Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Hi and Welcome to Mr. Salzman's 80th Birthday Blog
My father Ed Salzman, was the Dean of Boys and an Astronomy and Earth Science teacher at John Dewey High School from the day the school opened until he retired in June of 1991. During that time he met thousands of kids and hundreds of faculty. In his own way, I believe that he may have touched the lives of many people. As my family and I are now getting ready to celebrate his 80th birthday, I thought it might be nice to see if anyone out in the extended John Dewey community had any memories, stories, or just kind words to share with my father at this momentous milestone in his life. If you have a minute and something to share, please feel free to post.
Thank you,
Gregg Salzman
John Dewey Class of 1987
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Had your dad for Earth Science in the late 70's. Thankfully never EVER had any dealings with him in his Dean's capacity. My dad was a middle school dean so I have a pretty good idea how that job goes :-)
ReplyDeletePlease express my best wishes on your dad's 80th. I'm in my 31st year of teaching so I'd like to think all my teachers had a meaningful influence on my ultimate career choice. My career has been as a Computer/Math teacher but I still have a love of science and I know that my Earth Science training comes into play when I travel somewhere and recognize certain kinds of rock or recognize the cloud types or a better appreciation for how erosion changes the landscape.
I look forward to hearing about his 90th!
Paul Rubin, Dewey Class of '78
prubin3@twain239.org
ReplyDeleteBecky Novello - Hi Gregg, I remember home work your father have us in earth science. We had to call up the weather service, record details on the temperature barometric pressure, etc. and some how come up with a forecast of our own. When it came time for my daughter to take earth science the memories all came rushing back to me. And please wish your dad a very happy birthday
Dear Mr. Salzman. Happy 80th Birthday! I had you for one cycle of Astronomy, and then dropped the class as I found it too hard (silly me). You were a great teacher. One funny story... after our first test, you informed us we did so poorly the passing grade would be 60. You distributed the graded exams back to us, and we reviewed the answers together... low and behold after reviewing the answers, YOU graded me incorrectly on 3 questions, and I legitimately passed with like a 72! You jokingly said, I must have graded your paper while watching a football game :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for being a kind teacher.
Happy Birthday!! May you enjoy as many years a Moses!
Sincerely,
Cinthia Hanna-Kerstein (1983)
Happy Birthday, Mr. Saltzman and may you have many more happy and healthy years.
ReplyDeleteSue Savodnick Epstein
Happy Birthday! To this day, I can't listen to a weather report without recalling your explanation of isobars!
ReplyDeleteAndrew M. Hoffman '73
Ed,
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday wishes from sunny Florida.
You were a fantastic dean and are a great human being.
It was a privilege to work with you at Dewey.
I wish you a long, happy, healthy life.
Happy new year,
Jerry Wasserman
Dewey Math Dept.
I admired Mr Salzman very much.I had him several times as Science teacher.What comes to mind is how he really cared about his students.When he handed back your tests and u didnt get a good grade,he would tell u in a nice way 'u are much better' or he'd pat u on the back and say 'come on rich'.He would never be sarcastic or condescending.As Dean,i will never forget after i got a nice suede coat for my birthday it got stolen in the locker.Crying hysterically, he took me aside in his office consoling me like a son and excused me for the rest of the day and got me a ride home.He had a big presence and u couldnt miss the tall man with the walkie talkie and slicked back hair.Dewey was a great school because of his leadership.With High schools the shape they are in now,We can use his likeness more than ever.
ReplyDelete3 hours ago · Edited · Like
Marci Ann Kaplan-Lips
ReplyDeleteMr. Saltzman
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday. I have very fond memories of you and you are always in my heart.
Marci Ann Kaplan-Lips (formerly Kaplan) Class of 1978
I never had Mr. Salzman as a teacher, but once upon a time, when I was in 10th grade, a friend asked me about a difficult geometry proof during a free band. We were in my locker area, but I was too lazy to get my books and draw the proof on a piece of blank paper. Instead, I started to sketch it on the brick wall in the corner, using a pencil.
ReplyDeleteI was almost finished, and who walks by? Mr. Salzman, of course.
"Exactly what do you think you're doing?" he sternly asked.
I thought I was going to have to go to his office and wait for my parents to pick me up, but since he had asked, I decided to explain exactly what I was doing.
He looked at me, eyed the diagram, and then looked back at me.
"Just make sure that gets completely erased, or you're in big trouble."
I managed to stay out of his office the rest of my time in Dewey, too.
