The 1977 Southern Star yearbook was dedicated to Profe. The page honoring him read:
En el año 1948 vino un profesor nuevo al colegio. Se llamaba Donato Laurita. ¿Quién puede imaginar la escuela sin el sonido de tangos en el aire, los gritos de "Ventiladores Aurora," la tortura china? ¿Qué sería el colegio sin el Profe para cargarnos, reírse con nosotros, y escuchar nuestros problemas? ¡Profe, nos alegramos que todavía estás en Lincoln!
In 1948 a new teacher came to the school. His name was Donato Laurita. Who can imagine the school without the sounds of tangos in the air, the cries of "Ventiladores Aurora," the Chinese Torture? What would school be like without Profe to tease us, laugh with us, listen to our problems? Profe, we're glad you're still at Lincoln.
The truth is, Lincoln wouldn't even BE Lincoln without Profe. He helped shape all of us who spent even one semester there – boys and girls. His spirit will live forever in Lincoln. Those tangos still waft through the wind. Who still hears "ten pushup" when they kick a volleyball, or "no pay no towel"? And now we have traveled to the four corners of the earth with a little piece of Profe in our hearts. Profe, vas a estar siempre en nuestros corazones. Que sepas el amor que tenemos para vos, y que en paz descanses.
We received the following on April 29th, 2019 from Bob Johnson '64, immediate past president of the ACSAA:
Dear fellow schoolmates, ACSAA Board, Lincoln Staff, Class Reps present and former Faculty and friends,
It is with a heavy heart and tears that I pass on the sad news that our beloved "Profe" Donato Laurita passed away at 12:10pm today in Puerto Madryn, Argentina at 95 years of age. He was an icon at Lincoln and Ward AGHS teaching physical education and sports to generations of boys from the late 1940's to the 1990's. He now joins his wife Susana in Heaven. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and the Laurita family. May he rest in peace. I will pass on more details as they are made available.
Please pass on news to your classmates and associates who knew Profe.
I invite you to share your memories of Profe on this blog.
Jade (York) Polk '82, ACSAA President
