Paul Zaffini

could have been Mrs Linscott  

Paul English

Add me to the belief that the 8th grade English Teacher was Harriet Tippett. I remember the day she explained to my class that she would read the dictionary every day to know and understand the meanings of words. she was open and honest when she spoke with you.

Mark Herman

I agree with Paul the English teacher was Mrs Tippett she definitely left a lasting impression on all of us. We did not know how lucky we were at the time to have her as a teacher/mentor. Mark

Thomas Murphy

7th grade Mrs Lindsey.. 8th grade Mrs.Tippet.. 9th Mr. Shea (tennis coach)?

Joan OConnell

Harriett Tippett was not only an excellent teacher but also an exceptionally generous person. Her legacy to the town of Needham includes not only the many pupils like us whom she taught over 40 years, but also an extraordinary philanthropic act: donating her stately 12-bedroom home on South Street to the VNA. That residence was converted into the Stanley R. Tippett Hospice Home, a tribute to her late husband. The facility offered gentle care and an excellent staff, providing comfort to many of us, including both of my parents, who passed away there peacefully in 1997 and 2001. The VNA sold the property a few years ago, but I will never forget Mrs. Tippett's generosity and the comfort it provided to my family.

Nancy Herendeen (Bonoli)

I had not realized there was one English teacher per grade.  If that was the case then it had to be Mrs. Tippett.  Beth Beattie, trust me I never expected an A+++ but I did love my cat very much so it is no suprise I may have written something nice about him.  

Nancy

Elizabeth Beattie (Strubeck)

To add to Joan's comment, my Dad spent his last days at Tippett House as well with the care of a deeply compassionate and caring staff. Harriet Tippett's legacy reached far beyond Pollard's English class. And Nancy, thank you for sharing your story and giving us all a chance to test our memories.  

Carol Nichols (Friesen)

Sadly I don't remember Ms. Tippett nor had I heard of Tippett House - as a former hospice chaplain I so appreciate such a legacy! My dad died at Glover in 2010 and my Mom moved to the Atria in Newburyport in 2016...I haven't back back to Needham since then.  I do remember Ms. Burke - 10th grade English - and those term papers!  Did we have a term paper in 9th grade?  And I remember our 7th grade Art teacher at Pollard. What was his name?  I remember being introduced to the Vietnam War and Apartheid discussions in his class. And I remember Mr. Vitali - the French teacher and laughing so hard I had to leave the room!   Joan - is your son still in Austin?  We could meet up for coffee again (:  We spend half the year in Maine...so my New England roots endure.

Joan OConnell

Hi Carol!  I remember the Art Teacher as well, but not his name - I recall him as a window to the outside world.  If anyone can locate their copy of the Pollard Yearbook, it would be fun to see the pages of teacher photos.  All the student images can be found in a PDF on the Pollard page - Paul Cunningham scanned them years ago.  Carol, I expect to be in Austin in late March or early April and will hope that you haven't left for Maine yet. I'd love to meet up. 

William Kalinowski

I can remember Mr. Simering as an art teacher at Pollard. Kind of a zany guy - a real charcter.

John Knox

I was in classes with Carol in 7th grade and I remember Mr. Simmering, Miss Bonekemper and Miss Campbell. I can't remember if Miss Campbell was our English or Social Studies teacher but I remember reading Cry the Beloved Country about apartheid in her class. We also  had a field trip to the UN that year I believe. Miss Bonekemper married Chuck Lemmert who was an activist pastor in Needham. With the Johnson/Goldwater presidential fight, civil rights marches and early Vietnam discussions, 1964-65 was a tumultuous time.

Paul Sullivan

Joan OConnell

John and Bill - you have such good memories.  I had forgotten these names.  I think Paul Siemering left us a message in his obit which you can see here.  I also vividly remember reading Cry, the Beloved Country and the trip to the UN. We were so lucky to have so many great teachers.

Carol Howell (Michael)

I still have a copy of the 1967 "Paladin" and will try to upload the pages of the faculty in the near future.  I have really enjoyed reading all of the memories people have of the Pollard teachers.  Mr. Narducci, the music teacher, played the piano at my wedding reception on Lake Winnipesaukee in 1976 and I would run into him occassionally since he lived in in the Lakes Region of NH. I must have liked Mr. Shea since he is the only teacher who signed my copy of the yearbook.  I remember reciting Frost's, "Birches" in his class.  I had braces, which made me lisp and I was so embarrased when I had to recite the line, "soon the sun's warmth makes the shed crystal shells".  

Carol Nichols (Friesen)

Cry the Beloved Country - that was an important book for me - a window to the bigger world!  I think we received an outstanding education at Pollard and NHS!  I have fond memories of Pollard - anyone know what happened to Charlie Paffenbarger?  I think the familiy moved to CA - Berkeley?  I should be in Austin in March, Joan, hope we can meet up then!

Lincoln Fish

I agree, it must have been Mrs. Tippett. She put a lot of life into her classroom. I recall that one of her favorite sayings was "Priceless!" , said in response to a student's writing that she liked. 

