My Favorite Teacher

Who was your favorite teacher in High School? E-mail me a note about who inspired you and I will post it here on our website.

Hard to say, actually. I remember many of my college teachers and some of my grammar school teachers far more vividly. It probably didn't help that in our sophomore year, we all got bundled off to that monstrous, 4-building high school, where everyone became a number and cherished friendships dating back to grammar school and the first year at the old high school were often lost..It was like being in an airport.

I will say I greatly enjoyed one of my English teachers, Robert Palanzo, who eventually left the teaching business and went into the florist business. My wife and I ran into him a few years ago at a White Street flower shop. He told us he just wasn't cut out for high school teaching. I think he was wrong, but what do I know? I know my least favorite teacher was also an English teacher, Robert McGrann, who was an absolute bully. A few years later, I ran into him at Danbury Hospital, where I was working during my last two years of high school. He was there with a patient being admitted and I found him to be a very different person outside of the classroom. Interesting.

Charles"Tom" Veilleux

I read Janice Beegley's article "Who was your favorite teacher?" concerning Charles Phelps with great interest. My favorite teacher was actually Mrs. Judy Phelps!

She kindled my interest in photography which has lingered with me through the years. Despite the fact that the Army chose to make me a combat medic instead of a combat photographer, despite the fact that I was accepted to attend the Santa Barbara School of Photography but instead, made a 30-year pit stop in Washington, DC, her quiet support of my photographic "eye" has stuck with me through all these years.

For a kid who came from a broken, dysfunctional home and whose future was looking mighty bleak at the time, she gave me a confidence in myself that I sorely needed. Until recently being appointed to my position with the City of Richmond (after two glorious years of retirement from the DoD), I was working with Anna Santana, a great native Baltimorean professional photographer, who was helping me to assemble my photographic portfolio.

Despite my recent return to the workforce, I am committed to showing my work in Richmond, where Cindy and I have now made our home. I will always be thankful for the kindness and guidance that Mrs. Phelps provided me.

Eric Mens

Well as I considered this, I couldn't bring it down to just one. I had three. ;-)

Mrs. Davis: I had her for English and beneath the seemingly gruff exterior was a dedicated professional, who encouraged me to use my imagination. (All the while my parents were trying to get me to arrest some of that imagination! ;-) ) she encouraged me to apply my abilities and go beyond the average. Her sarcastic, wry humor was something I always looked forward to even when I hadn't done my homework ... again.

Mrs. Pierpoint: I had Mrs. Pierpoint for Geometry and anyone reading this who had Olive for homeroom or a class knows she struggled with a "disease". Maybe it was because my one mom was struggling with the same issue in those days, I always had a soft spot for Olive. she was a sweet woman with a warm smile and a big heart. Every once in a blue moon she comes to mind. I can't imagine she's still around today, but if she is I'd love to see her again.

And last but not least ...

Mrs. Delano: "Nora" as we fondly called her in Journalism class. ;-) As the Editor of the school paper that Senior year, I was responsible for overseeing the group of totally crazy, whacked out group that kept Nora in a constant state of stitches and laughter. and also on her guard to proofread everything at least twice before letting it go to print for fear of reprisals from the administration should any of the crazies slip one through. We had a great time in that class and Nora kept it fun, engaging and educational.

Jeff O'Hora

Ms. Norma Buzaid

My favorite High School teacher was Miss Buzaid. She was my Spanish teacher. The thing I liked most about her was that she was all about Spanish! We weren't allowed to speak English in class or even if we passed her in the hall we had to say "hola" not "hello". I must have learned something from her because I was in the Spanish Honor Club and I still can speak Spanish after all of these years!

Miss Buzaid really knew how to make Spanish fun and I enjoyed her class. We went on a field trip once to New York City to visit the United Nations (again, no English allowed) it was an awesome trip!

Thanks Miss Buzaid for being such a GREAT teacher!

Mike Marinaro

Mr. Charles Phelps

My favorite teacher was Mr Charles Phelps- he was my English teacher in my junior year- I was an awkward, shy, unpretty 16 year-old but he convinced me that I could be a great writer- the knowledge that I could write sustained me through the painful adolescent years and my college career. Whenever life knocked me down and I was feeling lower than low, I told myself that at least I could write well. Finally, this past November 13, I actually became a published writer when something I wrote for the New York Times appeared in print! I am encouraged now to actually publish more of my writing- so a big thank you to Mr. Phelps!

Janice Beeghly

Obituary

Ada Humphreville

Ada May Humphreville, 75, wife of James E. Humphreville of Danbury and Sarasota, Fla., died on January 23, 2007, in Danbury, of an extended illness.
Born on December 19, 1931, in Shamokin, Pa., daughter of Edward and Ada (Lupold) Schleig, she moved to Connecticut with her parents in 1935, and in 1940 the Schleigs established a family business, Edward's Hats, on Main Street in Danbury.

Ada graduated from Danbury High School in 1949, and attended Traphagen School of Millinery Design in New York City.

She received her bachelors degree at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1953, and her masters from Western Connecticut State University in 1970.

She was married to James Humphreville in 1952. Ada taught music in the Danbury schools for 27 years and was an adjunct teacher at Western Connecticut State University for two years.

She was a member of the Danbury Cultural Commission, a member of the Danbury Concert Association Board of Directors and for 54 years a member of Stellar Chapter #55 Order of Eastern Star. Ada was also a member of Long Ridge Methodist Church in Danbury.

Besides her husband James, she is survived by children: Kim of Agawam, Mass.; Scott and Dena and grandson: James Christian, all of Sarasota, Fla.; and cousin, Marsha Piela of Danbury.

The funeral will be held at the Hull Funeral Home, 60 Division St., Danbury, Friday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Wooster Cemetery, Danbury.

The family will receive friends at the Hull Home, today from 5 to 8 p.m. An Eastern Star Service will be held at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the James E Humphreville Endowment Fund, Danbury Music Centre 250 Main St Danbury, CT 06810

You can sign an online guestbook here

Published in The Danbury News Times 1/24/2007.

Thanks to David Siegelbaum, Class of 68 Webmaster, for sending me this information.

Obituary

Minck, Marguerite M.
Marguerite M. Minck, 78, of Danbury, passed away peacefully at Pope John Paul II Health Care Center, on Wednesday, December 6, 2006.

Marguerite was born in Danbury, September 27, 1928, daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Kelley) Minck.

She was a graduate of Danbury High School, class of 1946 and graduated from Albertus Magnus College in 1950, where she received her Bachelor Degree and then went on to receive her Master's Degree from Fairfield University in 1960. She taught in the former New Street School and then at Danbury High School, from 1951-1988, where she taught Math and Latin.

Later she taught at Western Connecticut State University, from 1997-1998. She had received numerous awards for civic, education and volunteering and was a lifetime member of St. Peter Church.

Marguerite is survived by three brothers, Edward J. Minck, of Danbury, Charles L. Minck, of South Carolina and John M. Minck, of Vero Beach, Fla.;
three sisters, Elizabeth Laws, of New Fairfield, Virginia Moody, of Sandy Hook and Janet C. McCormack, of Kensington; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Peter Church, on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in St. Peter Cemetery.

There will be no calling hours.

Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, was in charge of arrangements.
Contributions in her memory may be made to a charity of one's choice.

Published in the News Times on 12/7/2006.