Beckie Cardina

Beckie Cardina passed away on September 18, 2026. She was known for her quick wit, her generosity, determination, straightforward manner, and love of teaching. She is survived by her husband, Tim Cardina, and by her children and their spouses: Adam (Susan Fulmer) and Alicia (Dan Chase), and by her grandchildren (Ana, Owen, and Simon Cardina) and her step-granddaughters (Ella and Noe Chase). 

In addition to her career as an elementary and middle school teacher, including 25 years in the Trumansburg Schools, she was very active in the Trumansburg and Ithaca communities in many volunteer organizations. She was a long-term volunteer at Loaves and Fishes, the Trumansburg Area Christmas Bureau, and Taughannock Garden Club. She helped organize and performed for many years in the “Kids on the Block” puppet troupe, teaching disability awareness to students in all of the Ithaca-area elementary schools. She helped design curriculum and served as a docent with the Cornell Botanic Gardens’ student education program for area elementary school students. She readily volunteered with Trumansburg School Music Boosters, school drama productions, playground construction, and Girl Scouts, and often took a leadership role. She carried the same enthusiasm for working with school children to a number of developing countries when she and her husband travelled to work in volunteer medical programs. 

A private memorial service will be arranged at a later time. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Tompkins County or an organization that supports student education.