Gerald Lubshina became a teacher at East High School in Aurora in 1963, and taught history and Latin in his first year. Grayal Gilkey followed the next year when he was hired to teach English and physical education and to coach basketball and baseball at the school.
They are the “senior” members of the East Aurora High School retired faculty who still gather three times a year to reminisce about their students and athletes, and to reconnect with their former colleagues.
The group consists of teachers who started at the school in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and who retired beginning in the 1990s up until more recent years. Their “faculty meetings” usually have about 30 people in attendance.
Their unusual shared characteristic is that many of them also finished their careers at East Aurora High School. With some exceptions, not many of them left to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
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At a recent meeting, a poll showed that the 32 attendees taught in the East High School building for a cumulative 725 years, or an average of about 23 years per teacher. Counting service in other East Side schools and in other districts and private schools, their cumulative total reached a whopping 1,085 years – an average of almost 34 years per teacher.
I was privileged to join this group in 1975, and to stay at the school for 27 years. Almost all of the administrators and faculty colleagues were welcoming and helpful as new teachers adapted to working in a “mega school” of about 2,000 students (in the 1970s). With a faculty of over 100 at that time, new friends were very easy to find. We became like sisters and brothers in a family, and lifelong friendships were formed.
Facing challenging times in the school over the decades, including a huge increase in enrollment, brought the faculty “family” closer together. You were never alone, and always had friends to help and support you along the way. It is a real treat to see those same sisters and brothers many years after retirement.
I asked for some specific memories from the group at the recent meeting. These are some of their thoughts:
“Most days I was happy to be with my students at East High. I taught people who would become lawyers, astro-physicists and college professors.” – Gerald Lubshina.
“The best of times while teaching and coaching were from 1964 to 1993. I treasure the friendships I developed from so many students and athletes.” – Grayal Gilkey.
“Many colleagues became family. The students were pleasant and kind to one another, as well as helpful to staff.” – Sandy Smith.
“As a whole, East Aurora students looked up to their teachers and saw education as an important step to success.” – Joel Wyeth.
“I truly enjoyed the students. Most were eager to learn and were very appreciative of what you could do for them. In my department, Business Education, the teachers were a wonderful group to be associated with.” – Dick Schindel.
“It was always fun and never routine. I enjoyed all of the people and students, and it’s still great to see them now as adults.” – Sandy Kelly.
“The staff at East always put kids first. As of today, we get together often and continue to be friends.” – Kevin Talkington.
“It was great coming back to East as a teacher five years after I graduated, because a lot of my former teachers were still there.” – Wendell Jeffries.
“East High was a home away from home. Warm smiles and supportive hugs from students and staff filled the days.” – Arlene Hawks.
My favorite thought, and one that seemed to summarize the spirit of this group, came from Assistant Principal Frank Babich: “Spending time with our students and the faculty and staff at East High School was the highlight of my life.”
The years from 1963 to 1999 were a special place in time for many of these retired faculty. I echo Mr. Babich’s thought, and sometimes tell people that the day that Principal Mr. Ray Collier hired me was one of the best days of my life.
After our recent meeting, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a retired coach from another school. “For 30 years, I never had to go to work,” he said. “It was always fun.”
Interacting with this group also made me think of a quote that is, at different times, attributed to Confucius or to Mark Twain: “Find a job or career that you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.