clifton merchant magazine - march 2016

Clifton Merchant March 2016 3

March 2016 Clifton Merchant4

Home Grown MustangsMaroon & Gray Students Now Teachers

Susan JubakUnforggetable Apple of School 5s Eye

A Royal Mustang ExitRemembering Dave Moose Bossom

Mustangs in Atlantic CityWrestlers Farhan, Murdoch & DePasque

Table of Contents

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Editor & PublisherTom Hawrylko

2016 Tomahawk Promotions

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Art DirectorKen Peterson

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Business ManagerGabriella Marriello

Editorial InternsAriana Puzzo Madison Molner

1288 Main Ave., Downtown Clifton, NJ 07011

Jack De Vries, Joe Hawrylko, Irene Jarosewich, April Lewandowski,

Rich DeLotto, Michael C. Gabriele,Ihor S. Andruch, Tom Szieber

Contributing Writers

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Thomas MullinThe Man Who Always Gives Back

Joella PoundsSt. Mary Alumna, Teacher & Coach

Michael DoktorRecalling Two Clifton Mentors

Cliftonmagazine.com

Whats Inside?

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By Tom Hawrylko

Mr. Sabak is able to get the best out of his studentsabilities when it comes to music, offered JessicaSantana of Clifton, who plays in PCs Concert Band,

Paladin Marching Band, Jazz Band and Pit Band.

His passion for music is contagious, the junior said

of Sabak, Coordinator of Music. He helps students

grow with their music and in life. Paramus Catholics

recent addition of the Music Conservatory shows Mr.

Sabaks dedication to PCs music program.

Sabak, also the Founding Director of the Marching

Paladins, said the new Conservatory offers a 120 seat

band room and a suite of practice rooms, providing space

for individual lessons, group practice and performances.

A multi-instrument musician himself, Sabak said he

feels fortunate that the PC leadership believes in music

education as a part of the whole curriculum. The school

has invested handsomely to offer students the chance to

make beautiful sounds and be excited about music.

Among the most gratifying moments of teaching at

Paramus Catholic are those times when I see the delight

and pride in the faces of my students as they perform, or

master a new technique, or make their first sounds in

learning an instrument, said Sabak. I know that this

part of their education has touched their hearts and they

will treasure it for years to come for as someone once

saidmusic is love that you can hear.Music Director of St. Brendans from 1974 to 2005,

Sabak said the church boasted a 60 member mixed choir,

most of which was made up of high school students.

There was also a boys choir, girls choir and hand bell

choir, along with a school group that produced a number

of Broadway musicals from 2000 to 2004. Sabak was the

force behind all of these groups, teaching, coaching and

giving kids a solid musical and religious experience.

Today at PC, Gary Sabak feels blessed as he contin-

ues to innovate and educate by teaching with music.

Gary Sabak with Junior Jessica Santana of Clifton, the WoodwindCaptain of the Marching Paladins. Photo by Justin Pedrick.

Many will recognize Gary Sabakfrom his three decades as the

music director at St. Brendan

Church on Lakeview Ave. But

since 2005, the former Clifton

resident has been growing the

music program at Paramus

Catholic High School. He is one of

the many wonderful Clifton teachers

we celebrate within the pages of

this months magazine.


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As a teenager growing up in Clifton during the1980s, John Lesler recalled that lively discussionsabout history were a big part of family life, especially

when seated at the dinner table with his parents and

three brothers.

Conversations focused on the recent and contempo-

rary history of the 20th century, vivid, living history.

Lesler was a first-generation American, while his par-

ents were born in Eastern Europe. He often heard sto-

ries about how his grandparents fought against the

Nazis during World War II and how his mom and dad

took great pride in the fact that they had come to the

United States to live the American Dream.

Fascinated by these discussions, they kindled a deep

yearning to become a student of history. He realized

that history was in his bones and part of his DNA.

One night in the fall of 1989, the daily family dia-

logue about current events and history came to an

abrupt halt. There was an almost-eerie silence in the

Lesler home on Nov. 9 as everyone watched the

evening news broadcast. The reports they saw were

beyond astonishing. The Berlin Wallthe dreaded, for-

bidding symbol of Communist totalitarian repression

was coming down. People in Germany were dancing in

the streets.

This was an unthinkable turn of events. The Cold

War was over. Most people from that era assumed the

Berlin Wall would stand forever as a line marking the

geopolitical tension between the two world superpow-

ers: the United States and the Soviet Union. (The wall

actually stood for 28 years.)

Constructed of concrete and barbed wire, the Berlin

Wall was the real-world symbol of The Iron Curtain,

as described by former British Prime Minister Winston

Churchill during a speech at Westminster College in

Fulton, Missouri, on March 5, 1946.

13 WordsDescribe a Passion for History

History is All Around You. YouJust Have to Open Up Your Eyes.

-John Lesler, CHS Teacher

ves the

m. cher

By Michael C. Gabriele


When the Berlin Wall

fell, I remember our family

just sitting around the dinner

table, not really saying any-

thing. We were all focused

on the television, Lesler

recalled. We watched ABC

News and I remember Peter

Jennings (reporting) live at the Berlin Wall. As a teenag-

er, I realized this was a huge moment in history that I was

witnessing.

13 Words; Get It?These memories and other life experiences have

fueled Leslers passion for history. Today, he shares this

passion with his students as a teacher of the American

History II Honors class at Clifton High School. He

expresses his philosophy of learning with 13 words that

are posted above the windows of his classroom:

History is All Around You. You Just Have to Open

Up Your Eyes.

This short statement, while profound and meant to

encourage students, also begs the existential question:

What will you see when you open your eyes?

Youll see everything, Lesler notes You have to

look and understand. History helps the students realize

that their lives have been directly affected and influ-

enced by the decades and generations that came before

them. When they finish my class after 180 school days,

I hope my students can say that we learned a lot and

we understand. We get it.

Having his students get it is the target for Lesler.

His aim is to impart wisdom, insight and perspective,

along with names, dates, places and events. Much like

when he was a teenager at CHS, Lesler urges his stu-

dents to do homework and strike up conversations

with members of their families.

I tell my kids: talk about history with your parents

and your relatives. Ask them questions. One day a stu-

dent came to class and told me that he learned his uncle

was in the Korean War. I asked him: did you know

that? The student said he had never heard those stories.

And thats when it hits them. Thats when they get it.

Thats when the 13 words make sense.

The 13 words are an original quote from Lesler to

underline the notion that every chapter of American

history is relevant to the lives of his students. In

essence, Leslers history class is a collection of

American storiesthe experiences of people who

come to the United States from all corners of the world.

Its a lesson that rings true in his classroom, consider-

ing how the grand diversity of Cliftons population is

reflected in the CHS student body.

Were all Americans. We have an identity as an

American and we have an additional identity based on

our ethnic background. Its something my students can

appreciate.

History on Display at CHSThe curriculum for Leslers American History class

begins with the Progressive Era at the start of the 20th

centurya period highlighted by World War I, major

waves of immigration, the Roaring Twenties, the presi-

dencies of Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson and

the 19th Amendment, ratified on August 18, 1920, giv-

ing women the right to voteand ends with the Cold

War era of the 1950s. Each day class begins with a

review of current events and newspaper headlines.

Lesler is especially proud of the CHS History Club,

which he launched on Sept. 17, 2014.

Lori, John and Jordyn Lesler in a recent photo and John after Parris Island Boot Camp in 1991.


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The club maintains

the largest hallway dis-

play case at CHS, with

exhibits changing

throughout the school

year. I wanted students

to have a chance to pro-

mote history. They take

the lead in setting up the

exhibits in the display

case. The 13 words are

part of the clubs mission

statement.

