My Favorite Teacher

Along with Dr. Joseph Rubenstein, who extolled her in a previous Memoir{sic}I also was fortunate to have had Miss Ruth Dempsey for my 8th grade geography teacher at Public School No.6. I remember about every week she would pass out blank sheets of paper and administer a short quiz. Of course everyone groaned and she would say, “It’s just a checkup to see what you remembered from yesterday or what you learned from your homework assignment”. Years later when I was teaching 8th grade in North Haledon I incorporated the same tactic. Later when I was a principal for 28 years I observed, supervised and evaluated many teachers. Add to that 24 years of supervising student teachers at William Paterson and Montclair State Universities following retirement. So I saw many teachers and potential teachers with excellent instructional qualities. In retrospect, I would rate Miss Dempsey very high on my list of outstanding teachers. 

I also had Mrs. Culmone for biology and homeroom at EHS. I believe Culmone was her married name and Sciellari her maiden name.  I had a number of great teachers at Eastside including Miss Grace George, Eng.; Mr. Charles Offhouse, Alg.; and Mr. Robert Dimond, phys. Ed. 
 
Of course, my all-time favorite teacher was my father, Mort Rittenberg, who was transferred to Sch. No. 6 in 1944 to teach physical education when I was in the 7th grade.          

 Marty Rittenberg, Past Treasurer of the JHSNJ

My Favorite Coach/Teacher - In the stages of personal growth, sometimes a coach can have as incredible an impact as any teacher could. Coach Dave Jenkins was the heart and soul of Ridgewood High School's golf team during my time there from 2000 to 2003. More than just a coach, he was a steady presence—kind, supportive, and endlessly encouraging, with a quiet way of motivating you to be your best without ever raising his voice. Coach Jenkins’ calm demeanor and belief in every one of his players made even the toughest rounds of golf feel manageable. He carried the same warm energy from his day job as an elementary school Physical Education teacher, where his patience and positivity was already legend to us at Ridgewood High. Whether we were walking the golf course fairway or gathering around the team van after a long match, Coach Jenkins made us feel seen and valued—not just as athletes, but as people.

I remember one time on our way to winning the State Group Final; he was walking with my group and happened to find my ball sitting in the rough. He was then accused of favoring for looking for my ball over the other team’s player after the round. The player who I was playing with immediately spoke up saying that Coach Jenkins had not only found his ball several times that day, but was also nothing but kind and encouraging towards him. This was the kind of guy he was. He would frequently check in during the winters and he always had time for us. Our ends of year barbeques at his home in Ramsey were always so much fun, especially when we would relive the season behind us. He went above and beyond reaching out to college coaches for me personally and probably made the difference in getting me on to a Division 1 golf team in a highly competitive conference.

 His impact stayed with me long after high school, shaping not just my swing, but my sense of confidence and character. Of all the things “Coach J” imparted on me, getting me to take academics far more seriously was easily the most impactful. He taught me that a well rounded person was just that, and that even if something doesn’t meet my criteria for fun and enjoyment, it by no means should be brushed aside. Even though I went on to play golf professionally for some time, had he not given me guidance about prioritizing academics I am not sure where I would be today.
 

Todd Shagin, Ridgewood High School Class of 2003; 102 President Rd, Washington Township, 07676-5226

My Favorite Teacher - While I cannot recall a specific "inspirational" teacher, Mrs. Jo-Ann Krueger still resonates with me.  Mrs. Krueger was my English teacher in both my junior (1966-1967) and senior (1967-1968) years at Eastside High School.  Perhaps it was because we spent two years together that we formed a common bond.  Mrs. Krueger was not one of the more well-known members of the teaching staff, and I believe she flew under the radar for a reason - she just wanted to do her job to the best of her ability.  While I aced her class during our two years together, it was Mrs. Krueger's interest in my future that I remember most.  She was the one who helped me compose my letters of introduction to the colleges to which I applied and also prepared me for the interviews which would become part of the admissions process.  She was truly happy for me when I told her I was accepted to all of the schools that I contacted.  In discussing my options, it was Mrs. Krueger who provided the guidance that I should attend Rutgers-Newark.  Upon graduation from EHS, I made sure to give a special good-bye to Mrs. Krueger.  Wherever she is now, I hope that Mrs. Krueger led a rich and fulfilling life.  She deserves it.  A personal note, if I may - I had not given thought to Jo-Ann Krueger until Dorothy Greene (no relation) asked me to compose a recollection of my past teachers in Paterson.  As I wrote this paragraph, I became more aware of the impact Mrs. Krueger had upon my future life, so perhaps my opening sentence was incorrect - I did have an "inspirational" teacher after all - the wonderful Jo-Ann Krueger.      

Michael Greene, Eastside High School, Paterson, NJ, Class of 1968