Tantasqua Regional High School - Tantasquan Yearbook (Sturbridge, MA)

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R. Bombard Assistant Principal C. Pieterse Vocational Director

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When Tantasqua opened in 1954, Mr. Roger Charette was there. Since then he has devoted himself to the education of English students at Tantasqua, and in 1961, to students at Nichols College. Mr. Charette went to Assumption College, received his Masters from Boston University, and took courses at Bowdoin College, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Connecticut. In his three decades of teaching Mr. Charette feels he’s met many “wonderful and interesting people.” He’s seen many faculty and curriculum changes, including his own appointment as the Department Chairman for the English Department. With his retirement this year, Mr. Charette would like to travel to Europe and the Orient. We all wish him the best and thank him for all the patience, dedication and caring he has shown us. Roger Charette is an inspiration, a role model, a guiding light to educators — a man of knowledge, a teacher and a father figure to students. In my twenty-three years at Tantasqua, he has been all of these things but above all, a friend. Peter McDonald Roger Charette is truly A Man for All Seasons: intelligent, kind, tolerant, wise, and decent. Since 1958 he has been my Latin teach- er, my advisor, my Department Chairperson, and my friend. He has touched my life with his integral goodness and his sharing, pro- found knowledge. Roger is a Teacher’s Teacher — the Artist for this, his eternal student. Susan E. Martin During the past twenty-seven years that | have known Roger Char- ette he has always been a gentleman, both in the modern and the traditional sense. His gentle good humor, wise counsel and warm friendship has been an inspiration to all his colleagues in the Tan- tasqua English Department. And this particularly applies to me, one of the old guard, one of those few remaining who helped implement our present elective system, still one of the finest in the area. Thanks for all you have done and all that you have been to all of us for these many years. Best wishes and much happiness in your retirement Rog! Ken Blake Classical lit, a down-east wit, and often A.P. too But we'll never forget, Dear Mr. Charette, And his College English Review! A man with class, he helped kids pass, his deficits were few, But what did we get that we'll never forget? His college English Review! When he used to teach Latin, the hatches he’d batten AMO, AMAS, AMOO! But the tightest ship, that he ever let rip Was his College English Review! Voracious, loquacious, pugnacious, fallacious Salubrious verbals imbue, without pontification, he made a sensation Of College English Review! True, this class was inspired, but Roger’s retired And now what will they do? Though this class has much merit, don’t let me inherit His college English Review! Kit Randall It’s difficult for me to express the debt | owe to Roger Charette. | first met him over sixteen years ago, in the job interview that led to my becoming a Tantasqua English teacher. Roger guided me over many a rocky trail during those “‘first-year-teacher” days. Because of Roger's encouragement and wisdom, the inevitable frustrations of my rookie experience became easier to accept. He was there to listen; he was there to help. He was there to show the virtues of staying calm. There are few people who are capable of displaying an interest as genuine as Roger’s when it comes to listening to what others have to say. His sage advice was so quietly rational and “down-to-earth” that | always left his office with “lighter shoulders”. Teachers and students who have come to know Mr. Charette over the many years he served at Tantas- qua know exactly what I am talking about. We will miss him dearly, but his absence will not diminish the positive influence he has had upon us all. Ed Bansak | have known Roger Charette for only a short time, but | will re- member his quiet humor and his generosity. Despite the fact that Roger has surely seen and heard it all before — he was never too busy to encourage, to reassure, or to admit that he still exper- ienced the strange, unsettling mixture of joy and frustration that is the inheritance of all be- ginning teachers. Joan Walter Mr. Charette has been a great inspi- ration and mentor to me over the years. His support has been unend- ing and his advice fruitful. He has helped me shape my career. His dedication to his students, and his genuine interest in people is one of his greatest virtues. | will never for- get Roger Charette. Nancy Sawyer

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J. Allen Mathematics P. Ballard Foreign Language E. Bansak English L. Beaulieu Drafting K. Blake’ English R. Bond Social Studies M. Bracken Electrical Shop V. Bruneau Social Studies C. Castendyk Social Studies R. Charette English M.A. Chasse Special Education C. Christenden Special Education G. Coffill Music R. Collette Home Education J. Coughlin Sports Director S. Crapser Guidance N. Czyzewski Machine Shop A. Devoe Mathematics J. Dill Business R. Dixon Public Relations M. Dube Science M. Duff Guidance Secretary R. Dunn Social Studies S. Earle Mathematics J. Egger Carpentry W. Emrich Science J. Erban Physical Education A. Errede Industrial Arts J. Goldblatt Physical Education R. Graham Carpentry C. Heins Business C. Heske Business E. Hippert Guidance D. Hitov Mathematics J. Keenan Librarian A.V. Tech L. Lamothe Welding