My Favorite Teacher

My Favorite Teacher - Teacher memories- Miss Dolores Finizio-6th grade. Miss Finizio was my 6th grade teacher. She lived in Hoboken and twice a
day she had to commute from Hoboken to Cliffside Park by trolley. She most likely had polio because she wore shoes with lifts. I remember she
was very nice and I did very well in her class. In those days, your teacher taught all the subjects. In my class, there was a friend of mine since the
age of 3 and we used to work together on many projects. We were friends until the end of his life around two years ago. Those were the days of the
Great Depression, and I respected her for her long commute despite having a handicap. Ira Kaplan.
That's me in the framed photo below. Ira is a 1936 graduate of School #3 in Clifside Park. He is currently living in Clifton and will celebrate his 102nd birthday in July 2025. 

My Favorite Teacher: As having served in the field of education, I have come to realize the vital and significant impact, value and influence teachers contribute to the lives of students.

When challenged with the question of who was your favorite teacher, it is difficult to select only one, as many if not all, have influenced my future, whether it is with their knowledge and presentation of content, affective skills (kindness, empathy, compassion, etc.), creativity, inspiration, discipline, and just a simple joy of learning.
 
     Elementary was a time of transition for me during fifth grade.* Marion Joynt, made my entry into a new school and class welcoming. Any insecurity I faced was brought out through her ability to spark my imagination and creative thoughts through writing. I still recall the piece I turned in. When I received an ‘A’, I felt so valued and heard.  
    
Lena Ferraro, my seventh grade teacher will always be memorable to me.  Her presence in front of the class was an observable and dramatic one. I recall her wearing beautiful scarves. Moving her hands as she spoke, she fascinated us as she shared many a story of her travels. It's nice to have a teacher who brings a bit of themselves into the curriculum. Keeps interest!  I liked her class so much that I convinced a friend to take a walk with me and make a surprise visit to her house. She happened to be outside gardening and was so delighted to see her students. 
Lynn Blumberg
littllynn@yahoo.com 
Class of 65 Public School #26
*Lynn entered school #26 in the fifth grade after transferring from East Paterson. 
 
Editor’s Note:  stay tuned for next month’s “My Favorite Teacher” Memoir when  Lynn continues her narrative and highlights 3 of her favorite Eastside High School teachers.

My Favorite Teacher - My favorite teacher, while attending Eastside High School, was without a doubt, Mr. Alfred Weiss (English).  I was fortunate enough to have him my freshman year (1-1) and my senior year (4-2).  His teaching style was little unorthodox (Playbills and show ticket stubs as teaching aids) but very meaningful, entertaining and surprising, as well as educational.  I loved going to class and listening to him speak.
 
Unbeknown to me at that time, I had a learning disability, only finding out after my own children and grandchildren were diagnosed with dyslexia.  I realized that was also my problem.  It is why I struggled with reading, languages and other subjects.  I managed to overcompensate and pass those classes.
 
Mr. Weiss's class was the ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, the light at the end of the tunnel.  Thank you Mr. Weiss!
 
Years later I was told there was an XXX's luncheon at the Paris Inn in Wayne that was for former EHS teachers and students.  My husband and I drove an hour and half to the luncheon and there I reconnected with Mr. Weiss, other former teachers and classmates.  It was a wonderful time and we continued to go to these luncheons until Mr. Weiss moved to Florida.  To this day I still communicate with him via e-cards and email.  Our birthdays are a day apart and this year is a special one for Mr. Weiss.
 
I'm sure many of Mr. Weiss's former students feel the same way that I do and wish him well with good health and lots of happiness. 
Thank you for being my ray of sunshine.....love you! 
Beverly Douma Severe class of January 1961

My Favorite Teacher - was my music teacher, Charles Tesar.     Charles Tesar was one of the most influential teachers in my life. My education started at School #6 in Paterson. We then moved to Fair Lawn, where I continued my education, graduating from Fair Lawn High School (FLHS) in 1962. I began playing the clarinet when I was 8 years old and later added playing alto saxophone. I was in the Memorial Junior High School Band and then Fair Lawn High School Band, the Dance Band and Orchestra.

(After I graduated from Fair Lawn High School, he taught at Benjamin Franklin School in Ridgewood until his retirement.)

Charles Tesar was the music teacher for the concert band, the marching band, the dance band, and taught music theory and harmony. I was involved with him in all those activities.

He was a teacher who was devoted to bringing out the best in his students. He was full of energy and emotion. He pushed his students to succeed and let you know when you were slacking off and not doing your best. He did not just teach us how to play the instruments; he also taught us how to understand and appreciate the musicianship of others. In class he would play a record and then question us about the musicianship of the composition and the performance of the musicians. He introduced us to classical and jazz music. I remember one time several band members and I were in a study hall together and the teacher said that we (the band members) were wanted in Mr. Tesar’s classroom immediately. We were puzzled by this. He asked us to listen to and discuss Maynard Ferguson's (a jazz trumpeter) new album when we entered the band room.

He was innovative with recording. In 1958 he was a pioneer in recording the music of the school da
nce band and continued with a new LP for the next few years. Kids in other schools were envious that we had LP albums of our band. (I still have them).
My career goal was to become a professional musician and sit in an orchestra. Although I had the opportunity to go to Julliard, I changed my career goal and became a psychologist.

In those days some friends and I would go to the Jazz Clubs in NYC and the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals. One of the members of that group also wanted to be a musician. He achieved that goal. That was Don Fagen of Steely Dan fame.
Stephen R. Cohen, Ph.D.
 Southampton, PA 18966
 www.stevencohenphd.com