Mr. Joel Max Kabatznick ~ F-Faculty ~ 1980-1983

Mr. Joel Max Kabatznick ~ F-Faculty ~ 1980-1983

Departed 11/25/95~Alaska~Complications due to M.S.

 

 

Mr. Joel Kabatznick was seriously one of the most unique and memorable teachers and one of my most favorite in all of my educational experiences. He was an excellent teacher and taught and ran the Theater Arts department @ ISB. He was a bit of an eccentric and always wore clothing that did not match. I think he was either color blind or he just had different taste in clothing. We were all told that he had a PhD. in Math from Harvard University. He had a real down to earth way of relating to all the kids on the campus. He was the “COOL TEACHER”. There was not one kid that didn’t like him. He was a true gem and a one of a kind. He was entirely responsible for both my brother’s and myself becoming interested and involved in the theater program and participating in the school plays. Mr. Kabatznick was the kind of teacher who made learning a fun and positive experience. He advocated on his students behalf always and related to us as a friend not an authority figure. He mentored and counseled us when we got in trouble at school or sent up to Mrs. Boonaug’s office as well. I will never forget the time when he found my mom at Scott’s graduation and simply walked over and said nothing and sat down right in her lap and put his arms around her, giving her a huge hug and a kiss. He always had good things to say about others. I don’t ever remember hearing anything coming out of his mouth that was mean or negative. It was absolutely a crazy, funny, and bold move on his part and he was someone who would carry out off the wall crazy stuff and make people laugh. He taught so many of us about the importance of having laughter in our lives. I was truly very saddened to hear about his passing on the website. I was hoping to be able to find him and just thank him from the bottom of my heart for all the great experiences we had @ ISB.
May God Rest His Soul. He was an awesome person and for someone with his accomplishments he was very graciously humble.

From: Katrina Fortner
To: ISBangkok
Sent: 2/12/2009 1:27:51 A.M. Central Standard Time

I Found this tribute on Amherst College Alumni Website

In Memory of Joel Max Kabatznick

JOEL MAX KABATZNICK
South Main Street, Westbrook, Conn.
Prepared at Middletown High School
Mathematics
Phi Delta Sigma, Rushing Chairman
Football “1962”, Wrestling 1,2,3,4.
Masquers. Squire of the Pit.

Joel’s sister writes that Joel died November 25, 1995 while residing and teaching in Alaska. He is dearly missed!

A former student of his –Rebecca Lopez — adds the following remembrance

Joel Kabatznick is a hero to many, he was loved and adored by his students. I was his student from 1983-1985 and consider him a huge influence in my life. His home was always opened to his students. We danced around the house when his infant son would reach some milestone, and his wife would make pizza and popcorn for us. It was a warm, happy environment that so many of his students lacked at home. He passed away in 1995 from complications due to M.S., my understanding is that he continued to teach almost to his last breath. Even today, over ten years later, writing this, is very emotional for me. I wish my own children could have known him. He was a crazy man who smoked cigars, ate raw garlic, wore these crazy ties, and would do the most outlandish things in class to get our attention We loved him and we miss him.

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

Mrs. Irene Byers ~ F-Faculty ~ 1966-1969


Mrs. Irene Byers ~ F-Faculty ~ 1966-1969

Departed ~ 5/16/1995

 

Irene Byers was never my teacher, she was our neighbor Irene, Becky’s mom, and a teacher, but never my teacher. And, that was probably for the best. Irene was a very nice lady, the boys all liked her. She was attractive, well dressed, and very well spoken. Becky reminds me a lot of her mom.  I mostly remember her as being one of my Mom’s friends, and she did not have many. Irene and my mom had what I called the afternoon nap club. They would both have lunch by the Honeywell Court pool, accompanied by a big frosty Singha, and the would both sleep under the cabana.  She was also, like Becky, a great fashion follower; Take a look at the old photos and you will see that the most fashionably dressed was always Irene.

G. W. “Sandy” Ferguson 69′

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail.com

 

 

Jacqueline “Jackie” Jean Marie Drew ~ Class of 1978

Jackie Drew ~ Class of 1978

Departed ~ 2/23/1995

Medical Malpractice

Reported to me by her loving sister, Mayte Drew mjdrew7@yahoo.com circa 2014

In loving memory of my beautiful sister, Jackie who passed away 22 years ago, 1 day before her 35th birthday. My family will always remember her carefree nature, her incredible sense of humor, and the unconditional love that she had for all of us. She left us with so many precious memories that we all hold close to our hearts. My baby sister was my best friend, my cheerleader, and my balance in life. My love is enduring and my cherished memories of her are clear, intact, and indestructible. The solace I feel is that she is justly reunited with her beloved son, Anthony and our beloved Mother in God’s heavenly kingdom.  Mayte Drew  February 23, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jocelyn Araceli Aromin Panglao ~ Class of 1971

Jocelyn “Jo” Aromin ~ Class of 1971

Arrived ~ 7/10/1953

Departed ~ 7/3/1995

Jocelyn Araceli Aromin Panglao
10 July 1953 – 3 July 1995

Jocelyn, or simply Jo, was a beautiful soul, so cool to chill with, kind and generous, quiet, and profound, she easily became my favorite sister since we were young living in Bangkok. Jo gave so much of herself to her family, to me especially, the youngest. I can say I first learned about life’s Ferris wheel from her. Jo lived in Baguio City, the mountain province and summer capital of the Philippines, attending college at UP Baguio. But during Martial Law, her boyfriend then, Domy Panglao, and she stopped going to school and got married. Many students in UP stopped school during ML, they couldn’t take the government oppression. Our family was still living in Bangkok at that time. Jo and Domy were pretty much on their own in Baguio, raising three handsome boys, all cool to the bone just like their parents. I would visit them often during my college years and babysit their kids. She had a silver store near Burnham Park, making custom made jewelry. I would buy loose gems for her when I would visit our parents in Bangkok.

Jo loved life, her family, the simplicity of being. She listened to classical music, liked green, read novels, and wrote journals. Jo was a free spirit in high school, she used to climb down the patio wall and go out with her friends, doing things some kids in ISB would do and be sent home. This was the groovy 60s! She was a great mother to Anton, Alessandro, and Emmanuel, learning how to be a homemaker as she went along, from the age of 19. Her life was short, too short, dying at the age of 42. We still miss her. God bless her always.


By Divina Aromin Diokno

Please send pictures (old and new), anecdotes, articles, stories and tributes to isbeings at gmail dot com