In early February,

when Lesler was interviewed for this article, the clubs

display case had items on the 50th Super Bowl, Black

History Month, the origin of Teddy Bears, and the rais-

ing of the American flag by U.S. Marines during the

battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.

Club members are encouraged to reach out and be

collaborative. For example, last year they provided

research for performers involved in the annual CHS

dance concert Chasse Through the Century, staged onMay 27, 2015, in JFK auditorium.

History Club members worked together with fellow

students to research dance styles and music for the

show, which included students performing vintage tap

dance numbers from the 1920s.

The CHS History Club members dressed for Chasse Through the Century.

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Outside of the class-

room, Lesler has received

accolades for his work as

The Voice of the

Mustangs, serving as the

announcer for football

games and other events at

Clifton Stadium.

A Teachers JourneyBorn Aug. 13, 1973,

Lesler was a s CHS grad-

uate, Class of 1991. He

was involved with athlet-

ics, playing baseball and

football. I was a decent

athlete; pretty fast, but nothing spectacular. He enlist-

ed in the Marine Corps delayed entry program when he

turned 17, the summer before his senior year.

He decided not to play any sports during senior year

and dedicated his time to preparing for the Marines. He

did, however, support his friends by attending as many

sporting events as possible. As a result, in the Class of

1991 Whos Who voting, he was cited as the student

with the Most School Spirit.

One month after graduation, he arrived at Parris

Island in South Carolina to begin Marine Corps recruit

training. He served in the Marines for four years,

receiving an Honorable Discharge in July 1995.

During his years with the Marines, his service

included the Start I Treaty between the United States

and the Soviet Union/Russian Federation. President

George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail

Gorbachev signed the treaty on July 31, 1991 and

implementation began in December 1994.

He recalled a prophetic conversation he had with a

Marine buddy. Hey Les, what do you want to do

when you get out of the Marines? a chum asked.

Without hesitation, he answered: I want to be a high

school history teacher.

After leaving the Marines, Lesler had a period of

transition regarding his future career plans. He worked

in the private sector and then enrolled at County

College of Morris in September 1998.

One year later he was accepted at Montclair State

University (MSU), where his favorite professor was Dr.

Michael Whelan. His (Whelans) passion for history

reiterated to me how exciting history could be.

Lesler completed his undergraduate degree at MSU

in January 2004. Within a month, he was hired by the

Clifton school district. He had been a student teacher at

Woodrow Wilson Middle School from September to

December 2003.

In May 2011, Lesler earned his Masters Degree in

Educational Technology from Ramapo College,

Mahwah. Lesler and his wife Loria Sign Language

teacher at CHSreside in Morris County. They have a

daughter, Jordyn, 15, from Leslers previous marriage.

Jordyn knows her history. She gets it from talking

with me, he declared with a smile.

Theres No Place Like HomeSitting in his classroom during after-school hours,

Lesler reflected on his career and his years at CHS.

Can a teacher change the life of a student? Yes! Thats

what motivates me every day to become a better

teacher. Im living my dream. Ill always remember the

journey for me to become a teacher. I never let myself

forget what it was like when I was a student at CHS.

When asked whether he ever had considered teach-

ing in any school district other than Clifton, Lesler sim-

ply paused and smiled. Theres no place like home.

Thats Lesler on the right and retired teacher Cassie Craig on the left in 2007, when they led this group of Mustangs in a student exchange program to England.


Can a Damaged Toenail be Malignant

Melanoma?

There are about 12,000

podiatrists in the United

States, according to the

Department of Labor, and

Clifton podiatrist Thomas

Graziano is one of only six

who hold both a Doctor of

Podiatric Medicine

(D.P.M.) and a Doctor of

Medicine (M.D.) degree.Thomas A. Graziano,MD, DPM, FACFAS

This patient had used topical anti fungal medi-

cines but nothing seemed to work. When she

visited Dr. Graziano, his suspicions of skin cancer

(melanoma) were confirmed by the biopsy he per-

formed right in the office.

The skin of the feet and lower legs is often

overlooked during routine medical examinations,

said Dr. Graziano. That is why it important that

the feet are checked regularly for abnormalities

that might indicate evolving skin cancer. Thats

why we are offering free screenings.

During March Only

Free Skin Cancer Screening on the Lower Extremity

When it Comes to Melanomaand Skin Cancer Screenings,

Dont Forget Your Feet!

Dr. Thomas Graziano has treated several cases of melanomas on the

lower extremity, as this photo illustrates. Call to schedule a free skin cancer screening of your feet.

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By Ihor S. Andruch

The Man Who NeverStops Giving Back

It was a Tuesday morning in 1992 and our CHSRussian class was having a test for which I didnt study.

I am fluent in Ukrainian and Polish, but the Russian lan-

guage was distinctly different and for me, more difficult.

While I could breeze my way through verbal class

assignments, being comfortable with Slavic pronuncia-

tion, I needed help with the written test. Hiding my text-

book on my lap under the desk, I figured I was slick.

However, Thomas Mullin had seen this trick more than

once and before I knew it, I was busted. Ten minutes into

the test, he came over and put a big red zero on my paper.

Cheating could have been the end of our relation-

ship. Yet Mr. Mullin gave me a second chance. He was

always my biggest cheerleader and always believed in

me. Why I will never know, but I soon realized that I

had met the man who was, hands down, the best teacher

I had as a Mustang.

Mullin was a dynamic teacher who was always able to

motivate me. Coming from a single parent home, los-

ing my father when I was seven, his belief in me truly

meant a lot. To this day I am grateful for his support.

Mullin taught me Russian for four years at CHS

(1990-1994). Watching him teach was truly awesome.

He always wove his unique sense of humor into the les-

sons, softening the teaching of this harsh-sounding lan-

guage. Maybe it was the way he worked in different and

interesting stories, such as his snorkeling adventures, I

am not sure, but he kept us kids engaged.

The Making of an Academic IconMullin, an Irishman, grew up in Paterson as a Catholic

School kid, first attending St. Bonaventure, then St.

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Johns High School. His family moved to Clifton in

1953 to the Washington Ave. home where he and wife

Joan continue to live today.

While in high school, he realized he wanted to teach.

I discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed what was going

on in teaching and wanted to pursue education as a

career, Mullin, now 73, said recently.

He had a deep desire to learn languages. He attended

St. Peters College in Jersey City and by 1964, had

earned degrees in French and Russian. He continued his

studies at Fordham University and earned a masters

degree in French in 1966. I was interested in learning

the French language, as my grandmother was from

France, explained Mullin.

Mullin got his professional start in September 1966 in

the Rutherford school district. In January 1967, he took

over for a teacher on maternity leave at Woodrow Wilson

Middle School and the district proved to be his home.

In 1968, he was named a French teacher at CHS, but

Mullin knew there was much more to being a teacher

than standing in front of a classroom. An avid skier, he

founded the CHS Ski Club, organizing many trips and

after that, went on to oversee many other after school

clubs, activities and other programs.

He joined the then-evolving world of English as

Second Language (ESL) at the Clifton Evening School

in 1970 and with that step, there was one degree less of

separation between us.

In the early 1970s, my mother came to the United

States from Poland. Soon after she arrived, Mullin taught

her to speak English at the evening ESL Program, a pro-

gram for which he served as director from 1983 to 1992.

Years later, when I told my mother, Irene Andruch,

that my Russian teacher was Mullin, she recalled how

great he was back at the evening school.

My friend Zosia and I had just arrived in the US and

enrolled in Mullins ESL course. He was an excellent

teacher with a great sense of humor; he taught us a lot.