Ira Leviton
Class of 1976
Ed: I remember so well walking to work with you on snowy days from Warbasse. I remember your presence in the halls. I remember your love of Halavah and your great patience and passion for the students. I remember you were my husband's teacher in Wingate and of course I remember what a wonderful person you are.
ReplyDeleteAlice Stone
Business Education Teacher
Have a very happy and healthy number 80 Mr. Salzman. Unfortunately, i never had the pleasure of having you as my teacher but according to everyone that did, you were one of the BEST. I remember your strong presence , your kindness and your readingness to always lend a hand. May this birthday be the best ever and may you have many, many more to come. Wishing you the best always!!!
ReplyDeleteSteven Glanzman
Class of 87
Happy Birthday Mr. Salzman. I remember you fondly from the first days in Dewey as you helped all of us find those "hidden" rooms around the resource centers.
ReplyDeleteTzipora (Cindy) Katz
Class of '72
Fond memories of Ed Salzman at the helm of astronomy class (and as dean). I remember plotting out sunspots and also doing a paper on the "analema". Should have paid attention better. One of the quizzes had a question: "What is the constellation shaped like a "W"? I was foolish enough to choose "The W constellation" as the answer. But from the moment after the test until today, I always remember that it is Cassiopeia
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ReplyDeleteLesley Ross Meersand I don't think I ever had Mr. Salzman but I do remember him and wish him congratulations on his 90th birthday and many more happy healthy birthdays!!!
Mr. Salzman,
ReplyDeleteI wish you a very happy birthday! I remember you fondly as my Astronomy teacher. I was in your class the first year you taught it. I remember it well as looking at the stars is still one of my favorite pass times. Thank you for making my high school days memorable. I also remember running into you at JFK airport! You were always nice and learning in your class was fun. I hope my students remember me as fondly one day as I remember you. Enjoy your day and many many more to come.
Liz Bommarito
John Dewey class of 1981
Teacher of English at Midwood High School
ReplyDeleteFlorie Harrison Schauner - I still remember to this day sitting in Mr.Salzman's science class for the first time and saying," oh no I have the Dean as a teacher!"I only knew him as a dean before taking his class. He walked the halls with his walkie talkie in his hand and seemed very serious. Then as the cycle went on with me in his class, he continued to be a serious man, but also a sweet, caring person with big blue eyes and one great shy smile!!!! He turned out to be a great teacher who had respect for his students!!!! Happy Birthday to Mr. Salzman!!!!!!!
Denise Scioscia Swindell - Happy Birthday Mr. Salzman...had him for Earth science. As Florie said I was scared to have a dean as a teacher but he was nice and a good teacher to boot.
ReplyDeleteBari L. Snyder - Happy 80th Birthday Mr. Salman! May God continue to bless you! Yes, I also was a student in your Earth Science class! I'm a class of '79 graduate!
ReplyDeleteDear Mr. Salzman,
ReplyDeleteHappy 80th Birthday (and Congratulations! on this great life milestone).
Never had the pleasure of taking your science classes in Dewey, but know from many others, they were excellent!
I did however, see you many, many times, coming through the front office as I spent many hours there working the switchboard. You were a well respected (and feared) presence as Boys Dean at Dewey High School and it was well understood that we didn't want to mess with you or Henry Simms. LOL.
It was great to see you and many of your colleagues again at the Dewey 40th Anniversary Event in 2012. Wishing you happiness and health and again, Happy 80th Birthday!
Warm regards,
Hyde Kirby class of 1978
oops, should read 2010 on the 40th Anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI had Mr Salzman as my very first teacher in Dewey during summer school. I wanted to get the early start and enjoyed him as the first teacher I met there. Later on during my years I loved going to his office and bothering him. I often was in trouble for cutting class and had the opportunity to spend quality time with him. Mr Salzman was a great teacher and one of my mentors who I will always thank for guiding me in the right direction......HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSue Halpern - I was one of the people having problems posting, Gregg. Would you please wish your Dad a happy, healthy birthday, many, many more, and please share with him that to this day, I have a deep love and interest in science in no small part, because of his teachings. Please thank him for me, he instilled a passion that I doubt will ever be extinguished.
