Mr. Angelo LaRose, the wood shop teacher taught me skills that I used my whole life. I was fortunate, although I didn't know it then, to be the first class in the new High School. We had a brand new wood shop with all the guy tools in perfect condition. We could have built anything out of wood. Can you imagine taking over 20 teenage boys and teaching them how to use a table saw. For those of you that don't know what that is, a table saw has a powerful spinning blade that cuts thick wood or teenager, whichever gets pushed into the blade. When it was my turn to use it Mr. LaRose would stand behind me, smack me on the back of the neck and repeat.........."Don't take your eye off the blade"........."Don't take your eye off the blade. I have been blessed in my life to have had my own wood shop for the past 35 years, have restored several sailboats, built many pieces of furniture, not to mention house repairs and still have all my fingers however ever time I use any saw I can still feel him behind me. Thank You for being my teacher and my friend. You have made a difference. It was an honor to have known you.

 

Bob Gross (class of 60)