In Memory

Herb Prange (1973) Teacher



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

10/20/08 08:32 PM #1    

Debbie Holland (Phillips)

What can you say about Mr. Prange? What a great guy. I remember he helped me with math (I have always been mathematically challenged). He also helped me learn to swim at the Neptune Club. If anyone has any info on the year he passed or can help me get a copy of his obituary, I would really appreciate it.

11/09/08 02:47 PM #2    

Jane Hutchison (Cooper)

My grandmother sent me a letter informing me of Mr. Prange's passing three days after heart surgery. I was away in Pittsburgh for the summer, and reading that letter made all the air go out of me. What horrible news! It affected me deeply. It must have happened in late June, because the letter was postmarked July 3, 1973. He had been a special friend to me the summer before when he had taught me Algebra in a hot CHS classroom. The classroom was on the second floor, and I can still remember watching him walk over to one of those big, tall windows to spit out his chewing tobacco while he was teaching! He was so patient and thorough and helpful. He was a kind, strong, intelligent, wonderful man/teacher/friend who just seemed to understand and like every child he met. I remember how some kids would sometimes scramble to get away when they saw him approaching on the grounds at Washington. He could get pretty long-winded, I guess, but it never bothered me. I just always thought it was so neat that he would want to talk to and listen to me. I watched him teach kids to swim at the Neptune, too. He had such patience to want to do those things. I hated that I could not attend his funeral or ever tell him goodbye. A few years later in a college acting assignment, I had to do an improvisational scene that came from some deep, emotional sense of loss. I instinctively chose losing my friend, Mr. Herb Prange, and my instructor sat down and cried with me.

11/09/08 03:44 PM #3    

Debbie Holland (Phillips)

Thanks, Jane, for saying so eloquently what Mr. Prange meant to so many of us. Your kinds word choked me up all these years later. What a testament to a wonderful man.

11/12/08 07:13 PM #4    

Sandy Malone (Brashier)

I remember Mr. Prange also. The first time I met him, I was in study hall, in the 9th grade. Debbie, you might remember this because I sat at your table. Frankie was sitting across the room and I stood up and sort of whispered loudly, trying to get her attention. He was upon the stage and yelled at me to come up and sit at the table on stage where he was! Boy, was I embarrassed. BUT, I had him for math later on and I was one of many students who he taught math to at the Neptune. He really took time to help those who wanted to learn. There's one time too that I remember that he brought some of those exotic chocolate candies to school and handed out to his students only to find out they were chocolate-covered ants, bees, and caterpillars! Linda came into the restroom one day and asked if I wanted a "Chunky" bar. I told her yes....it was not a Chunky. It was a chocolate-covered caterpillar. It was only after I ate the whole thing that she told me what it was. Linda thought it was funny but I wasn't too happy the rest of the day. :)

11/15/08 08:10 AM #5    

Debbie Holland (Phillips)

He was a wonderful man who really cared about kids. How lucky we were to know him.

01/31/09 08:21 AM #6    

Karla Jones (McDonald)

I will always remember Herb Prange. He was such a devoted teacher. Even on his "off time" he continued to teach. I will never forget being at the Neptune swimming pool splaching and playing. All my friends would go into the deep end to swim but I had to stay in the shallow end because I could not swim. Mr. Prange would pull me to the side and work with me. He taught me how to swim and because of him I was able to lifeguard at the pool in the summers when I got older and I was able to teach all my children how to swim. He also worked with me on my algebra. That however is something I NEVER masterd. It certainly was not do the lack of effort of Mr. Prange however!!
Our children should be so lucky to have a Herb Prange as a mentor and a teacher!

02/02/09 07:01 PM #7    

Kathy Barnes (Gillum)

Yes, Mr Prange was truly a remarkable and loving man. He encouraged me in Algebra when I was bored. Algebra was actually easy for me but I wanted to take the easy road, Mr Prague gave me something to keep me challenged. I remember him bringing the chocolate covered bugs to class and telling us we could take one but we had to eat it if we took it. I had a bee. also one summer when Judy and I were walking home from the Neptune, he picked us up in his big fancey car, wet bathing suits and all and gave us a ride home because we were running from shady spot on the road to shady spot, because we were of course barefooted.
I wish he was still here to help me with College Alegbra which I still haven't completed.

03/05/09 02:40 PM #8    

Linda Maxwell (Pujol)

Mr. Prange, was a great algebra teacher. He did his best to help me understand algebra ( to no avail). I think the only reason I passed his class was because he saw how hard I tried. Kathy if I can pass college algebra I know without a doubt that you'll pass with flying colors.

P.S. Sandy sorry about the bug, but that was pay back for the finger nail event at church camp. Remember?


03/08/09 04:39 PM #9    

Debbie Holland (Phillips)

Now, this sounds like an interesting story, Linda. One you will share?

05/23/09 01:31 PM #10    

Gerceida Adams (Jones)

Mr. Prange was a tough chemistry teacher. He once made me spend hours in a lab until I figured it out. I must say, if it had not been for that type of dedication to his students, I would not be the oh-h so observant scientist that I am today. Thank-you Mr. Prange and God rest your soul.

go to top 
  Post Comment