We are setting up this swim lesson scholarship in our mom's name; she was passionate about swimming and children learning to swim. She grew up near the ocean in Chile and was a strong swimmer all her life. She taught her grandchildren to swim in pools and natural waters, mainly the ocean. She swam at the YMCA every day for many years and loved to see the young kids come in for lessons. Having this scholarship in her name would make her proud as she recognized the need for equitable access to life-saving swim skills.

All funds raised will be directed to Soma Justice to support access to swim lessons for local children and their families.

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Maria Eugenia Irma Fagalde Ide Petros was born December 24, 1939, in Santiago, Chile.

Maria passed in her own home, where she raised her family with her late husband Lou, in West Orange, New Jersey, on November 20, 2022, at 82 years old.

In her own words, “I have no regrets… Lou was the love of my life!!” They traveled the world together, meeting in Barcelona, and making their way through Europe, North Africa, South America, and South Asia in those first few years together before settling in West Orange, NJ.

Maria, known by many as “Yia Yia,” or more infamously as “The Ya,” leaves behind three adoring children, Kathy, Linda, Steven, and six grandchildren.