Page 68 - LBHS Reunion Album V3

Beverly Gordon

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In writing a bio for one’s 50 high school reunion, one realizes that life is like chapters in
a book or seasons in a year.

Having arrived from Brooklyn, NY to Long Branch, NJ just before second grade… my
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earliest memories begin with Gregory School [if memory serves me: Ms. Pedota for 2
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th
rd
grade, Ms. Zuckerman for 3 grade, Ms. DeRosa for 4 grade, Mr. Sawyers for 5 grade
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and Ms. Pedota again for 6 grade], then the ole Junior High school on Morris Avenue,
culminating, of course, at good ole LBHS.

After High school, I graduated from Quinnipiac College [now Quinnipiac University-
famous for it’s national political polls], in Hamden, Conn in 1969, and went on to receive
a MS in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, -- 'Mad
City', in 1971. Returning to Long Branch I taught in the ‘new’ Junior High school,
located across from the High School. Fortunately or unfortunately, there came a dawning
awareness that if I were going to have any chance at making any difference in my field, I
would need my terminal degree. So, I returned to Madison and received my PhD in
1979.

From Mad City, I came to Columbus, Ohio to join the College of Education faculty at
‘The’ Ohio State University. Needless to say, life at OSU was not a ‘Crystal Stair” to
quote Langston Hughes. Nevertheless, I endured, survived and at certain moments,
flourished, such as when I became: a Mom at 40 years old to a wonderful son, and; in
1994 the first African American woman in the [124 year] history of the university to be
elected Department Chair outside of the African American African Studies Department.

Neither time nor space allows elaboration, but, having spent my entire academic career at
OSU, I’m retiring in May 2015 after 36 years [I’zz free Kissie!]. Reminiscent of
Sinatra’s song, while this may be the autumn of the year, believe me, I’m looking
forward to this next chapter in my life, and am anxious to see what tomorrow will bring.

Love & peace