He was very welcoming and spoke to us in Polish,

which made me feel very comfortable. Not only did he

teach us English, I remember him doing a lesson about

the Presidential elections. He showed us how the elec-

tions worked in the US by setting up a mock-elec-

tionin the classroom, my mother recalls.



In 1983 he became the Department

Supervisor of World Languages at CHS and

served there until his retirement in 2000. I had

such wonderful experiences and exceptionally

great students during my years at CHS. To this

day the school offers such wonderful opportu-

nities for Clifton students, said Mullin.

This attitude continues to motivate him to

remain involved in making his hometown a

better place. Even in retirement, Mullin, still

lives an active lifestyle. When not at the gym

three times per week, he is giving back to the

community, as Commissioner of the Board of

Recreation, which hold many events, as an

active member of the Knights of Columbus, the

Henry Dougherty Memorial Scholarship com-

mittee and the Clifton Education Foundation.

I am always happy when we meet around

town. Now my children know him. He still has

a great sense of humor, the same one that he

shared with my mother, with me, and now

shares with my kids.

Growing up in Clifton, Joella Pounds always heardher father, Lou Pounds, Sr., talk about St. Mary HighSchool. While he attended the now closed Paul VI High

School on Valley Rd., he and his wife Susan liked

what the small, co-ed Catholic school in Rutherford

was all about.

Given that history, there was

never any uncertainty about

where she would attend high

school: I loved St. Mary

before I was ever a student

there, explained Pounds, who

now lives in East Rutherford, and also attended

Sacred Heart in Botany Village.

My older sister, Jessica, went to St. Mary and

graduated in 1999. My dad had been bringing

me, my brother, Lou, and my sister there before

we were ever students. My dad loved it there and

really wanted us to go. However, what was unexpect-

ed was that Pounds eventually returned to St. Mary as a

teacher and coach, working alongside some of the

very people that inspired her nearly a decade ago.

While a Lady Gael, Pounds was a stand-out

student athlete in cross country and softball, but

where she truly excelled was on the basketball

court. As a junior, the small but aggressive

former Cliftonite racked up more than 1,000

points, and was a McDonalds All-

American nominee, and was on the radar

of several colleges in the area.

In fact, her skills and shooting were

so good she was named to the BergenRecord Girls Basketball All-DecadeTeam for 2000-2010.

As a senior, Pounds was originally

considering English as her college

major. But a devastating knee injury

during her final year of high school in

2004 changed her plans.

A Role Model & Teacher on the Court and in the Classroom at St. Mary

By Joe Hawrylko

Above are some of the St. Mary Gaels basketballsquad with Coach Pounds, from left, Janea Kelty,Makiela Walker, Nicole Lucianin, Angelica Krajnik,Samantha Tello, Elizabeth Perchun. Thats alsoJoella Pounds on the court as a Gael in 2003.


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I jumped and landed

awkward, and blew out

my ACL, MCL, and tore

my meniscus in my right

knee at the start of my

third game of my senior

season, she recalled.

Her year derailed, she

spent the next several

months in rehab. The set

back let to an opportunity

as Pounds became inter-

ested in rehab work. She

began studying Athletic

Training at Long Island

University in Brooklyn, where she played basketball on

a full scholarship.

After graduating with a M.S in Athletic Training in

2009, she was looking for a job, and got a call from one

of her former teachers at St. Marys.

Opportunity Back HomeThe Athletic Director Matt Stone, called and asked if

I wanted to be the assistant girls basketball coach,

Pounds recalled. Then I got into teaching phys ed, and

it went from there.

Now in her third season as head coach of the Lady

Gaels, Pounds came in with experience coaching youth

sports, but not any time teaching or leading PE classes.

I started an AAU program, the NJ Celtics, but I dont

do it anymore. Im a very competitive person, and I just

wanted to be active in basketball, explained

Pounds. Its honestly tough for me as a former athlete...

I wanted to stay active and I just want to be around the

game of basketball. Ive had the experiences that all ath-

letes get: all the friendships, all of the sports memories

as a player now as a coach, I want my girls to have the

same experience. Sports are a very good tool for life in

general. We won two games my first year here, and were

.500 last year, so this is definitely the best season Ive

had, and the best weve had in a while. In her third sea-

son as Varsity coach, the Gaels are16-7 as we go to press.

Looking at her personal growth, she attributes her

success to having strong mentors in her life.

I was lucky enough to have several good coaches

growing up. My father was my first coach, and he

demanded the most out of me out of any of my coaches,

she explained. Pounds father was also a standout athlete

in high school, and attended Paul VI in Clifton with his

daughters current boss, St. Mary principal Tara Brunt.

I used to play softball as a kid in the Eastern Division

in Clifton. My father was my coach. I started to play

basketball at Sacred Heart CYO, and then I started run-

ning cross country in high school.

The Legacy of GaelsOur Athletic Director, Matt Stone, hes the one that

offered me this opportunity to come back and be a part

of St. Mary, recalled Pounds. Mike Sheridan is anoth-

er major influence, hes our Director of Alumni, she

said, noting that Sheridan, also the Gaels Football

Coach, is a legacy alumni. His father and other family

members attended the school. And that, added Pounds,

is what makes the school special to generations of Gaels.

We have a lot of people that just want to go back and

give to the school, whether it is teaching or coaching,

continued Pounds, when Coach Stone called me up and

asked me to coach, I didnt even hesitate. He was the

boys basketball coach at the time, and my cross country

coach when I was in school. He helped me out a lot in

high school, and he helps me out a lot now. I can always

look up to him, and ask for advice whether it is from a

teaching or coaching perspective.

Joella Pounds at center with Sacred Heart classmates and staff at the 2000 graduation.



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In addition to teaching physi-

cal education, Pounds is the

chair for physical education, and

teaches driver education, health,

life skills, and first aid. Though

coaching is what brought her

into the field, the proud alumni

said she loves the ability to

shape the lives of young men

and women on the court and in

the classroom.

One of the main reasons I want-

ed to come back was just because of

how much I loved it here, explained

Pounds. I have two girls on my

team that are probably going to end

up playing basketball in college. But

we have such a diverse mix of stu-

dent-athletes. In my group of sen-

iors, my one point guard who Ive

been coaching since she was in the

5th grade with AAU is graduating

this year, and is a very smart kid

she is going to be going to school

anywhere she wants.

Like those ads say, St. Mary is

small and personal, she contin-

ued. I could tell you every single

students name. Out of the 300 or so

we have, I meet them at some point

during the year. I love that about this

school. There are a couple teachers

that I had that are still here. Its cool

seeing them in a different light now

as a coworker. Im thankful I never

got into trouble or anything! But I

am very happy that I got to go to a

place that was so important to my

family, and now I work here too.

At Joellas 2009 graduation fromLong Island University,Brooklyn, siblings Jessica andLou, her dad and mom Lou andSusan, and grandmother Helen.


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Most students know Michael Doktor as the VicePrincipal of the Central Wing at CHS. What manydont know is that before he became the VP three years

ago, he spent about a decade in front of the classroom as

a teacher and was a student-athlete here as well.

Along the path Doktor took to where he is today,

Doktor, a CHS Class of 1995 grad, found mentors who

helped guide him. He specifically cited Jerry Waller and

Lynn Tuorto as two such influences.

Waller, who was an AP Accounting teacher, now

retired, set the bar high. The AP class, really college-

level accounting, was difficult, time-consuming with

deadlines. He taught us to charge at the subject matter

with a can-do attitude. He had faith in us and always

pushed us to do our best, recalled Doktor.

Doktor was also a pretty good Mustang volleyball

player who later coached the Mustangs. His mentor on

the court was Head Coach Lynn Tuorto, who is still in the

Clifton Schools system.

