Tales from the Classroom (and Rink!) Recounted at Schroeder Retirement Party

5/31/2012

Wrapped in sports attire from the various teams he’s coached over the past decades, Robert “Bob” Schroeder humbly acknowledged the crowd at his retirement party and then proceeded to regale them with tales from the classroom covering a 35-year career.

Click above for more on this story.

From Bruce Zundell eating Bob's lunch when he was a science teacher, to traveling with his hockey players to Sydney, Nova Scotia, for a tournament of champion high school teams (Hamden Hall was the only American team invited!), to fainting during a meeting with parents, Bob spun several yarns that had friends, family, faculty, and alumni in stitches.

One of those alums was Bill Carroll 1979, who came to pay respect to his former coach.

"Tough job inheriting a hockey team comprised of rowdy players from another coach. He pulled it off with an even keel and never let his frustrations get the best of him! Proud to be a member of his team in 1978 and 1979,” remarked Bill.

Then there were the tributes. Musical tributes from colleagues, including one from Bud Kohler titled “When Bob Schroeder Goes,” sung to a Jimmy Buffet song.

“No more trips to Washington city,

With middle schoolers always on the go (no, no, no)

No more dances, no more meetings,

No more talks about that old dress code (no, no, no),” sang Bud, as accompanied by Andrew Niblock and John Greenawalt, who also offered a homage to Bob by listing the reasons colleagues would miss the longtime administrator.

Bob began his career as a Hornet in 1977, teaching Middle School history and ninth grade English in addition to duties as the varsity hockey coach and the director of guidance. He later moved on to his forte, Middle School science.

“I didn’t have one free period back then including a lunch period so I had to bring my bagged lunch and eat between periods,” he recalled.

That set-up proved precarious thanks to Science Department Head Bruce Zundell, who would raid the community refrigerator at times, according to Bob.

Perhaps most memorable were the family trips to and from school each day. Both of Bob’s children, Geoffrey 1993 and Samantha 1995, were Hamden Hall lifers and Bob’s wife Linae has been a third-grade teacher at Hamden Hall for 31 years.

“All of us would get in the car together and go off to work,” he said. “We had 12 years together and that was really special.”

Also special was the videotaped message featuring his children – Geoffrey in Colorado and Samantha in South Africa. A projector and screen allowed party patrons to view the sentiments along with Bob.

Bob holds the distinction of being Hamden Hall’s longest-serving administrator. He retires at the end of the 2011-2012 school year but said he hopes to continue his mission work in Africa in conjunction with the Hamden Hall community.

Back

News Detail

Tales from the Classroom (and Rink!) Recounted at Schroeder Retirement Party