Comments on: Unknown Genius Teachers: Who’s Yours?

By: Perry Newman

Perry Newman — Wed, 08 May 2013 14:36:45 +0000

Daniel:

You are so right, Mister D was the most influential teacher in my life as well.

I was a part of the his chorus 66-68 and I have never seen an educator put in more effort and strive more for perfection than he put into the six Xmas and Spring concerts I was a part of.

I did not have the best voice coming in to the chorus in 1966 but Mr. D found the time to tutor me privately and he instilled in all of us that striving for anything short of perfection is unacceptable.

Mr. D was elegant, dignified and committed to EHHS and his students.

I feel privileged to have been a part of his chorus and a close second to Mr. D was our basketball coach Bernie Kirsner.

By: vegas hot yoga

vegas hot yoga — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:40:29 +0000

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By: Eady Shebroe

Eady Shebroe — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 20:57:17 +0000

Mr. DePietto taught at Erasmus Hall while I was a student there. Not only did he conduct the Choral Club, but for one term he also took over the Orchestra of which I was a member. I have very fond memories of him. He was Chairman of the Music Dept., yet he cared enough to sit down to explain to my class why he had to make a decision which was against what the students would have desired. I think that was very considerate of him.

By: Cathy Townsend

Cathy Townsend — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 02:24:38 +0000

I just wanted to say, I’m Towny’s wife and I’ve seen that you’ve mentioned Towny twice in your articles. He was a very inspirational man. He made students (yes, he was a teacher, too) believe in themselves and not give up. He taught values like honesty, hard work, and motivation. He taught those values through baseball and related it to life. His funeral at age 54 in 2007 was a testament to those values as most of the speakers were former and current students. I still hear from them today. He worked, by preference, in an intercity middle school as a Dean of Students, but even the “trouble” kids knew and respected him. He has been truly missed by all. I know there are others like him and I’m happy to read about them here.

By: Anna DiVincenzo

Anna DiVincenzo — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:10:38 +0000

I was a student at Erasmus Hall High School. I sang in the Cantata -Ms.Segrestrom. Mr. D. would show up during rehersals – he demanded perfection. Since I was a new student from Italy, Mr. DePietto would ask me to sing traditional Italian songs “like his mamma did”. All the girls had a huge crush on him!!! So handsome!!!! Ironically, we became neighbors when I married.

By: Art Golden

Art Golden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 01:40:26 +0000

I was a student of “Mr. D” from 1965 thru 1968, as was my father and uncle before me. He was, without a doubt, one of the greatest teachers I have ever known. I can’t even imagine what Erasmus would have been like without him. A true gentleman who demanded the best from his students, and his students gladly gave it to him.

By: debbie carter

debbie carter — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:11:37 +0000

so glad to see my uncle recognized.attended many a concert at brooklyn college when a child and still have letters of gratitude from former students(my mom was mr. d’s sister.

By: Nicole Federici

Nicole Federici — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:41:15 +0000

David Holland, the viola teacher and conductor at the Interlochen Arts Academy. He was my favorite teacher (I’m a professional violist) and I’m willing to bet he was a favorite of a lot of others too.
He has educated more top tier performing string players than I can count – soloists, chamber musicians, and members of the world’s finest orchestras.

and then, I’d have to vote for Howard Hintze, who was an English professor there as well. Everyone who attened the IAA wanted to take his classes- and most of us still talk about them to this day as being a great influence on us artistically. While David Holland taught string players- Mr. Hintze taught actors, musicians, writers, dancers and artists.

If you do a book on great teachers- these two must be on the list- I’m sure you have heard of many of their students- thanks!

By: johnhaddad

johnhaddad — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:15:09 +0000

There is a wrestling coach in Virginia Beach named Keith Lowrance.

He had an extraordinary mentor in Coach Billy Martin at Granby High School. Martin coached dozens of state champions (highly unusual) and Lowrance proceeded to take Martin’s teachings and expand them.

Keith himself went on to coach 35 State Champions and 102 State place winners and placed teams in the state top 3 seventeen times. His coaching record is a phenomenal 272-31-2.

Coach Lowrance has had many of his former wrestlers become coaches. Together they have produced over 20 State Championship Teams.

Lowrance is fanatical about teaching. He has produced 30+ intensely detailed instructional tapes and in every one you’ll here him talk about repetition.

Lowrance continually breaks his strategies into simple, teachable parts. When you see the finished product you’ll see his wrestlers using advanced techniques that appear quite complex. Throughout the learning process, however, nothing is either complicated or advanced.

By: Atrad

Atrad — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:19:14 +0000

Small addition to above comment. Following article explains his contributions to yoga via his teachings and students
“Krishnamacharya’s Legacy” – http://www.yogajournal.com/wisdom/465