Not only did she teach me on the court, she taught me

how to deal with adversity off of the court, said Doktor

of Tuorto, who is a Special Education Coordinator and a

member of the Child Study Team. After I graduated, she

gave me an opportunity to coach along side of her, said

Doktor. She taught me the intangibles... how to deal

with kids... how to best handle different situations.

If it wasnt for them (Walker and Tuorto), I wouldnt

be where I am today. Everything they showed me was

invaluable, especially in understanding how to success-

fully work with the students and athletes, added Doktor.

A business teacher who taught Advanced Computers

at CHS for more than 10 years, Doktor was also a great

Head Coach of the boys and girls volleyball teams.

From 1999-2012, he produced a combined record of

506-184, among them many championships. However,

because of BOE rules Doktor had to give up coaching to

become an administrator, but he remains a great cheer-

leader for the CHS teams.

Moving from teacher to administrator doesnt mean

priorities change. The first priority remains: help stu-

dents and everything else will fall into place. Education is

all about caring about the students. If you dont care

about the students, youre in the wrong profession, con-

cluded Doktor.

By Ihor S. Andruch

Students First,Michael Doktor says,All Else Will Follow

Mike Doktor cited two mentors: above with Lynn Tuorto,and Jerry Waller, pictured on our Jan. 1998 cover.

Getting kids moving is whatdrives Emil Rascher. Theresnothing better than having

happy kids in PE class, said

the physical education teacher

at School 9, on Brighton Rd.

They are always having fun

and dont always realize that

they are exercising.

When I was a kid, I used to

ride my bike to the park and

spend the entire day there.

These days are different, many

of the parks are nearly empty.

So, PE class is where kids get a

lot of their daily exercise.

Rascher, who has been

teaching for more than 17

years, knows that he is one of

the reasons kids will stay phys-

ically active in school and

hopefully healthy for a lifetime.

Being innovative while being physically active is a

philosophy he brings home to his family, wife Jenn,

children Trevor (7) and Abby (5), who are involved with

soccer, baseball and basketball.

Among his accomplishments is the improvement of

the PE program. I recently received grants to purchase

a Wii Fit for the students to use during PE class, as well

as Family Fitness Fun Book Bags the kids can take

home and use jump ropes and other exercise equipment

with their families.

In addition to teaching at School 9, Rascher coaches

CHS Varsity Hockey, where he has been assistant coach

for the last 15 years.He credits his coaching and playing

success to long-time CHS Varsity Hockey head coach,

Tom Danko whom he considers one of the best role

models in hockey. Danko develops discipline and com-

mitment in the players that he coaches.

Good sportsmanship is the foundation of his educa-

tional view. It doesnt matter if you win or lose, its the

way you act that determines the winner or the loser.

Education Never RestsRaschers year doesnt end when June comes around.

Hes been an integral part of the success of the Clifton

Recreations youth summer programs where he man-

ages six supervisors and over 120 counselors. For over

two decades, Emil has impacted thousands of Clifton

youth. He was the recipient of the Clifton Recreation

Man of the Year award in 1999, said Debbie Oliver,

Clifton Rec Department director.

Learning doesnt end in the classroom; its an ever

growing process and you need to continue challenging

yourself in all ways, stated Rascher.

His love of the Rec Dept began as a youth while he

was attending the programs himself. At the time, they

were held at eight parks throughout town where the kids

played different games with each other.

It has grown so large that the schools are now

involved and there are now various themes such as park

olympics, park dance, weekly bowling and others.

Summer Days at the Park has three locations:

Schools 3, 11 and 13 with some 300 kids.


By Ihor S. Andruch

Keep Moving & Having Fun

Emil, Jenn, Trevor and Abby Rascher. Jenn, the former Jennifer DalPos,is a teacher and also a Mustang. She graduated CHS in 1996.

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The success of the Allsport, Junior SportsStar and

Tots-o-fun programs are a true testament of the great

work that the Recreation Department has accomplished.

What keeps Rascher motivated? I see the kids, par-

ents and staff year round. Thats important. And I

enjoyed these programs as a kid. I want to give back to

the community where I grew up, extend the fun that I

had to the kids of today.

Oliver noted that having the Rec Dept. install roller

hockey rinks at Chelsea and Oak Ridge parks was his

idea. He also was a big part of the design and construc-

tion of the Clifton Skate Zone in 2002.

Personal LifeHis mother Doris, who taught 4th grade in Allendale

for over four decades, was an important influence in his

life. Raschers father, also named Emil, passed away at

the age of 42, of prostate cancer, when Rascher was only

11 years old, which impacted the young boy deeply.

A true Mustang success story, Rascher attended

School 2 and WWMS. He played ice hockey at CHS

and at William Paterson University.

This 1994 CHS grad lives near Ravine Park with his

family. His wife teaches 6th grade in Hillsdale. They

enjoy being outdoors with their kids, especially summer

weekends at the beach in Seaside Heights.

With a Masters Degree in Public Health plus an

additional 30 credits, and a Supervisors Certification,

Rascher says his teaching philosophy remains pretty

basic, Keep kids engaged, moving and having fun.


Tom Danko, John Gulardo and Emil Rascher in 1994.

For current and recent Mustang athletes, JohnPontes is a regular presence. A mainstay. A part of theirClifton High School experience.

He is a veteran track and field coach known and

beloved by just about anyone with an association with

Clifton sports, Pontes also spent nearly three decades

teaching health at CHS. His love of his sport, his seri-

ousness in his approach andas a 1968 Clifton grad

himselfhis ability to connect with his athletes made

him a favorite of pretty much each Mustang who came

under his tutelage.

As respected as hed become in his profession,

becoming an educator and coach wasnt his original

plan. When I was a kid, I had an appointment to the

Merchant Marine Academy, Pontes recalled. I was

all set to go, but I had the physical and failed it for

issues with my eyesight. That was in the middle of

April in my senior year.

The coach at William Paterson happened to come

to a meet of ours and he wanted a few runners. He was

particularly interested in our top runner, Tom

Greenbowe. He saw me run too, and we both ended up

going there. Ironically, it is the failure of the aforemen-

tioned physical that would set in motion several decades

of success for Pontes as an athletic coach.

He returned to CHS and became its head boys and

girls cross country coach in 1984. Two years later, he

took over the boys spring track squad (which, after a

three-year absence, hell oversee again this coming sea-

son), and was the boys and girls indoor leader for a peri-

od of time, as well.

With his leadership and determination, it is likely

Pontes could have led any team to the heights at which

he has taken CHS track. For him, though, it has been

more fulfilling doing so at the place at which he was

once a student. Still going strong in 2016, he also

acknowledges great pride in the fact that there is cur-

rently an uncharacteristically high amount of former

Mustangs at the helm of various Clifton sports.

It is a nice thing to see, Pontes said. Home grown.

It shows the tree has bore a lot of great fruit. This par-

ticular group [of CHS coaches] has a lot pride in their

community. A lot of them had opportunities to go other

places, but they wanted to be here to help instill that

same pride in todays Mustangs.

Pontes may be the grizzled vet of the bunch, but he is

just one of 10or 11 if you include wrestling coach

Dan Geleta, who attended CHS before his family moved

out of townMustang head coaches who impact the

lives of youth in the city where they grew up.


By Tom Szieber

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At the opposite end of grizzled vet is CHS 2007 grad

and current Mustangs gymnastics coach Brittany

Gaccione. Going into her third season as a head coach,

her youth contrasts with the many years of service put in

by the likes of Pontes, but her passion to see her athletes

grow as both sportsmen and people is just the same.

I love hearing them talk about the school events they

are looking forward to, or care enough to invite me to an

after-school activity, Gaccione said. The most fulfill-

ing thing about doing this, though, is watching [one of

my gymnasts] evolve and come into their own.

