Richard Klinger, Esq. ESB ’54

In my life, the things I remember at ESB most, with exception to two soul-close friends from Harvard days, were my teachers. At ESB, most were very good, some a little quirky, but good nonetheless. And some were outstanding… people who have left a presence with me to this day (and I’m 87). I will mention two – William Clark (“Bill”) and Fred Hutchins (“Hutch”). Clark was the Latin teacher I learned from through all the high school years. My class (1954) dedicated our yearbook to him I think. He was an unassuming man with a deep love of Latin and the sound, power, and complexity of the language. With him, I felt the beauty of Ovid’s poetry and the adventure of Virgil’s stories. And, I guess, what made him so special was his ability to share his excitement and appreciation to the few of us (I think our senior class was four). I still remember him taking us into NYC to see the movie “Quo Vadis.” He explained the historical background and made the trip an adventure. And then, there is Hutch. One doesn’t get this kind of teacher very often because there are not that many men like Hutch. On the one hand, he was a strict grammarian (for which I am grateful). He didn’t want a class of sloppy writers. But that is a minor aspect of his abilities. He made everything we read an exploration. In his classes, he was always asking us, “What do you think this means?” And that would lead to discussion. He was pushing us to think. It wasn’t ever enough just to do the assigned reading. You had to come prepared to explain what you had taken away from it. He invited discussion. His criticism could be sharp, but never unkind. He had a wonderful sense of humor that could bring a class of rowdy teenagers to a roar. He knew I had a hungry and curious mind, so for three years he corresponded with me during the summers, suggesting things to read, asking for my thoughts. This was the kind of person that he was. I still miss him. So, … I know that you’ve become a powerhouse institution now. When I went to ESB, my class was no more than 30 students. It was a different time. I am sure that the school is of the highest quality… but long ago, there was also an element of intimacy that I fear may be no longer a part of the education process. Maybe I’m wrong. Certainly, when I went on to Harvard, the nest of ESB was gone, and I was flying on my own… but well prepared.