LEWISTON — The School Committee held a moment of silence Monday night in remembrance of two teachers who died within days of each other last week.

Roma A. Major, 44, and Irving M. Valiente, 61, both taught at Lewiston High School and both died of cancer. She died on April 5, he on April 7.

High School Principal Gus LeBlanc recalled Major as a caring teacher devoted to her students. Valiente was a happy person whose students laughed as they learned.

LeBlanc hired Major to teach at Montello Elementary School and the high school. She also taught at McMahon Elementary.

“The thing about Roma is, she’s really a special person,” LeBlanc said. “She had a beautiful spirit, a way about her, even when she was sick.” He described her as bright, cheerful, positive and thoughtful. “Professionally, she was really a caring teacher, dedicated to her students,” he said.

She taught English Language Learners to read and write. “She poured herself into her job and made a difference for kids,” LeBlanc said. “She connected to kids.”

She was born and educated in Fort Kent and moved to Lewiston in 1989. Among her survivors are two children.

Valiente taught Spanish. “He was a unique individual,” LeBlanc said, laughing as he remembered the veteran teacher.

“He was happy-go-lucky,” LeBlanc said. “He loved movies, trivia. He always had a joke to tell you, always had a smile on his face. The kids really liked him. He made learning fun.”

Valiente grew up in the Bronx in New York City, served in the U.S. Air Force and always had stories to tell, LeBlanc said. He loved history and karate. At the high school, he worked with the Army Cadet Corps and was the assistant basketball coach.

He taught at Lewiston High School for 12 years; before that, he worked at Auburn Middle School and in New York. His survivors include a wife, two sons and grandchildren.

Making the announcements of the losses was difficult, LeBlanc said. “It’s tough to lose one of your own, but to lose two … And we lost another, Al Beaulieu, to cancer in January.”

When flowers are blooming later this spring, three memorial bricks bearing the teachers’ names will be placed in the high school’s memorial garden.

This week, the flag in front of the high school will remain at half-staff in their memories, LeBlanc said.

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