Date: Fri 30-May-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-National-Honor-Dorman

Full Text:

Honor Society Surprises Retiring Adviser, Dan Dorman

National Honor Society president Delphine Tuot (left) and retiring history

teacher and honor society adviser Dan Dorman take a bow.

-Bee Photos, Evans

Several of the 57 National Honor Society inductees from the Class of 1998 pose

in the courtyard. The complete list of juniors who were formally inducted into

the society May 5 includes: Rob Anders, Sakshi Batra, Daniel Beers, Krista

Bell, Eric Bezler, Marisa Burnham-Bestor, Tristan Blanchard, Kara Bobowick,

Todd Burns, Chris Carley, James Chen, Erica Christopher, Rebecca Crane, Moira

Curran, Emily Cwikla, Justin Davis, Katie Doyle, Beth Drabik, Laura Ermini,

Conor Evans, Thomas Fallon, Amanda Feuerberg, Keegan Finlayson, Andrew

Gellert, Megan Gossling, Jonathan Hill, Jennifer Kelkres, Matthew Kunkel,

Megan Lynch, Lindsey Malloy, Jessica McCallum, Katie McClure, Michael

Messemer, Kim Minnock, Kathleen Mooney, Sibyl Nelson, Wiley Norvell, Michael

Oristaglio, Jessica Orleman, Vanessa Raby, Heather Reed, Mary Kate Rod,

Nicholas Rogers, Becca Roodhuyzen, Tristan Schwartzman, Jaclyn Shea, Daniel

Storms, Nicole Streegan, Christine Unger, Rachel Walker, Reid Warner, Lindsay

Warness and Alexandra Zaleta.

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

For the past 26 years, Newtown High School history teacher Dan Dorman has led

a generation of Newtown students on an educational journey through recorded

time, with frequent stops in his favorite period, American history.

Along the way, Mr Dorman and his students have found inspiration in the study

of dates, people, places and events, mostly because he is a gifted teacher

with a sense of humor who loves his subject - always a winning combination in

any high school classroom.

"You've been a great role model," said Newtown senior Delphine Tuot, speaking

Wednesday, May 21, at a special National Honor Society reception.

Mr Dorman is planning to retire from teaching at the end of this school year.

More than 100 Honor Society members came to the brief ceremony, not only

because they had spent time in Mr Dorman's history classes but because he has

been a longtime National Honor Society adviser and a good friend, as well.

Special Guests

In addition, the students had been asked to attend so they could meet Newtown

resident Al Goodrich and his oldest son, Gary Goodrich, who had returned to

his father's Newtown home for a brief visit.

Working together with Mary Mitchell, the Goodrich family has established the

Lt James A. Goodrich Memorial Scholarship, now in its fourth year.

Jim Goodrich, the second oldest of Al and Mary Goodrich's three sons, was a

Newtown High School student and member of the National Honor Society. He was

inducted in 1967 during his junior year and graduated the next year with the

Class of 1968.

He went on to get a degree in civil engineering at Lafayette College in 1972,

and was killed in 1978 in a tragic plane crash that took place near the end of

his Navy training.

"We are so grateful to Mr Goodrich and his family for the annual scholarship,"

said Win Brickmeier, Honor Society co-adviser, speaking to the audience of

students and guests.

Standing in the crowd was Mr Dorman, who nodded his head and clapped. He knew

about the this first item on the agenda. But he wasn't prepared for the

second.

He'd thought he was coming to this meeting in his usual function as Honor

Society adviser. He didn't expect to be given a gift on the occasion of his

imminent retirement from teaching.

Fond Farewell

Honor Society president Delphine Tuot stepped forward and handed Mr Dorman a

signed card and gift, calling him up to the podium.

He stood behind the microphone in a state of mild disbelief.

"This is a complete surprise. I'm at a loss for words, which is most unusual

for a teacher," Mr Dorman said.

He added he felt just like he was on "the old Ralph Edwards television show,

This Is Your Life. "

That is, completely nonplussed.

Still, he didn't miss the opportunity to credit the Newtown seniors and

juniors, those 1997 "old grads" and 1998 "inductees" who had been honored at a

special National Honor Society ceremony held at the high school Monday, May 5.

"Students involved in sports and cheerleading are often singled out for their

achievements," Mr Dorman said.

"But you National Honor Society members are just as deserving of praise and

recognition. You get the work done. And you end up being the leaders of the

country," Mr Dorman said.

"Congratulations to you all. I'll miss being with you," he added.

Ever since his student days as a junior at Buckley High School in Hartford, Mr

Dorman said he's been an avid supporter of the National Honor Society. For

that reason, it just seemed natural for him to serve as adviser for the

Newtown High School chapter.

Education In His Future

Another constant in Mr Dorman's life, besides his love of teaching and his

support of the National Honor Society, has been his longtime physical presence

and association with the northeast corridor between Connecticut and Maine.

Mr Dorman was a student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, when he met

his future wife, Vivian, while she was a student at Wellesley College, outside

of Boston.

After the Dormans married and he spent several years teaching in Hartford,

they moved to their Newtown home on The Boulevard in 1971, the year he first

began teaching at Newtown High.

Now that he is retiring, Mr Dorman is again looking north - perhaps to Maine -

although he's not sure exactly when he'll make a permanent move or what

occupation he'll pursue. Part of that decision is connected to his wife's job

at Taunton Press and when she can leave, he said.

Meanwhile, they'll head for their Maine summer place, as usual, just as soon

as he's finished correcting those last blue book exams.

"There's a lot that's unknown. I'm sure I'll have some connection to

education. It's so much a part of what I am," Mr Dorman told the students.

"Not to blow my own horn, but teachers aren't given the recognition they

deserve. The future depends upon them," he couldn't help adding.