(Photo Left) The Foreman Family, Mr. Arthur Foreman, Wife Christine, And New Baby Arthur, January 4, 1967)
"Memory Of Revered Teacher Lives On In Student Award" By Constance Learn ( June 2, 1967 ) Catholic Star Herald
Pleasantville-Arthur Foreman, teacher who walked tall and cared tenderly for his fifth grade students, lives only in their memory today.
But last week, a parent teachers group determined that the example of this man who lost his life in February should not be forgotten. The PTA presented the first annual commemorative Arthur F. Foreman Award to one of his pupils, Sandra Epps, who had demonstrated the same endearing qualities evidenced by her former teacher.
"When Sandra was chosen for the award we were not necessarily looking for the best student in the academic sense, but for someone who was like Art," explained Park Avenue School Principal John Garrity. "Sandra was recommended by her willingness to be of service to other people. You only have to ask her to do a thing once, to know it will be done. She's a safety, is involved in the play leader corps, and helps on the playground at lunch time with the first grade children."
Garrity remarked of Foreman that "he was a different kind of person, exceptionally responsible and considerate, with a good deal of humility. Art loved kids. He used to give his lunch time up to them. playing football, baseball, and basketball with the children on the playground. He was always willing to give that little extra." He added " that "nothing was too much trouble as far as Art's students were concerned." He was always greatly interested in their smallest problems."
Garrity said Foreman had taught after school in a remedial tutorial program under the Federal Education Act. He also instructed Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes for children belonging to Saint Peter's Parish as did his wife for the past five years. "This man was only 25 and this was just his second year with us, but he was extremely dedicated in his work. Art was sponsor of our safety patrol program and was representative for the school with the Board of the Pleasantville Teachers Association."
The teacher, an athlete, handsome young man who hailed from Waynesboro, PA., where his parents still reside, succumbed to the swift ravages of a five week disease that took him shortly after the birth of his first son. His wife Christine is intensely proud that the Arthur F. Foreman Award will continue to provide incentive for the youngsters he so loved. "My husband thought that teaching was the most important thing in the world, the most rewarding profession. He felt that not only was he imparting information, but also he was helping to mold the child's character, the whole person. Art had very strong feelings about parents' responsibility in raising their children. He believed that parents should most of all, above everything else, show their children that they love them."
Mrs. Foreman said she first met her husband at Saint Peter's Church when both were godparents for the baby of friends who were converts from Judaism. Christine was a Pleasantville girl who had graduated from Holy Spirit High School, class of 1963. Foreman was educated at Mount Saint Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Maryland., and was teaching at Saint Philip The Apostle School in Brigantine at the time.
" To me, he was different from anyone I ever met, the most remarkable person. Anyone who ever knew Art felt this. The same qualities that made people love him are the ones mentioned on the PTA plaque." She recalled that the principal had visited her last month to describe how the award had come about as the result of a PTA meeting. Mr. Garrity said that " many of the teachers and the people of the community wanted to do something in Art's memory, something out of the ordinary, but connected with with his teaching" She said "they decided the award should be given to a student for sportsmanship and for effort, the child who always puts his best foot forward and one who shows consideration and fortitude in the face of daily trials."
Christine depicted her husband as having been "just the healthiest person, full of energy and life. He loved life. I'm going to try my best to bring up our son to be a carbon copy of his dad. She said her husband's former students at the parochial school were in attendance at his funeral., being brought over from Brigantine in buses by the sisters, with whom he had worked. " There were five priests on the alter, and Fr. Louis O'Meara , an assistant pastor from the Church Of The Assumption in Wildwood Crest, a personal friend of ours, gave Art the most beautiful eulogy.. The presence of God was very much there with us in the Church."
Christine's mother Mary Jackson of Pleasantville, said her son-in law had been so outstanding a teacher that she believed his example would live on in the persons of any students whom he had taught. " They idolized him, "she said.
Christine observed that "this has been a very difficult year, with my Dad dying shortly after Art. I'm thankful for my faith which has given me courage and strength."
