Marjorie "Miss" Maple, RIP. Betty French, RIP
Posted Sunday, May 1, 2011 10:00 PM

Ms Marjorie Maple died on Sept. 27, 2011.  I will post more information when I have it.  Ms. Maple attended the Class of '57 reunion in September 2008 at age 93 and accompanied us up and down the three stories of the school stairs and was taking daily walks for exercise.  

Vickie Gause White ('55) spoke for a lot of Ms. Maple's students:

"She meant a lot to me--encouraged me to enjoy athletics even though I was not a natural nor outstanding in any sport. The jumping we did with the parallel ropes and Pam' s and my chanting "Where there's a will there's a way." as we struggled to get one inch higher was a mantra that I still use when the going gets rough. Bless her--I'm sure she is in a better place. She touched so many lives!"

Some pictures of her in 2008 are at  https://picasaweb.google.com/.../SeaCliffClassOf1957IndividualPicturesAndClassActivities 

 

BETTY FRENCH. Our business and typing teacher, Elizabeth French also died the last week in April, but I have no other details.  Almost every day for the past 50 plus years I have used the skills she taught me in typing and thanked her for the gift.

From:  Vickie Gause White
Email:  vgw6537@aol.com

Often losses seem to come in bunches. Regarding Ms. French. I have always said that I benefited more from her half year class of typing my senior year than perhaps from any other class other than Driver's Education. Taking typing in place of solid geometry--no contest as to usability! vicki 

From Sandra Gliechmann Thompson who has made her mark as an illustrator, artist, and writer and who owns and operates her own gallery.  

Two of my very favorite teachers.  I loved both of those women and they each in their own way were hugely instrumental in forming whatever it is I am today.  Their friendship during school years and particularly in the case of Betty French after I moved to Florida - I saw her some and went to her 80th Birthday.  Did not know what happened to her the past seven years when I no longer received Christmas letter.  They were terrific vibrant educators and athletic director. What a privilege to call them friend and mentor. 

I will always hold them closely in my heart and in so many wonderful memories.  Betty French taught future secretarys to write letters by composing  just as you would speak.  It has been invaluable in how I have approached writing the memoirs.  Made it easy.  And I enjoyed many visits with Betty during the years when I'd visit Long Island and when I went to Naples [FL] on several occasions.  She was a wonderful woman and friend.  As to Marjorie she was my athletic director.  Sports meant more to me in school than art or anything else.  So Marjorie was a dear.  Loved her. 

 From Gail Capobianco Schramm:  

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I took a parenting class--learning all about taking care of a newborn,  changing  diapers,  fixing formula, feeding,  burping, and bathing, etc. 

I was very surprised to see a very pregnant Mrs. French in the class.  She was expecting her first child.  We sat together and chatted baby talk....I said I would name my first son Scott and if she had a boy, she wanted to name him Tyler...Here I was sitting and talking to my former teacher.  I always liked she was a lovely person.

I never knew what she had as we didn't see each other again.  We discussed the fact that the  names  weren't very common then.  This was in 1959, but we liked both of the names and I did name my baby  Scott.   My baby is now 51 years old.  You mentioned Valerie, so I take it she had a girl.