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Posted by: Bob Sheridan (bobsheridan@earthlink.net) on 11/13/1997@11:18hrs:
Having attended grade school, high school, and college on SI, I had some great teachers. Since they named a ferryboat after him, let me start with Andy Barberi. Did I know he was a great teacher at the time? No. He was my gym teacher for about eight semesters. Once I wanted to get out of gym class on the ground that since I was now on the swim team and working out every day, why did I have to come to gym class and do calisthenics. Andy sat me down on that huge wooden podium he worked from and gave me a little chat, to the effect that in life we have obligations and we have choices, and just because we decide to add to our choices, such as going out for swimming, doesn't mean that you get excused from obligations, such as gym class. I didn't particularly like to hear this version of reality since it differed from what I wanted to do, but I went with it and never forgot it, because it turns out it was right. So as far as I am concerned, they did a fine thing in naming a floating monument to Andy. As far as I'm concerned, there are other Island teachers who also deserve to be remembered, here. Can you think of any who did a job for you?