Warde's Health Program Stays in Good Hands of Softball Pioneer and Veteran Educator Bill Johnson

Mr. Bill Johnson is most closely associated with teaching health and coaching softball during his 35 years at Andrew Warde High School. Even though he hung up his softball coaching cleats 12 years ago, he's still teaching health to today's students.

"I started the health program in Fairfield and still teach health today," he wrote to me via email this week. "The first four years I taught only the boys until they let us go coed." He began teaching at Warde during the 1973-74 school year.

His softball program always fielded excellent teams and quality players. "There were so many great teams and great players, many of whom went on to play in college," wrote Mr. Johnson, who started the softball program at Warde in 1974 and coached his last game in 1996.

"We won so many (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) East Division East titles (that) it seemed to other schools it was always Warde (in the East) and Norwalk in the West. Of course it all came to be playing for the state championship in front of 3,200 fans," he continued. "(It was a) good show, (but a) bad ending," Mr. Johnson lamented.

Mr. Johnson has thoroughly enjoyed his career at Warde. "The styles have changed over the years, but the Warde student body has always been my inspiration," he admitted. "They have always been respectful of me and tons of fun to be with.

"They've kept me feeling young, although now my students are (the) children of my former students. First grandchild and I'm out of here," joked Mr. Johnson, who grew up in East Hampton, Connecticut, and attended East Hampton High School. He attended Seton Hall University on a soccer scholarship.

Mr. Johnson has fond memories of the consolidation of Andrew Warde and Roger Ludlowe high schools into Fairfield High School at the Warde site. "I really enjoyed the town coming together as Fairfield High," he admitted. "No more 'this side of town' stuff. Just a nice feeling of 'us.' My own children made so many good friends from the Warde side they never would have met."

Mr. Johnson's wife, Nanci, teaches first grade at Mill Hill School in Southport. His son, BJ, is the first assistant golf superintendent at New Haven Country Club. Daughter Meghan works at a hedge fund in Greenwich. Mr. Johnson and his wife live near the Fairfield Beach Club.

"My last 28 summers I've been the Beach Manager at The Country Club of Fairfield and have employed hundreds of Warde students over the years," he added. "(I) retired this Summer."

I got to know Mr. Johnson personally while watching my sister play softball as an All-FCIAC third baseman for his teams from 1981-84. He was an outstanding coach who was admired, respected, and well-liked by his players. Currently, his students speak very highly of him, too.

Good luck, Mr. Johnson.

Paul

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