George asked me to stop by his office after practice. Alan, I’d like you to judge a girl’s gymnastics meet in Cambridge in two days. You up for it?
This was way out of my lane. I said “sure” of course. The time arrived and he called my two last class teachers to explain my absence...handed me a map...gave me the keys to his car. Off I went. I was much more afraid of getting lost then I was being a judge. Each moves values were simpler in ‘63...I knew most of them..and the rest was deductions & subjective evaluation.
I did three more..Braintree..Andover and another I forget. The last one in my Mom’s ancient Hillman Husky...which I parked far from the HS.
In his own fashion, Jessup was nudging me into adulthood. He exhibited faith that I would do a good job. Trusted me with his car. I was puffed up. My folks though it cool too.
My experience was not unlike that experienced by Roger Watson & his relationship with Jim Ronayne. Or Walt Alessi & Steve Woodruff with their long relationship with Al Fortune. Or Bernie Finkle and Jim Hoover with their track coach, Boyle. I’m sure many..or most..of my classmates have similar recollections of caring coaches & teachers. Who changed their lives.
It takes the passage of time to help us understand how fortunate we were to be nurtured and developed in such an environment. The fish says “what water?” We didn’t know how good we had it.
George Jessup was one of the good guys. And I loved him
Alan very nice memory. I realized that I used the example of the teachers from NHS and elsewhere who inspired me in my over 40 years as a teacher myself. I never took the example I set for granted.
I joined the gymnastics team as a sophomore to be with my buddies Alan Crosby and Stu Smith. But after a month of blisters, bruises, various other injuries and observing Alan's numerous attempts to break his neck on the highbar I decided to move to a less dangerous sport. What I do remember most clearly about Mr. Jessup is his look of terror when observing my handstand dismount off the parallel bars. Needless to say he agreed I should consider another sport.
One of the many things that old age brings with it is the loss of those who have had the most significant impact on us and our lives. Those losses are deep and heartfelt, and a piece of us dies with them.
For most of us, outside of family and maybe despite family, our teachers and coaches had the most incredible early impact on our lives. For many of us, they weren't just teachers and coaches, they were our mentors, and they were our influencers.
We can look back at our time at NHS and pick out at least one coach or teacher that made a significant difference in our life. Part of our website is dedicated to the "mentors" in our lives, to those influencers who invested themselves in some way, small or great. They have made us different than who we might be today. But, unfortunately, we often fall into the trap of thinking that a mentor, a guide, must be old and experienced - not so.
We have heard from several of our classmates about the impact of George Jessup on their lives. Mr. Jessup (I use the Mister in deference to Mr. Jessup, not as a common noun) was a little older than those he instructed and mentored. But, reread some of the comments made by those who taught and coached, and you will get a glimpse of something of the man George Jessup.
I knew Mr. Jessup but mainly as a trainer for the football team. So, unfortunately, I do not have illustrations or remembrances of those who have recognized and honored him with their words. But he even touched my life.
One of Mr. Jessup's tasks as a football team trainer was a menial one. He taped the ankles of the players before practices and games. Only a little glory for one had studied and trained in biology, physiology, anatomy, and kinesiology. Taping the ankles of a bunch of high school football players was not an overwhelming reason he decided to spend his life working with young men and women. Many would have treated that task beneath them, but not George Jessup. He did each ankle he taped with care and pride regardless of who it belonged to. His goal was not concerned with false pride but with preventing injury. He did that with great success and class.
The great lesson Mr. Jessup gave me was how to treat all tasks, menial or not, with humility and grace. If I could have practiced the lessons and examples he demonstrated in my life after high school, I would have been a much better person. That was on me. He didn't fail me; I failed him.
Those who had Mr. Jessup know the truth of what I am saying about him, and those who did not have that opportunity, you missed knowing a real man and a great teacher.
A kind, decent, integrous man, coach, teacher and mentor who tolerated my athletic dreams and mediocrity, with kindness, tolerance and support. Know that your efforts are appreciated, and you contributed positively toward my vision of what it is to be a superlative educator!
