Still "Shining" in Rye, New York

Dr. Edward Shine was the assistant headmaster at Andrew Warde High School from 1975 to 1978. He arrived at our school along with Headmaster Robert Genualdi in July of 1975.

Dr. Edward Shine has a passion for what he does. How else can you explain working on a few hours sleep and having a successful career for 41 years? The former assistant headmaster at Andrew Warde High School during our senior year has been the Superintendent of Schools in Rye, New York, the last 11 years.

"It's a little district," he told me on the telephone today from his home in Easton, where he returned at 3 o'clock this morning following last night's Board of Education meeting. His contract was extended for four more years.

What attracted him to the New York community? "I think its smallness. It has 2,900 kids in it," he said. "I know every teacher by name, and that lends itself to a sense of community and intimacy." The district has three elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. One of the elementary schools, Osborn School, bears nearly the same name as of one of Fairfield's elementary schools.

Prior to coming to Rye, Dr. Shine was the superintendent at Grosse Point, Michigan, for 11 years. It was a larger district with 8,500 students, 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. "I didn't know everybody by name," he admitted, citing a staff which included over 500 teachers and 1,000 employees. "It is much like Fairfield."

As for Fairfield, Dr. Shine remembers his days at Andrew Warde High School like they were yesterday. "I arrived there in July of 1975, and just prior to going there (headmaster) Ken Peterson decided to retire," he said. "Bob Genualdi and I came the same Summer." Prior to his arrival at the Warde campus, Dr. Shine was at rival Roger Ludlowe High School from 1974 to 1975.

"Those were three great years," he said about his time at Warde. "I learned a lot. The school was exciting. It was a great place to be." Dr. Shine returned to Ludlowe, though, as its headmaster from 1978 to 1985.

"Both schools were great," he acknowledged. "It was quite easy going back to Ludlowe because I knew everybody on the faculty. Those were exciting times. There was a healthy rivalry between Warde and Ludlowe. When I left (Ludlowe) in '85, we were on the precipice of making a decision to go to one high school. An opportunity to go to Grosse Point (MI) came along."

Ultimately, Mr. Genualdi became the headmaster at what would become Fairfield High School, while Dr. Shine packed his bags and headed to Michigan.

Dr. Shine told me he still has friends from everywhere he's taught. He stays in touch with former colleagues in Fairfield and Grosse Point. "I started teaching in the regional vocational technical schools in '66," he said. "Then I went to Willimantic. I still have friends everywhere."

According to the Andrew Warde High School Class of 1976 yearbook, Dr. Shine "really loves the people he works with, especially kids. When asked what single most important value he feels he possesses, he replied, 'I really love kids.' In his spare time, Dr. Shine sings and works in amateur theatre."

Does he still sing today? "Only in the shower," he joked. "My work is so consuming. I just don't have the time to work at it."

How much longer will he continue to serve as superintendent in Rye, New York? "This is my 41st year (in education)," the 63-year-old Dr. Shine told me. "Forty-five (years) sounds good."

Although Dr. Shine will most likely be remembered in Fairfield for his two stints at Ludlowe, including his role as headmaster at the Unquowa Road School, this typist recalls and admires Dr. Shine for his days at Warde during our senior year.

Dr. Shine is a dedicated, dignified professional educator and administrator. He, like several teachers and administrators from our days at Warde, is still working in his chosen field. I wish him well as he continues to "shine" as the superintendent of schools in Rye, New York.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

John Honey Named FCIAC Tennis Coach of the Year

The following was written by John Cannon for the June 22, 2007 edition of the Fairfield Citizen-News. You may contact Mr. Honey at jhoney@fairfield.k12.ct.us to congratulate him on his outstanding award.

Mr. Honey taught at Andrew Warde and Fairfield high schools on Melville Avenue for 37 years before moving to rival Ludlowe in 2004. Read my interviews with him (Part I and Part II) from last Fall.

John Honey has pretty much seen everything in his 35 years at the helm of Fairfield's high school boys tennis teams.

He has won state championships, Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) championships, and even coached a player who went on to become a successful professional in James Blake.

But, until recently, one notch had always been missing from Honey's belt. He had never been named FCIAC Coach of the Year. That all changed two weeks ago, when a panel of coaches named him the recipient of this season's award after his Fairfield Ludlowe squad went 13-2 and won the Eastern Division. Even more impressive was the fact that the Falcons achieved such success without their star player, Eric D'Elia, who suffered a neck injury early in the season and missed every match.

"This award is all about the kids, and not about me," Honey said earlier this week. "They are the ones who played their hearts out and went 13-2 this season. Even after Eric went down, he stayed around and helped the team out and served as our captain all season. This award is about the kids we have on this team, and the work they did this season."