ReplyDeleteI had Mr. Salzman for Astronomy in Dewey. Silly me, when I signed up for the class I had mistaken it for Astrology! Imagine my dismay when I saw all that math that goes along with calculating star and quasar distances when all I really wanted to know was if I was destined to be with my Aquarius boyfriend! Given that math and science were my least favorite subjects, I was NOT a happy camper. So, 5 minutes into each class, I would excuse myself for a 15 minute bathroom break. This went on for a week or so when Mr. Salzman had to have a delicate conversation with me to inquire as to whether or not I actually had some sort of GI issue or was just looking for the escape hatch from class! Clearly, he knew the answer prior to asking the question, but imagine my 16-yr old embarrassment about having to answer to my very regular bathroom habit! I deserved it!
ReplyDeleteDespite hating the class, I loved him! The combination of math and science in that class, although I loathed it at the time, must have crept in my brain somewhere. I'm now a Registered Nurse - and at 43 years old, still not done with school - currently pursuing a post-graduate degree for Nurse Practitioner. The marriage of math and science is what the entire nursing curriculum is all about!
All my best, Mr. Salzman, for a wonderful happy birthday and many, many more. My three years at Dewey are mostly a blur and there are only a handful of teachers I remember - you top the list! I never did get astronomy... but it was never about what you taught - it was the way you taught! Lots of little life lessons imparted via the stars!
Happy Birthday to the brightest STAR of all!
Ida Centineo - class of '87
Sue Halpern - If it's possible can you also add that my maden name was Susan Lynn and I was in the graduating class of 78?
ReplyDeleteDorothy Baker-Oreckinto Happy Birthday...Many More....
ReplyDeleteWow - Happy 80th Mr. Salzman! I have great memories of my years at 50 Avenue X and you were one of the extremely dedicated educators at Dewey who helped make me who I am today.
ReplyDeleteMuch health and happiness!
Andrea (andi) Levy
Class of '77
•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•. .•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•.
ReplyDeleteWishing You the HAPPIEST Of Birthdays Mr Salzman!!!
✿•*¨`*•. (¯`v´¯) (¯`v´¯) .•*¨`*•✿
. . . ✿•*¨`*•.¸(¯`v´¯)¸.•´*¨`*•✿ . . .
…………....... ♥ •.¸.•´♥…………............…
Hope this year brings you only good things!! ;'}
Lori Nielsen-Jones Class of '81
Happy Birthday Mr. Salzman! I had you for Astronomy in the late 80s. I loved your class. It was a real privilege to be taught by you.
ReplyDeleteRobyn (Breslauer) Neal
Class of '88
PS- Thanks for the ME
I have many memories of Ed. On one particular evening we were giving presentations to prospective students and their parents. I stood up and talked about our great Marine Science Program, complete with a slide presentation. I got an enthusiastic response. Ed was up next.. He calmly walked up to the front of the room and said, "Mr. Siegel has taken you to the depths of the oceans, I am going to take you to the stars," and with one wave of his hands he blew me away.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Ed
Lou Siegel,
Teacher
Lillian Velez - Wishing you a remarkable and unforgettable 80th Birthday!!! Lillian class of 87..
ReplyDeleteSandra Lee Aronowitz-Garron - i am a graduate of 1981. My mother Rose Aronowitz , who has since passed new your father. She worked at Dewey as a para in the Social studies resourse center from 69-77. Wishing you all the best Mazel to you and your family for Mr. Salzman
ReplyDeleteMy Dewey experience with Mr. Salzman was one that will remain with me for the rest of my life!! My Freshman year in 1973.
ReplyDeleteThe one time I had the "honor" of meeting Mr. Salzman was when my home room teacher sent me "to the Deans office".
I was sweating and my heart was racing a mile a minute taking that long walk to Mr. Salzman's office.
I walked in, saw this scary looking man sitting with his hands clasped under his chin and said to me "sit down and tell me why you are sweating" I told him "you are really scaring me and I cut my home room class yesterday" Mr. Salzman said to me, "It's my job to scare you, we DO NOT CUT CLASSES IN DEWEY!"
I never cut a class again!
Mr. Salzman, Happy 80th Birthday to you! Hope I made you laugh!
My Dewey experience with Mr. Salzman was one that will remain with me for the rest of my life!! My Freshman year in 1973.
ReplyDeleteThe one time I had the "honor" of meeting Mr. Salzman was when my home room teacher sent me "to the Deans office".
I was sweating and my heart was racing a mile a minute taking that long walk to Mr. Salzman's office.
I walked in, saw this scary looking man sitting with his hands clasped under his chin and said to me "sit down and tell me why you are sweating" I told him "you are really scaring me and I cut my home room class yesterday" Mr. Salzman said to me, "It's my job to scare you, we DO NOT CUT CLASSES IN DEWEY!"