For each alumnus/coach, the desire to impact their

student-athletes has at least partially been fostered by a

figure who did the same for them. The most notable

example is that of boys soccer coach Stan Lembryk, who

credits much of his approach and achievement to the late

Clifton legend, Fernando Rossi.

In his two-plus decades leading the CHS boys soccer

team, Rossi won 353 games, 12 Passaic County titles,

three sectional crowns and the 1994 Group IV champi-

onship. He also impacted the futures of countless ath-

letes like Lembryk, who tries each day to do the same for

his players.

Coach Rossi inspired me to not only take advantage

of everything we have and be the best person we could

be on and off the field, Lembryk explained. He wasnt

just interested in us as soccer players. That is the part that

touched me the most. I think one thing that I learned

from him that he passed on was his ability to communi-

cate to all players differently. Some respond to yelling,

some with an arm around their shoulder. He was master-

ful with that, and I always to try to do the same.

Along with Pontes, Geleta, Gaccione and Lembryk,

Clifton also boasts a coaching roster that includes for-

mer Mustang athletes Konrad Kruczek (the current

girls soccer coach), George Cowan (boys lacrosse),

Joe Rivera (baseball), Andrea Bobby (boys tennis,

boys and girls swimming), Chad Cole (golf and girls

tennis), Mike Rivera (boys basketball) and Ralph

Cinque (football). Each of Cliftons student-to-coach

teachers has done it his or her own way, but all have

contributed to CHS athletics with a passion that only a

hometown son (or daughter) can.

I think CHS is very fortunate, said Joe Rivera. I

know each of the coaches we have personally and I

know they are very experienced, and very knowledge-

able. And for those who went here as students, to

coach in your hometown, is what you always want to

do. You want to show your athletes that even things

like showing up on time and tucking your shirt in at

practice matterbecause theyll matter in life. Each

kid is different, but as a coach, we all want to be a pos-

itive influence on as many as we can. And its extra

special to do it in Clifton.


John Pontes (1968), Brittany Gaccione (2007), George Cowan (2000), Joe Rivera (1993), Ralph Cinque (1993), Stan Lembryk (1987), the late Fernando Rossi, Mike Rivera (1997), Konrad Kruczek (2004), Andrea Bobby (1979).

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While teachers are oftenunforgettable to a student,there are students who also

leave a lasting impression on

their teacher. Susan Jubak

admitted, certain students

stand out when I surprised her

with a phone call on a February

afternoon, nearly two decades

since I was in her 3rd grade

class at School 5.

You gave me a cloth bag

with an apple on it. I still have

it, she continued as we joked

about teachers never can have too many bags.

I was happy to hear that she remembered me after all

of these years. It also wasnt much of a surprise to hear

how meaningful her students were to her as now I am a

1st grade teacher at the Brookdale Elementary School

in Bloomfield and understand firsthand.

We shared memories, spoke about the differences and

similarities between teaching then and now. I told her

that I loved my morning journal writing in her class so

much that I decided to make that a daily morning exer-

cise for my class, as well. Besides being excellent writ-

ing practice, it is an amazing memory to look back

upon, as I did this past summer when I packed up my

belongings from my mothers house.

I realized that many of Ms. Jubaks quirky traits and

her strong belief in having fun are part of my teaching

strategy today.

Ms. Jubak journey to the classroom began in 1966 as

a newly qualified teacher from Seton Hall. That same

year she was hired at School 5 as a 4th grade teacher.

She stayed for only a year as she left to raise her two

sons. It wasnt until 1985 that Jubak returned as a sub-

stitute teacher. By 1986 she was rehired by School 5

for the 3rd grade. She spent the last four years of her

career in a fourth grade room, just where she started,

until she retired in 2010. It was a full circle... I loved

every minute of it, she recalled. In 2010, Ms. Jubak

was out of school for five months for a


Ms. Jubak is not a fan of having her photo taken so we have her 3rd grade class from1998 (with some last names missing). From top left: Devon Devries, DamonPasquale, Damian Patty, Francis, Bryan Castro, Casey Hawrylko, Nicholas. Middle:Samantha, Amanda Sosa, Nasvi Fontanez, Kelly, Catherine, Holly Sorenson.Bottom: Richard, Angelo Grippo, Bryan Clemens, Shawn La Gala, Brian.

By Casey Hawrylko

Unforgettable...Thats why itsincredible, thatsomeone sounforgettable,thinks that I amunforgettable too.

surgery. Although she was encouraged to retire before

the end of the school year, she knew it was important to

return and personally see her kids off in June.

Despite the changes to the profession and the bashing

of teachers today, there was never the slightest hint of bit-

terness hidden behind her cheerful voice. School 5 was

always a friendly school, she said. Even the subs knew

it and wanted to be there. The kids saw this. Its great for

them to see a healthy atmosphere. She said the adminis-

trators, teachers, aides and other staff as well as the high

level of parental involvement all contributed to making

School 5 a pleasant and positive environment.

Although she considers herself to be notoriously strict,

that is not the memory I have of her teaching style that

has made an everlasting impact on myself and many

other students over the years.

When I shared a silly memory from her classroom,

Jubak cracked and admitted, having fun and learning...

you have to bring humor! Sure, Macarena contests were

not in the curriculum, but having fun is a necessity for

successful recipe of teaching. Although staying positive

and having fun with her students was Ms. Jubaks secret

for success, she also took on a maternal role that natural-

ly is required while teaching. They laughed, I laughed.

They cried, I cried, she explained as she underscored

how significant a strong student-teacher relationship is.

Everyday was a learning experience, even from the

kids, she added.

Ms. Jubak recalled a time when she was decorating the

classroom for the holidays with her class. One boy in

particular who did not have the ideal home life seemed

especially infatuated by the beautiful decorations. She

decided to pack a box of decorations for him. This will

be the best Christmas ever she recalled him exclaiming

as he received the gift. That student continued to stop by

my classroom until he went into the service, she said.

Student-teacher relationships arent the only important

connection to a successful career.

Teaching is a gift that should be shared Who are

you hurting when youre in competition with col-

leagues? she said.

Retired for over five years now, she credits her grand-

children for being the best way to spend her retirement.

Mia, 9, Alyssa, 7, and Emma 2, spend a lot of time with

their grandma, doing creative writing.

A volunteer reader to her granddaughters class, being

in a school strikes a chord. I feel a void when I read or

watch a play... it brings back fond memories and I miss

it. When she visits, she asks the teacher if there is

enough time to do a thoughtfully planned out craft that

goes with the storyand makes sure she does not take

more time than promised.

Both of her sons ended up working in schools. Her

elder son Allen is in Christopher Columbus, and Joseph

is a teacher in Paterson. They grew up watching her

grade papers and seeing her devotion to her job, which

undoubtedly inspired them to work in public education.

Not all people understand or truly respect teaching...

she said of the mood voiced by some politicians, but the

satisfaction she received from teaching was enough. She

encourages teachers to stay strong: No matter what goes

on, endure itit is so gratifying.

She emphasizes once again the importance of teachers

trying their best to still find the time for fun, the creative

projects, and impromptu lessons. That is what makes

school and learning so memorable for students and teach-

ers alike. That I can vouch for. Thank you, Ms. Jubak.


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By Irene Jarosewich


By the ripe old age of eight, Jeff Labriola knew his des-tiny. I remember in second grade holding up a paper in

front of the classroom on which I had written When I

grow up I will be a teacher and show the class how to

make some art projects. Nobody ever told me you must

be an art teacher but I have been fortunate that I did not

have to struggle to figure out what I wanted to do in life.

