Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I met Bob Teator in the fall of 1965 at Central Connecticut State College. That fall semester, Central admitted a special group of incoming freshmen Industrial Arts majors. Some of us in that group were block registered. This meant that we had every course together that semester, including Wrestling at 8am on Monday morning with Coach Norm Gerber. That intensive time together, more than forty years ago, provided the foundation of many personal and professional friendships. Bob Teator went on to teach in Hamden and then to Dodd Middle School in Cheshire. As Bob and I matured as teachers, we saw a good deal of each other on many CIAA and CTEA committees, particularly on Spring Conference planning. TSA and NEATT also provided us many opportunities to work together. Bob also served as an adjunct professor of Technology Education at Central Connecticut, teaching courses in Electronics and in Mechanical Energy for many years. Our professional friendship flourished. Bob went on to become one of Connecticut’s best Cooperating Teachers and was responsible for that critical development stage of many student teachers. An excellent Industrial Arts teacher with a marvelously successful program, Bob, unafraid of challenges, re-designed his curriculum and his laboratory to create a model Technology Education program, and of course he became a superb Tech Ed teacher. In addition to that, Bob had a very successful TSA program and was much involved in TSA activities. He was a perfect role model. Our professional friendship continued to flourish. Above all, Bob was a true gentleman. He was kind and never had a harsh word to say about anyone. As I said, he was a perfect role model. I shall miss him. Peter Rodrigues Assistant Professor of Technology Education – Emeritus Central Connecticut State University