The Connecticut High School Coaches Association named Honey its Connecticut Boys Tennis Coach of the Year five years ago, but he said that the FCIAC award means more to him. Because it was voted on by a group of his peers, many of whom he has become close friends with over the years, Honey feels the FCIAC award holds more value.

"It gives you a great sense of how other coaches feel about you when they know you personally and give you an honor like Coach of the Year," he said. "It's really a great compliment. But I feel it's more an indication of the great talent and chemistry we have on this team."

Honey said that the 2007 Falcons team may have been the most talented squad he's coached in his 35 years at Warde, Fairfield, and Ludlowe high schools. Five players were named to the All-FCIAC team, and three players were given All-State honors. D'Elia, Chris Curran, Giancarlo Lemmi, Brendan Lane and Hayden Stebbins were named to the All-FCIAC team, while Curran, Lemmi and Chet Milot earned the All-State award. D'Elia was a unanimous All-FCIAC selection despite not playing a single match this season, the first time in the history of the conference a player received such a distinction.

Honey said that D'Elia's commitment to the team he attended every practice and was a vocal leader at every match is a perfect example of why he has continued coaching after so many years. The players are supportive, smart, committed and, most of all, enjoyable to be around.

"I'm really dealing with a great group of kids," he said. "The juniors and the seniors run the team, and they do an excellent job. I'm very hands-off in my approach, because the kids are all good kids and they don't need me imposing a bunch of rules on them. We practice hard, but we also keep things in perspective. I've only had one kid go pro in my 35 years here, so it is important for these guys to keep up their grades and lead balanced lives."

Honey said that he continues to stay in touch with Blake, the program's prized graduate whom he coached at the Fairfield Warde campus. Blake has been on the ATP Tour for nine years, winning nine singles titles and five doubles titles as a professional. He is currently ranked ninth in the world, but that doesn't stop him from looking up Honey every time he's in town.

"He's a phenomenal friend," Honey said. "Whenever he's around we'll go out for a coffee or he'll stop by the school to chat for a little while. It's fun to see him because he's a great young man, and I'm very close with his family. He causes a little chaos when he comes by the school all the kids will cut class and mob him for his autograph but it's always great to see him."

Honey says that Blake's desire to look the coach up when he returns to Fairfield is what he defines as a successful relationship with a player. He doesn't want to be an overbearing coach and doesn't think he is but he wants to be fun and let the kids enjoy the sport of tennis without stressing wins and losses.

"Some coaches are all about their records, and they'll maybe compromise some things to add a couple extra wins," Honey said. "For me, success is measured by the fact that kids are disappointed when the season ends. That's my criteria; I don't make the kids run excessively or anything. I just want them to have fun. Of course we want to be competitive, but I'm a teacher first and a coach second. A lot of coaches say that, but not all of them follow through on it."

Honey said that he has no plans to retire from coaching anytime soon. He has the whole routine of springtime teaching in the mornings, coaching in the afternoons down so well that he can't imagine what life would be like without it.

"I love these kids, and I don't even have to do much anyway," he said. "They run the team themselves, and they're all such great kids that I don't have to worry much about them. It's been a long time since someone didn't fit in on the team. They're a great team and a great group of guys, and I love coaching them. It's a pleasure, it really is."

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

Andrew Warde High School Reunion Calendar

Today marks the 31st anniversary of our graduation from Andrew Warde High School. Has it really been that long? I'm sure graduates from other classes feel the same way as their reunions approach.

Here is a look at the calendar of Andrew Warde High School reunions scheduled this year:

The combined Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe 50th reunion of the Class of 1957 will take place September 15 at the Tashua Knolls Restaurant in Trumbull. The reunion committee is looking for former graduates and their addresses. Please email Joan Heady Sepot at miasepot@optonline.net or call 255-1955 for more information.

The AWHS Class of 1967 will hold its 40th reunion October 20 at Vazzy's at Fairchild Wheeler Golf Course. For more information, email silwest@aol.com.

The AWHS Class of 1972 will be celebrating its 35th reunion July 21 from 8 p.m. to midnight. The event will take place at Penfield Pavilion I on Fairfield Beach Road. Light dinner and dancing with a disc jockey will be provided. The cost is $40 per person. The response date has been extended to July 4. Any classmates who have information on missing graduates or who did not receive an invitation should contact Theresa DeFrancis at tdefrancis@snet.net or Lori Soltis at lsoltis@sbcglobal.net.

