After 35 years of much appreciated teaching, Mr. Tom Blaney has decided that the time has come to retire.

Mr. Blaney contributed in a variety of ways to the school—from classroom teaching to helping in the parking lot to supervising detention.

“He was always there to give everybody a warm welcome as they walked into school,” noted one student.

Mr. Blaney claims that his most favorite year of all was last year, saying that he had “really great classes.”

In terms of what makes him most proud as a teacher, Mr. Blaney said that it is hands down “helping the kids that struggle the most and seeing them get better as the school year progresses.”

In the future, he plans to read at Fort Howard Elementary School and “spend his time well.”

About nine years ago, Mr. Blaney had heart surgery. He says that the longest someone lived after having his type of heart transplant was 25 years.   “That gives me 16 years left, and I plan on using them to the fullest!”

In his farewell to the staff, Mr. Blaney noted he had taught six of his nieces and nephews, 50-60 doctors, “many dentists and scores of lawyers,” as well as numerous professional soccer, football, hockey and baseball players.

Yet, despite all the high-profile former students, he is “most proud of these three students—a busboy on Oneida Street, a scrub woman at a local hospital and the Vietnamese girl that spoke no English that now is working in a nursing home.”

“They,” explained the teacher, “worked past their capabilities.”