"Memory Of Revered Teacher Lives On In Student Award" By Constance Learn ( June 2, 1967 ) Catholic Star Herald
Pleasantville-Arthur Foreman, teacher who walked tall and cared tenderly for his fifth grade students, lives only in their memory today.
But last week, a parent teachers group determined that the example of this man who lost his life in February should not be forgotten. The PTA presented the first annual commemorative Arthur F. Foreman Award to one of his pupils, Sandra Epps, who had demonstrated the same endearing qualities evidenced by her former teacher.
"When Sandra was chosen for the award we were not necessarily looking for the best student in the academic sense, but for someone who was like Art," explained Park Avenue School Principal John Garrity. "Sandra was recommended by her willingness to be of service to other people. You only have to ask her to do a thing once, to know it will be done. She's a safety, is involved in the play leader corps, and helps on the playground at lunch time with the first grade children."
Garrity remarked of Foreman that "he was a different kind of person, exceptionally responsible and considerate, with a good deal of humility. Art loved kids. He used to give his lunch time up to them. playing football, baseball, and basketball with the children on the playground. He was always willing to give that little extra." He added " that "nothing was too much trouble as far as Art's students were concerned." He was always greatly interested in their smallest problems."
Garrity said Foreman had taught after school in a remedial tutorial program under the Federal Education Act. He also instructed Confraternity of Christian Doctrine classes for children belonging to Saint Peter's Parish as did his wife for the past five years. "This man was only 25 and this was just his second year with us, but he was extremely dedicated in his work. Art was sponsor of our safety patrol program and was representative for the school with the Board of the Pleasantville Teachers Association."
The teacher, an athlete, handsome young man who hailed from Waynesboro, PA., where his parents still reside, succumbed to the swift ravages of a five week disease that took him shortly after the birth of his first son. His wife Christine is intensely proud that the Arthur F. Foreman Award will continue to provide incentive for the youngsters he so loved. "My husband thought that teaching was the most important thing in the world, the most rewarding profession. He felt that not only was he imparting information, but also he was helping to mold the child's character, the whole person. Art had very strong feelings about parents' responsibility in raising their children. He believed that parents should most of all, above everything else, show their children that they love them."
Mrs. Foreman said she first met her husband at Saint Peter's Church when both were godparents for the baby of friends who were converts from Judaism. Christine was a Pleasantville girl who had graduated from Holy Spirit High School, class of 1963. Foreman was educated at Mount Saint Mary's College, Emmittsburg, Maryland., and was teaching at Saint Philip The Apostle School in Brigantine at the time.
" To me, he was different from anyone I ever met, the most remarkable person. Anyone who ever knew Art felt this. The same qualities that made people love him are the ones mentioned on the PTA plaque." She recalled that the principal had visited her last month to describe how the award had come about as the result of a PTA meeting. Mr. Garrity said that " many of the teachers and the people of the community wanted to do something in Art's memory, something out of the ordinary, but connected with with his teaching" She said "they decided the award should be given to a student for sportsmanship and for effort, the child who always puts his best foot forward and one who shows consideration and fortitude in the face of daily trials."
Christine depicted her husband as having been "just the healthiest person, full of energy and life. He loved life. I'm going to try my best to bring up our son to be a carbon copy of his dad. She said her husband's former students at the parochial school were in attendance at his funeral., being brought over from Brigantine in buses by the sisters, with whom he had worked. " There were five priests on the alter, and Fr. Louis O'Meara , an assistant pastor from the Church Of The Assumption in Wildwood Crest, a personal friend of ours, gave Art the most beautiful eulogy.. The presence of God was very much there with us in the Church."
Christine's mother Mary Jackson of Pleasantville, said her son-in law had been so outstanding a teacher that she believed his example would live on in the persons of any students whom he had taught. " They idolized him, "she said.
Christine observed that "this has been a very difficult year, with my Dad dying shortly after Art. I'm thankful for my faith which has given me courage and strength."