While nobody told him to be a teacher, he did have

some impressive influences that guided him. His moth-

er Jean Zelenka Labriola was a teacher before and after

marrying and raising her family. His uncle, Jerry

Zelenka, who manages the A Touch of Nature live ani-

mal shows, was a fabled biology teacher at CHS for

more than 40 years.

Middle school was not easy for me, continues

Labriola, a kid who didnt like sports and preferred to

paint. But my art instructors at Woodrow Wilson John

Nick and Ed Slothoff convinced me of my talent. I

still stay in touch with Ed, who is 97, and his wife. At

CHS, I had Mary Ann Baskinger and Carol Hartman,

both phenomenal teachers. I wanted to be able to do for

children what they did for me.

As much as middle school was not easy for him,

Labriola now has the opportunity to make it easier for

others. After graduating Montclair State in 2001,

Labriola, 37, signed on as the art teacher at Christopher

Columbus Middle School where he has taught for the

past 15 years and where he is one of Cliftons favorite

teachers. Well, thats kind, grins Labriola when told

of the accolades, but I think I may have unfair advan-

tage over teachers of traditional academics because,

lets face it, my subject is pretty fun.

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Old School Methods, New School MindsetThe middle school art program is stronger than when

he was in school 25 years ago, believes Labriola, a

change driven in great part by the dramatic changes in

technology.

The careers choices for an artist today are more

expansive. No longer are they art teacher or starving

artist. Everything you touch, you use or wear was creat-

ed by a designer or artist. Computer-aided design bare-

ly existed back then. Today entire college programs are

devoted to it. It is truly possible to think of art as a

multi-faceted career choice, whether it be graphic

design, fashion, industrial design.

More than ever, our entire world is visual, he con-

tinues, Everything we interact with is design-driven.

So I work hard to get rid of the stereotype that art is not

a good career choice.

However, his teaching methods remain old school.

Labriola wants his students to use scissors, paper, glue.

Not cut and paste in PowerPoint, but use the real thing.

Students are proficient on their computers, but do not

know how to use manual tools.

He has each group of students for 45 teaching days,

during which he introduces them to a variety of medi-

ums oil paints, acrylics, clay, wire and does not

allow them to throw anything away until they at least

take it home to show their parents. If their parents are

unhappy and want to throw away their childs art proj-

ect, then thats their choice, but not in my classroom, not

in my trashcan. While you may hate it, your parents will

probably love it.

Cant Get More Clifton Than ThisHis maternal grandparents started out in Delawanna,

at a time, according to Labriolas mother Jean, long

before there was indoor plumbing. When Jean Zelenka

married John Labriola of Passaic, they, too, decided to

settle down in Delawanna to raise their family eldest

son John, daughter Jeannie, and youngest son Jeffrey.

Labriolas parents, sister and brothers family all remain

in Clifton or nearby. Jeannie, also a teacher, teaches

Special Ed at School #11.

In between Jeannie and I was a sister who passed at

five and a half months. I mention this because I


realize that this influenced the way I

was raised. Deep commitment and

loyalty to family, faith in God, sup-

port for one another and others,

always being there for each other

these were the most important val-

ues in life. The wonderful values

that my parents instilled in us.

His grandfather Vincent Zelenka,

Uncle Vinnie as he was known to

admirers in Clifton, was a Scout

leader and Board of Education com-

missioner. He was also an advertis-

ing artist in New York City and Labriola credits him

with providing the influence and the genes of an artist

in his life.

After attending School 16 and Woodrow Wilson,

Labriola graduated CHS in 1997. However first, during

his senior year, he was partnered with former mayor

Gloria Kolodziej during Youth Week, the CHS program

that partners a student with a public official so that

young people receive insight about how a city works.

The following summer he was the city of Cliftons

first art intern under then city manager Al Greco.

These experiences were crucial to the establishment of

the Clifton Arts Center, where Labriola continues to

serve as the president of the Advisory Board of Trustees.

Gloria and I had several conversations about what

could be done. The Clifton Art Association wanted a

place to show local art, the barns were sitting empty, the

buildings were partial finished and city leadership

wanted it so by 1998, the Clifton Arts Center, Inc. was

formed and I was put in charge. I was young, 19, in col-

lege and had time to dedicate to get the center going. I

was in the right place at the right time and it turns out, I

had natural organizational skills a Type A personality

with an artistic brain.

The arts center opened in 2000, transforming a city

that, notes Labriola, wasnt very art oriented back then.

Now it is an essential part of Clifton. I love to hear sto-

ries from the volunteers who work there. It has become

part of their identity. The other night, we held a

fundraiser for Christopher Columbus a learn how to

paint night for adults. The art center, the sculpture gar-

den, they make Clifton unique.

More Than Just TeachingSchool, especially middle school, which is such a

tough time for almost all children, needs to be about a

community that cares. Labriola believes in this principle

passionately.

My first day teaching was September 1, 2001. Ten

days later, we had 9/11. I dont want to sound like only

tragedy informs my point of view, but I did realize,

absolutely, how important it is that school needs to be a

safe place for students. A place of comfort and of sup-

port for young people. All teachers, first and foremost,

must be good human beings with their students It is

important for kids to have positive teachers.

So Labriola does not only teach. He serves as the

chair of the CHAMPS committee and is proud of the

success of the CHAMPS program at Christopher

Creativity, engineering, many volunteers and more gointo transforming the CCMS gym into an alwaysunique stage for the 8th grade Farewell Dance.

Columbus, which he believed changed the school envi-

ronment. CHAMPS is a state-mandated program

through the federal No Child Left Behind guidelines.

We designed a program of expectations for the students,

explained and maintained a program of positive rein-

forcement praise, CHAMPS tickets in exchange for

prizes, staff and student recognition with the goal to

reduce sick days, suspensions, to keep children in

school. Last year, our school was chosen as a state

model. Thats a huge change.

He also advises the Student Council, helps with the

set designs for school plays, works with yearbook team.

However, probably one of his most noteworthy activi-

ties with the students is creating the much anticipated

8th grade Farewell Dance held the second weekend in

June. The Farewell Dance may be his signature event.

Each year a theme is chosen, but it is a secret for the

kids. What is most gratifying is that current parents, for-

mer parents, former students come and volunteer time to

transform the gym into an awesome event space. It

shows how strong the community is in Clifton, and how

much people believe and support the public schools. I

make a lot of the decoration at home, so no one gets to

peek. In lieu of graduation, this is their moving up cer-

emony. Last year the theme was circus and we had a

juggler, popcorn machine, the works. Its more than a

dance, its an experience.

This commitment to students returns to Labriola

when he hears back from those who have graduated.

Recently a student whom he taught his first year, who

now lives in Canada, was on a business trip in the New

York area.

He took a cab from the airport before boarding the

plane and came to Christopher Columbus. Hes in his

mid-20s now and has a great job with a media company.

He told me I just wanted to come out and personally

thank you. Because of you, I studied art in high school,

got into photography. You changed my life. I was

floored. But I love teaching, it may sound corny, but

every teachers creates their students. My students are

my artwork. It is very important for us as teachers to

accept and understand our influence over students,

which is a humbling thought, therefore since we are

given the power, we should choose to inspire them.

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As a boy, Cannici wanted to become an artist, a pas-sion evidenced by the murals and sculptures that grace

Clifton High School. At age 12, he read an autobiogra-

phy about his hero, artist Norman Rockwell, and decid-

ed to seek the great man out for advice.

Knocking on his front doorIn the 1950s, Rockwell worked in a studio in

Stockbridge, Mass., close to where Cannici spent sum-

mers with relatives. Rockwells studio was in the

downtown section of town, and Cannicis book had a

picture of the studio, letting him know exactly where it

was. I walked up the steps and rang the doorbell,

Cannici remembers. A tall, thin man came out.

