Remembering...EDWARD FEENEY
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Edward Feeney was a teacher in the English Department of Southington High School from 1979 until his death at age 49 in January 1995. Like Carol Cope, who we remembered as we introduced this new feature in February, Mr. Feeney is recalled with great affection by those who had him for English or took one of the numerous drama- and theater-related courses he taught during his 14 years at SHS. He helped form the Drama Club in the early 1980s and served as its first advisor and offered a guiding hand to those seeking a career in the performing arts. His untimely death 13 years ago left a void in the drama arts curriculum at the high school.
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So what are your memories of Ed Feeney? His style, personality and how he made an impact on you in the classroom? Click on Comments below and share your recollections. And, if you missed it, be sure to scroll down to our first "Remembering" from February when we saluted Carol Cope.
12 comments:
"Left a void" is an understatement. Students signed up for the drama classes because of Mr. Feeney. Once he was gone, the interest all but evaporated. It was sad to watch it collapse so suddenly. Mr. Feeney was an outcast to some of his fellow teachers because he had the respect of his students and a lot of teachers didn't know how to react to that. He got their attention, kept it and earned respect and affection. Most teachers were jealous and wrote him off as a slacker. But what he did was rather simple - treat teenagers with interest, tell them their dreams are real and to fight for what you want in life. Period. Not a bad legacy.
I had no interest in a career in the theater but I remember the kids that did and it was great to watch their self confidence bloom because of Mr. Feeney. He got everyone involved.
I have fond memories of theater arts and our drama classes up on the stage at SHS. Improv sessions. The laughter. The way we all got along outside of cliques and stupid high school "walls" that kept us separated. Mr. Feeney's classes were so different because of that.
Cut to the chase: Other teachers were jealous of Mr. Feeney because he touched a chord and could reach us. Many others tried but failed. Most failed miserably.
The ones who we remember all our lives are the ones who were never Teacher of the Year and were always looked upon by their colleagues with contempt and jealousy. Mr. Boyles? Miss Jankura? Miss Cope? And the list goes on...
He was the only teacher at SHS who had the skill to teach students to get into character. The key to acting is the ability to get into character and the teachers who followed him has never been able to produce this quality. They did not even know what it was so they did not know that it was missing. They were not qualified to teach drama or theater arts.
He was AMAZING! I remember getting word when he passed and I was CRUSHED. He helped us to find a love of the theater and reading. Even "Old Man and the Sea" was fascinating in his class. That was the book we happened to be reading when he died.
And ditto Mike Evans about those certain great teachers' names.
I had Mr. Feeney for a teacher in 1982 or 83. I remember that he made the class interesting and tought you to not be afraid to fail, but try your best. One day after I provided a horrible oral presentation on a book that I had read, he simply looked at me, smiled, and made some kind of joke about me oweing him dinner after that one. Althought I had failed, he did not make me feel like a failure. He was the best.
Mr. Feeney was one of only teachers in SHS who treated all of his students with respect, even the 'misfits' who were dismissed by so many other teachers. I hated my experience as an SHS student until I had Mr. Feeney because all my other teachers up to that point simply ignored or dismissed any kids who were niether elite athletes nor top scholars.
In addition to being a great teacher of English and Dramatic Arts, Mr. Feeney taught his students that they were special BECAUSE of their uniqueness, NOT in spite of it. If Mr. Feeney was an outcast to his fellow teachers, it was he was a superior educator and an exceptional human being, qualities of which so few others in SHS could boast.
Thanks, Mr. Feeney. I became a teacher because of you.
Mr. Feeney was a great English teacher and he really did hit home with both the well behaved kids as well as the misfits. He would always make class fun and interesting. My class went to his funeral and I remember it being tough for some of us. Our new teacher ended up being some bodybuilder tough guy who I despised.
There were only a few good teachers who really stood out and Mr. Boyles and Mr. Feeney were two of them in those days.
awe! I graduated in 1982. I didn't know he passed away. He was a good teacher. He is one of the teachers I miss. - Deb (Landry) Jarzabek HisMouse1@aol.com
He was the one teacher that always took you aside when you were feeling out of it & had the power to make you feel important & listened to. I think of him often.
MF one of the few teachers I loved. I had him for English Jr year 83-84 and SR year 84-85. We were his "gerbals". My friend Rox brought in 2 gerbals for him at the end of the year, which he named Roxanne and Karen and said from now on he would call his students "14 carat gold". It was because of him I took drama as an English elective SR year. I never wanted to be on stage just in his class, so I was stage crew. I remember when he made me do an improv, said he wouldn't pass me unless I did it. Good thing I liked him so much, I passed. MF I will remember you always.
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