I ran into her at the Needham Library about 10-12 years after being in her class. I was home on vacation and returning a book. When she heard that I was teaching eighth grade, she said with a twinkle in her eye " If I am remembering correctly, it serves you right!" 

She was a fine teacher, courageous and forgiving. 

Stephen Helm

Wow, the posts have brought  back a bunch of memories, not only of Mrs. Tippett but the other teachers as well. I found my "Paladin" yearbook also and can try to scan it if you aren't successful. And yes, was interesting to see the notes that students and teachers wrote back then.        My folks kept in touch with Bob Narducci until they all passed. They became good friends as a result of the NHS band and four boys going through it and he played in clubs up in NH up until the time of his passing.

Paul English

The Month of August in 1964 My family moved from Roslindale (an area of Boston) out to Needdham, My mother wanted to get the 4 kids in better schools, Every night I was watching the news about Vietnam and what was taking place. Then when Christmas came about there was the Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas special. This convinced me that when the time was right I was going to enter the service and see about going to Vietnam, Well in May of 1971 I joined the Navy but they didn't feel I was right for Vietnam and had me sent to an Aircraft Carrier that was back in Norfolk for a major overhaul as it had had many explosions on the flight Deck from heat seakers and sidewinders, Sadly many men lost there lives in that mess, Oh If you ever saw the flight deck fillm you can see the late John McCain jumping out of his aircraft and running, Nope he did not assist any of the men trying to put out any of the aircraft on Fire, Well I did my 2 years on the Forrestal 10 months of which were spent over in the Mediterranean then spent the rest of my career over in the Pacific. Lived in two great countries. Sorry for rambling on and terrible spelling, I was once told by NHS Guidence Counselor that I would never make it in college and shuld just go in the military. Well she got her wish.

Carol Toran

 Happy New Year to you all!

from class of 71

Joel Johnson

WISHING ONE AND ALL A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR'S EVE. 

ROCK ON ROCKETS !!  55 YEARS AND COUNTING. 

Richard Ludwig

To all Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year 🥂

Kevin McGuinness

Arthur Bell

Happy New Year, to one & all.  Harkening back to the discussion of Mrs. Tippett, I too recall her as being strict, but also a wonderful teacher.  I vaguely remember the bus trip to the UN, but I do remember clearly another bus trip to NYC to see a French play.  Lincoln & I cleverly thought to make the trip a bit more memorable by sneaking a bottle of French wine onto the bus.  The wine was discovered by the bus driver and we were asked to report to Principal Small's office the next morning, and received the news that we had a few extra days off from school to reflect on our mis-behavior!!! 

Lincoln Fish

Hmmmm, sounds like you were the victim of a "bad influence ". Sorry about that, Artie . . .

Steve Krueger

Dear Friends, Classmates, and if you allow me, Sisters and Brothers of our one human family,

I offer this interfaith prayerful reflection, Let This Be Our Gift, to you in honor of our 55th high school reunion occurring in our 56th reunion year, this Saturday, October 3rd.

As an interfaith reflection it is intended for everyone – because our beliefs span a broad spectrum of traditions, including no faith tradition.

My hope is that it may provide some unity, some hope, and generally some air under our wings – collectively and individually – in this chapter of our lives and during a period of our history many refer to as “troubled times.”

In peace, love, community, and hope

Steve
Your brother in our one human family & the NHS Class of 1970

PS If you want to share “Let This Be Our Gift,” here is the url: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QqrbsQ2Ev8LpyPvu02o41yNnw8P0GEs9/view?usp=sharing

Let This Be Our Gift
____________

An Interfaith Prayerful Reflection

Needham High School – Class of 1970 Reunion

Eternal and Holy One, called by many names, before all else, we remember.

We remember those classmates who walked these halls beside us and who have since gone home to you. In the words of the Christian tradition: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their memory be a blessing among us.

We remember, too, our own parents – those still with us and those who have gone before us – who raised us, formed us, and loved us before we knew enough to be grateful. And as the Qur'an teaches: My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.

And for the years since given to us – for classrooms and careers, marriages and children and grandchildren, losses and second chances – we remember the words from Christian scripture: from everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required.

So, this far along, as people from many faith traditions and no faith tradition, we wonder: what do these years ask of us now?

The Jewish tradition, through the Book of Job, asks:
Is wisdom in the aged,
and understanding in the long-lived?

Perhaps the years themselves are not enough.

The Buddha taught that we should often reflect on our years, saying:
I am subject to old age; I am not exempt from old age.

Let us not flinch from that truth. Let us carry it truthfully.
To carry it truthfully – this becomes wisdom.

Let that wisdom not make us certain. Let it guide us to humility.

And let our humility open, at last, into mercy – mercy for each other, for the ones who hurt us and the ones we failed, for classmates we lost touch with and never quite made peace with, for ourselves.

May that mercy, Holy One, open our hearts to love.

And after fifty-six years – after all we've received, all we've buried, all we've learned the hard way – let love be what we have left to give.

Let this be our gift to one another.

Let this be our gift to those who come after us.

Let this be our gift to the world.

Amen