Looking up, I could see he had a prominent Adams

apple. On his easel, he was working on a painting that

would become a cover for the Saturday Evening Post.What happened next would influence Cannici for the

rest of his life.

I was just a kid, he says, and he was working. He

could have told me to go awaybut he didnt. He was

warm, invited me in, and showed me his work. He

signed my copy of his Four Freedoms in that famous

block signature of his. I even took a picture of him with

my Brownie Hawkeye camera.

I never forgot how Norman Rockwell treated me.

Most people want to help otherssometimes all you

have to do is ask. By knocking on that door, it convinced

me to follow my dreams, to keep reaching for them.

Thats something I tried to teach my students. Though

his thoughts of an art career faded, Cannici always

remembered meeting Americas most beloved artist.

As a teacher, he encouraged students to write letters

to famous people, asking questions about what they

were studying in school. Many wrote back. Responses

came to Clifton High from people like Margaret Mead

and J. Edgar Hoover.

I wanted my students to see that if you believe in

yourself, you can be successful, he says. And when

my students became successful, like the people they con-

tacted, it was their job to pass their success on to others.

For 40 years, Bill Cannicithe son of an educator

and ex-Marine turned teacherhas been passing along

his personal success for generations of Clifton children.

September of 2006 marked the first time in four

decades he was not there to greet them.

Though his passion for education still burns, hes

decided to do other things with his life. Surrounded in

2006 by his office full of memories, in the school he

loves, he sighed, I decided it was time.

By Jack DeVries

Former CHS Principal Bill Cannici,who retired in June, 2006 after a 40-year

career in education, learned the power

of following your dreams early in life.


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In the BloodBecause of his fathers career, many might have pre-

dicted Cannici would end up in education, but his path

wasnt always that clear.

The office he decorated as a principal and spent

many hours in was a clue. Cannici will tell you its

museum appearance puts students at easetheyre

more likely to open up to him after talking about his

knights helmet or the Harley Davidson motorcycle gas

tank. But the objects and artwork also say much about

the man.

There are framed posters honoring Monet and

Einstein. Articles about Clifton Mustangs sports teams

are carefully clipped from newspapers and taped to a

door behind his desk. Every space is crammed with

memories and interestsa train tucked in a bookcase,

a Civil War horse in another.

Though Cannici defines himself as a teacher and

administrator, his office suggests hes more a champion

of the human spirit. And this is where he nurtures that

spiritthis school, his lifes work, is what gives kids a

fighting chance to succeed.

William Cannici was born in Passaic and lived at

212 Howard Ave., near Third Ward Park. His father

Peterironically a Clifton High graduate who later

became principal at Passaic High Schoolstarted as a

biology teacher in the city. The elder Cannici would

also serve as superintendent of Passaic schools.

Photo of Norman Rockwell by 12-year-old Bill Cannici.


His mother Caroline met Peter in her hometown of

Pittsfield, Massachusetts. After getting married, they

moved to Passaic and raised two sons: Bob, a former

mayor in Rochelle Park, and Bill, two years later. Both

would go on to Passaic High while their father was

principal. My brother used to see him in the hallways,

Cannici recalls, and call him Dad. Id see him and say,

Hey, Mr. Cannici. I put a different spin on itI want-

ed to be one of the kids.

My father was a damn good teacher, highly regarded

in the community. I still get compliments about him

from Clifton people who went to school in Passaic.

Cannici says he was a B-, C+ student. Unsure of what

he wanted to do with his life, he applied to his fathers

alma mater, Tusculum College, and was accepted.

It was like a movie set, Cannici describes the small

Tennessee school, with the mountains in the back-

ground. It was beautiful, and I decided to go there.

He spent two years at the school, gaining a love for

education. He began to achieve high grades, motivated

by his professors, especially Dr. Schroeder, a 77-year-old

teacher who taught various sociology courses. He was

stimulating, just fantastic, Cannici says. He really

turned me around.

I was inspired by dynamic teaching. Profs like Dr.

Schroeder taught from the gut, taught with passion

qualities I wanted in myself as a teacher and the teachers

in this high school. You shouldnt be a teacher if you

dont love the kids and your material, and have the abil-

ity to marry them together.

Deciding to get a diploma from a larger school,

Cannici transferred to the University of Tennessee at

Knoxville (he would graduate with a degree in social sci-

ences). When he began student-teaching, he found his

lifes calling. I taught in a little town in the mountains

called Clinton, he says. The school had been blown up

few years before by the Klu Klux Klan because they

decided to integrate. The only part of the building that

survived was the auditorium, and the new high school

was built around it.

The story of the high schools integration and destruc-

tion was later featured on the CBS TV program, See ItNow, hosted by Edward R. Murrow. The show stirredthe bitter feelings that remained in town, creating an

atmosphere Cannici describes as on the edge.

But that high school, he says, turned me on to edu-

cation. I got in front of a classroom and it was thrilling.

I remember preparing for hours and hours, not because I

had to, but because I wanted to.

Cannici also remembers the corporal punishment

doled out to misbehaving students. They didnt suspend

kids, he says, they paddled them. Only one person did

itthe principal, Mr. Human, whose name was ironic

for what he did. He was a nice older gentleman, who

would take the kids in his office and whack them with a

paddle for whatever they did. And then it was over.

On the day he left Clinton, he remembers going to the

bus stop and students waving out the school windows,

saying good bye to Mr. C.

It was that experience that convinced me to go into

teaching. But before making the jump to fulltime

teacher, Cannici joined the U.S. Marines in 1965.

I think I was inspired by the old John Wayne war

movies, or a bit brainwashed. But I believe in the Corp,

and if we had been activated (to serve in Vietnam),

theres no outfit Id rather be with. Cannici served in

G Company, a reserve outfit based at Picatinny Arsenal

in Morris County.

In the 1970s, CHS Psychology teacher Bill Cannici.


G Company was a grunt outfit, the infantry and,

obviously, I have short legs. Everything was running,

forced marchthings I absolutely hated to do. But you

had to do it.

Cannici did his 11 week boot camp at Parris Island,

the legendary Marine training ground.

It was brutallike nothing else, he says. If you

did something wrong, the reaction was physical. At the

rifle range, if you shot a Maggies Drawer, which is a

miss, theyd say, Drop your rifle, private. After you

dropped it, theyd rabbit punch you and you had to come

back up and fire again.

It was very physical, but all thats changed now, he

recalls. Still, it was a helluva experience.

After his six-month active duty, Cannici went to

Clifton, not Passaic, and got a teaching job at the high

school. I wanted to make it on my own, he says about

applying first at Clifton, not through my father.

For the next 15 years, he would teach at Clifton High,

becoming one of the first teachers in the state certified to

teach psychology and later writing the schools anthro-

pology course, still used today.

Cannici felt at home in the classroom immediately.

A good teacher is not a clock-watcher, he says. I saw

it as five shows a day, 180 days a yearI enjoyed it.

Passaic Special Education teacher Elaine Potkalesky,

one of Cannicis first students at Clifton, remembers

Cannici taking over from an older teacher and injecting

his classes with enthusiasm. He was a talented

teacher, she says, and it was obvious he cared a lot

about the material.

Using magic and juggling to illustrate his lectures, the

young educator fired up his students about school. He

became known for Gluck, a real duck he trained to play

the piano. We also conditioned the duck to play ping

pong, hitting the ball back to us with a paddle held in its

beak and conducted other conditioning experiments.

He learned a variety of things about his craft during

his first few years.

At first, he remembers, I taught to please the kids

and became oversensitive about how theyd react or if

they said anything critical. I didnt realize that a kid

could have a bad day. Some kids were going through

things like a divorce at home.