Members of the AWHS Class of 1975 will celebrate a combined 32nd reunion and "The Class of '75 Turns 50" Party September 29 at the Trumbull Marriott, 180 Hawley Lane. All graduates of the class are welcome. Former classmates are being sought. Contact Mike Farkas at 261-4772, Rick Norell at 386-1390, or Mary Ann Colihan at tundramac@sympatico.ca.

The AWHS Class of 1978's 29th year get-together will take place July 15 at Captain's Cove Marina in Bridgeport at 1 p.m. Music will be provided by To the Maxx. There is no charge, but participants should bring money to cover the cost of food and beverages. Call Jay Sanza at 915-0801 for more information.

The AWHS Class of 1981 is planning its 26th reunion. To become involved in the planning, contact Tom Flynn at tflynn@holycross.edu and sign on to the Class of 1981 database at http://www.andrewwarde1981.myevent.com

The AWHS Class of 1987 will host its 20th year reunion July 14 at Fairchild Wheeler Country Club from 7 p.m. to midnight. The class is still looking for about 60 missing classmates. Anyone who graduated from Warde in 1987 and has not received reunion information is asked to register online at http://www.reunionsbydesign.com. Contact reunion co-chair Jenny Nicholas Murphy at jennynm@optonline.net.

Fairfield High School's first 20th reunion is fast approaching. Members of the Fairfield High School Class of 1988 are encouraged to visit http://www.fhs1988.com to register and include their addresses for news and information about Fairfield's first 20th. As the date of the event draws closer, alumni will be able to share photos and other memories. Volunteers are needed to help as well. Email your information to info@fhs1988.com.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

High School Hall of Fame Committee Being Formed

Over the past 50 years, since Andrew Warde High School opened in 1956 and later became Fairfield High School 30 years later, there have been many famous graduates from the Melville Avenue campus. Some of the luminaries include classmate and actress Linda Kozlowski, tennis great James Blake, golfer J. J. Henry, singer John Mayer, and children's television star Ricky Ullman.

In fact, there were many graduates from our class with whom I was impressed. I'm sure you can name quite a few alumni who have made a name for themselves over the years. Now comes word that the Fairfield High School Hall of Fame committee is reorganizing and is looking for representatives from the community who might be interested in becoming members.

The committee's purpose is to recognize and honor graduates of Andrew Warde High School, Roger Ludlowe High School, and Fairfield High School who have achieved outstanding success in their various fields of endeavor. In addition to receiving expressions of their alma mater's pride in their accomplishments, these alumni also become role models for current high school students.

The Hall of Fame committee meets three or four times a year. Anyone who has a sense of history of Fairfield's high schools and is interested in joining this group may contact Jim Corbiere. He may be reached via the Fairfield Public Schools.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.

Ben Guerra Still Going Strong

Time has not slowed Ben Guerra. The former Spanish teacher at Andrew Warde High School is now 89 years young and serves as an usher every Sunday afternoon at St. Pius X Parish in Fairfield.

Mr. Guerra taught at Andrew Warde High School from 1958 until 1979, deciding to retire before Warde consolidated with Roger Ludlowe High School to form Fairfield High School at the Melville Avenue campus.

"Oh, they were the best years of my life," he told me this morning by telephone from his Fairfield home where he lives with his wife, Margaret. "I loved it. I always liked to work with kids and teenagers."

Mr. Guerra, who was born in New York but moved with his Mother to Cuba at the age of two, returned to the United States when he was 27. Originally, he was a teacher in the Bridgeport school system, working with special education students at Longfellow School. He later moved to Harding High School before arriving at Warde.

"They called from Fairfield, and they asked me if I'd like to teach the high school classes at Warde," he told me. He began teaching at Andrew Warde shortly after the school opened in 1956, and it quickly became a second home for him for the next 21 years.

He was the school's director of activities, which meant he had to schedule all the club activities and assign faculty advisers. Lest one think that was too much responsibility, he quickly added, "I loved it." In addition, he and his wife were pioneers at Warde, too.

"My wife and I were the first teachers to take the students to the University of Salamanca (in Spain). I did it for at least five years." He was also the first state president of the Council for Exceptional Children, which he called "a tremendous honor."

Mr. Guerra met his wife while they both taught on Staten Island in New York. Later, they taught together in Madison, Connecticut. Margaret became a teacher at Oldfield School in Fairfield while Ben taught at Andrew Warde.

Ben Guerra is one of the most well-respected, dignified, and honorable gentleman this typist has ever met. We exchange handshakes and good wishes each Sunday at church. I continue to admire Ben Guerra for the outstanding educator he was and the wonderful gentleman he is.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.