunrises and sunsets, and spending time with friends at home and in Florida. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick's RC Church at 10:00 AM on Friday. Family and friends may visit on Thursday from 2:00-5:00 and 6:00-9:00 PM at the Matthew Funeral Home, Inc., 2508 Victory Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.