After the third year, I changed my philosophy and

began to teach to please myself. As a result, I won more

kids over because I was more relaxed. My enthusiasm

for teaching increased even more.

Cannici had many memorable experiences. As presi-

dent of the Clifton Teachers Association, he led the first

and only Clifton teachers strike in 1973. The two-day

work action brought much media attention and threats

to Cannici.

It was very difficult, he says, something nobody

wanted but had to be done. I was extremely proud of our

teachers.


Another memorable experience was land-

ing in the middle of a bank robbery at the

former Midlantic Bank on Clifton Ave.

At the bank before the first official day of

school, Cannici got into a conversation with

a teller and former student about her classes

at Montclair State. As he was leaving, three

gunmen raced into the bank, demanding

money. One gunman pointed a 38 caliber

pistol at Cannici as the others gathered

money from behind the counter.

The muzzle of the mans gun was mov-

ing, so I knew he was nervous, Cannici

says. I slowly moved my body sideways so

there would be some bone between me and

the bullet in case the gun went off.

When the bank robbers left, the Clifton Police

arrived and shots were fired. The girls in the bank were

hysterical, and I did my best to calm them down.

When Cannici got to school, none of his fellow teach-

ers believed his robbery story. Not until they read about

in the paper the next day, he laughs.

A Lead TeacherIn 1981, Cannici became VP for both

Christopher Columbus and Woodrow

Wilson Junior Highs. Five years later, he

became VP at CHS, a position he would

hold for the next 17 years.

While Cannici missed the classroom, he

saw his administration job as that of a

lead teacher.

I began teaching in a different way, he

says, at faculty, student council, and

board of education meetings.

In 1995, Cannici believed he was ready

for his ultimate role: CHS principal. But it

wasnt to be. First time I apply, I dont get

it, he says. Im extremely upsetI thought I deserved

it. To take his mind off not getting the job, Cannici

drove to Paramus Park Mall. A small rock paperweight

with an inscribed wording caught his eye. It was $15

and way overpriced. It didnt matterI bought it. The

words on it say: Never, Never Quit. It stopped me from

feeling sorry for myself and I snapped out of it.

Bill Cannici in USMCBoot Camp, 1965.

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Three years later, the principals

job opens again and I have a differ-

ent philosophy. I go for it whole

hog. Instead of saying if I get the

job during the interview, I say

when I get the job... And Ill be

dammed but I get it.

As CHS principal, Cannici began

various initiatives. Like he had

done as a teacher, he encouraged

students to paint murals in the hall-

ways, seeing the school as a canvas.

We have tremendous talent, he

says, and the murals deinstitution-

alize the institution.

He also brought sculpture to the

school grounds, along with a water-

fall and gazebodonated by a

woman who won it on the TV show

The Price Is Right. Eagle scouts built

benches near the gazebo, making it a

place where teachers could hold class

on hot days. Aesthetically, he says,

weve created a more college-type

of environment.

To cope with Cliftons growing

school population, he implemented

Zero Period, letting deserving

upperclassman begin classes at 7 am

and dismissing them just past noon

without a luncha privilege they

must earn. In 2006, 800 students

participates in the program.

Other initiatives Cannici champi-

oned are increasing the number of

advance placement (AP) courses

and helping students earn college

credits from Montclair State

University and Passaic County

Community College. In his final

year, 100 students took advantage of

the opportunity. We pay 40 percent

of the tuition, he says, and kids

take college courses with other col-

lege students taught by real profes-

sors. And they earn credits they can

take with them after they graduate .

Cannici also instituted programs

where students can study to become

EMTs or pursue an internship in

many different fields. If youre

devoted to school, he says, it will

pay off before you graduate. A kid

cant lose.

Though he loves his role, Cannici

admits the job comes with unique

pressures. Because of the schools

size, the job of CHS principal

remains one of the most difficult

principal positions in New Jersey.

I make major decisions that

affect kids futuresno question

about it. But I always believe in the

kids. Most kids will turn around

you just cant predict when. Even

when the kids been in trouble with

the police, you must believe in the

kidmost are going to come

through.


However, there are some that never do. Ive had kids

dead at 17, many more times than I care to remember,

from drugs and alcohol behind the wheel. While we

must always believe in kids, sometimes we dont catch

them in time. Theyre not buying what were selling.

He believes parents can make a tremendous differ-

ence in their childs life. Unfortunately, some parents

let things gothings like curfew and who their child

hangs out with. Knowing about your kid is so impor-

tant. As a parent, I lay down parameters. I wanted my

kids involved in a sporttheir choice, and an activity,

again their choice. And I want productivity, which

means good grades.

Looking Forward

Though at peace with his retirement decision, Cannici

knows hes leaving behind unfinished business. School

overcrowding is always on his mind, and he worries

about students, teachers, and vice principals going

down in the crush of hallway traffic and being injured.

We were criticized the other night at a planning

board meeting. Someone said, Look at them, Clifton

High School, despite all this stuff, their test scores are

going up. Test scores go up because we have a great

staff here. Over-crowing is counter-productive to educa-

tion. He said he was especially worried about the rift

thats developed over ongoing community debate

regarding the proposed construction of a new school.

There is vile bile between good people and its a

shame, he says. Good intelligent Cliftonites are at

each others throats, and Id like to do something to help

them get together.

To those Cliftonites, he says, In Clifton, were site

poor. Theres no ideal siteeveryones not going to

agree on any one of them. So get togetheragree to dis-

agreebut come up with a compromise. Put it to the

votersthe voters should have the right to decide on

something.

Dont talk about Globe, dont talk about Athenia

Steel, which are pollutedwere not putting kids there,

he commented on two of the many locations discussed as

potential sites for another high school in 2006. We have

to talk about available properties of which there are very

few. I understand why people want to fight for their

parkI do. But we need a solution.

Cliftons changing population is another issue Cannici

discussed, a change he believes is good for his school

and community. Cultural diversity adds a wealth of

background to your school population, he says. Its a

tremendous advantage. It reflects societyespecially

we who live in the great megalopolis of New York.

Were richer for the diversity. When I went to school in

Passaic, it was far more diverse than Clifton High

School. I grew from that.

About his diverse student population, he says, The

kids overwhelmingly are wonderful. They realize the

way to grow up in society is through educationthey get

that. However, Cannici also believes todays students

must deal with unique pressures.

Its harder for kids today to achieve, than say 1974.

Divorce, early marriage, and various diseases... Kids are

getting in trouble because theyre more mobile. Kids are

in gangs, which we didnt have in the seventies.

How did he deal with the changes? The philosophy

here is this: Were in neutral territory. Dont mess

around with gangs here, dont recruit, and dont become

violent. I have a hell of a lot of power behind me and Ill

use every inch of that power if I have a problem with

you. I have state law on my side, board policy on my

sidedont interfere with a teachers inalienable right to

teach, which is sacred. I also want every student to show

respect. With those things understood, we have so many

resources to help students.

As far as his legacy, Cannici wanted to be remem-

bered for making CHS the most vibrant education

community I could, hiring talented teachers, and giving

them a great place to teach. Because the better the

teacher, the better it is for kids.

When Admiral Nimitz immortalized the Marines

who fought at Iwo Jima, he said, Uncommon valor was

a common virtue. I like to think at CHS, Uncommon

teaching is a common gift.

Lorraine and Bill with sons Billy and Matt in 2006.


Dentistry is the perfect balance ofaesthetics and engineering, mixedwith fun and endearing interpersonalcommunication, said Dr. David J.Fredericks, our new associate. Ienjoy helping people make gooddecisions and positive changes intheir lives. Plea

clifton merchant magazine - march 2016

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