I never cut a class again!
Mr. Salzman, Happy 80th Birthday to you! Hope I made you laugh!
All the best to you always!
Joey Loeb, Class of 1977
I went to Dewey only for a year and a half but I had Mr. Salzman for Astronomy. Somehow I ended up as an Engineer in the Aerospace industry all these years later.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my father was classmates with Mr. Salzman in Brooklyn College. His name is Morris Levine. We both wish him a very Happy 80th Birthday!
We wish you all the best!
Heidi Levine
Hi Dad,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I never had you as a teacher, I still attended Dewey, so I feel qualified to be able to write something here. I also feel qualified to comment as a student since I have been lucky enough to have spent a lifetime of learning from you.
I will never forget my days as a student at Dewey when I was lucky enough to walk through the halls and witness for myself your overwhelming presence. In Dewey you were truely larger than life. But never to large enough to stop and give me a kiss in the hallway, and an encouraging word. You were always professsional, and yet always just my Dad. I will never forget how at my orientation, you quoted a line from Marathon Man, (one of my favorite movies). You asked an auditorium of teenagers -"Is it safe?" At the time it just seemed like a ploy to sound hip to a bunch of smart alec kids, but so many years later I see it meant much more. You were trying to wake us up, to take responsibility for ourselves and our actions, and to think about the decsions that we were going to make going into the future. It was a subtle message, but if someone took the time to think about it, there was a lot to get out of it. And this, I must say, is how you have taught me many of the lessons of life. Short on words, but each word carefully chosen for value and purpose. Long on example. Throughout my life you have been nothing less than a living example of a man of the deepest principles, morals, and love. Not only to his family, but to all of the people lucky enough to have met you.
Thanks for teaching me all that you have. Thanks for letting me be your most devoted student. And most of all, Thanks for being my Dad. I love you very much. Happy 80th Birthday!
Love,
Gregg
(Class of '87)
Steve Hirsch, Faculty 1981-2008
ReplyDeleteWishing you a joyous 80th birthday.
Ling Wong - Hi Gregg, I submitted something today - hope it shows on the blog. Happiest 80th birthday to your Dad. I remember him well as my Earth Science teacher as well as the dean and role model for many.
ReplyDeleteLing Wong
ReplyDelete12:08pm Jan 13
Happy 80th Birthday Mr. Salzman! I graduated John Dewey HS with your son Gregg as the Class of 1987. You were also my Earth Science teacher and I enjoyed learning about rocks, mineral, atmosphere, earth, land, climate and so much more in your calss. In addition to being a great science teacher, you were a superior role model as the dean. Your contributions have made some of us the successful adults we are today and I thank you! I am honored to join the others to wish you a very happy milestone birthday!
Adrienne Grande - I never took earth science nor had the dubious distinction of a Dean's intervention. However, your dad always commanded respect from us and in turn treated us with compassion and provided paternal -like guidance. Happy BD Mr. Salzman! May you enjoy these reveries and know that you touched so many lives during your Dewey tenure.
ReplyDeleteWell, my Dad's party was a great success, and in no small part due to this blog. My father was overcome with emotion when he read it. It was very touching for him to be remembered so fondly by his students and faculty. I want to thank everyone who posted here and on facebook. I wasn't quite sure how this whole idea was going to work out, but in the end I'm very happy that I went through with it. I'll post some pictures of my Dad, and the party, as soon as I figure out how to upload pictures on to the blog :) And if your reading this and haven't written anything yet, my Dad's actual birthday isn't until January 27, so you can keep those birthday posts coming! Thanks again to all for making my father's 80th birthday so special.
ReplyDeleteGregg
Happy Birthday Mr. Salzman, my very first high school science teacher. We were the pioneers in Sept. 1969! I loved it and ihope your party was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Dorothy Malanaphy Shanley
I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Salzman...and "Eddie." He was my Astronomy teacher, my Dean, and my best friend's father. Someone else blogged that he was always "fair." That is a true description of the man in all the roles he played in my life. Happy 80th Birthday Eddie! Love you!
ReplyDeleteLove, Lisi
p.s. Actually he was more than fair....he let me get away with murder!
After nearly 40 years, I continue to remember Mr. Saltzman with fondness and awe. I I was a very bright, very undisciplined student. Mr. Saltzman was infinitely patient with me and so many other students. Once, when he astounded me his calm demeanor in the face of chaos, I asked how it was that he could remain so very cool. He reply simply - TM. What a fantastic example, what a phenomenal teacher.
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