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Alan Crosby
George asked me to stop by his office after practice. Alan, I’d like you to judge a girl’s gymnastics meet in Cambridge in two days. You up for it?
This was way out of my lane. I said “sure” of course. The time arrived and he called my two last class teachers to explain my absence...handed me a map...gave me the keys to his car. Off I went. I was much more afraid of getting lost then I was being a judge. Each moves values were simpler in ‘63...I knew most of them..and the rest was deductions & subjective evaluation.
I did three more..Braintree..Andover and another I forget. The last one in my Mom’s ancient Hillman Husky...which I parked far from the HS.
In his own fashion, Jessup was nudging me into adulthood. He exhibited faith that I would do a good job. Trusted me with his car. I was puffed up. My folks though it cool too.
My experience was not unlike that experienced by Roger Watson & his relationship with Jim Ronayne. Or Walt Alessi & Steve Woodruff with their long relationship with Al Fortune. Or Bernie Finkle and Jim Hoover with their track coach, Boyle. I’m sure many..or most..of my classmates have similar recollections of caring coaches & teachers. Who changed their lives.
It takes the passage of time to help us understand how fortunate we were to be nurtured and developed in such an environment. The fish says “what water?” We didn’t know how good we had it.
George Jessup was one of the good guys. And I loved him
Lewis Watts
Alan very nice memory. I realized that I used the example of the teachers from NHS and elsewhere who inspired me in my over 40 years as a teacher myself. I never took the example I set for granted.
Lewis
Dana Smith
I joined the gymnastics team as a sophomore to be with my buddies Alan Crosby and Stu Smith. But after a month of blisters, bruises, various other injuries and observing Alan's numerous attempts to break his neck on the highbar I decided to move to a less dangerous sport. What I do remember most clearly about Mr. Jessup is his look of terror when observing my handstand dismount off the parallel bars. Needless to say he agreed I should consider another sport.
Roger Watson
One of the many things that old age brings with it is the loss of those who have had the most significant impact on us and our lives. Those losses are deep and heartfelt, and a piece of us dies with them.
For most of us, outside of family and maybe despite family, our teachers and coaches had the most incredible early impact on our lives. For many of us, they weren't just teachers and coaches, they were our mentors, and they were our influencers.
We can look back at our time at NHS and pick out at least one coach or teacher that made a significant difference in our life. Part of our website is dedicated to the "mentors" in our lives, to those influencers who invested themselves in some way, small or great. They have made us different than who we might be today. But, unfortunately, we often fall into the trap of thinking that a mentor, a guide, must be old and experienced - not so.
We have heard from several of our classmates about the impact of George Jessup on their lives. Mr. Jessup (I use the Mister in deference to Mr. Jessup, not as a common noun) was a little older than those he instructed and mentored. But, reread some of the comments made by those who taught and coached, and you will get a glimpse of something of the man George Jessup.
I knew Mr. Jessup but mainly as a trainer for the football team. So, unfortunately, I do not have illustrations or remembrances of those who have recognized and honored him with their words. But he even touched my life.
One of Mr. Jessup's tasks as a football team trainer was a menial one. He taped the ankles of the players before practices and games. Only a little glory for one had studied and trained in biology, physiology, anatomy, and kinesiology. Taping the ankles of a bunch of high school football players was not an overwhelming reason he decided to spend his life working with young men and women. Many would have treated that task beneath them, but not George Jessup. He did each ankle he taped with care and pride regardless of who it belonged to. His goal was not concerned with false pride but with preventing injury. He did that with great success and class.
The great lesson Mr. Jessup gave me was how to treat all tasks, menial or not, with humility and grace. If I could have practiced the lessons and examples he demonstrated in my life after high school, I would have been a much better person. That was on me. He didn't fail me; I failed him.
Those who had Mr. Jessup know the truth of what I am saying about him, and those who did not have that opportunity, you missed knowing a real man and a great teacher.
Michael Fischler
A kind, decent, integrous man, coach, teacher and mentor who tolerated my athletic dreams and mediocrity, with kindness, tolerance and support. Know that your efforts are appreciated, and you contributed positively toward my vision of what it is to be a superlative educator!