Ellen Feigin
I have been reading some of these memories of Mr. Trautwein. I am completely moved. I didn't know him nearly as well as most of you although both my brother Michael and sister Nikki were deeply ensconced in his world. At BBHS I was an artist. I was independent. I was a rebel. I was in the very first graduating class of BBHS back in 1976. My class chose the school colors, the sports team name, the name of the year book. For the record, I remember being horrified at the choice of "Trojans".
I still think back fondly on the days when we moved into the "NEW" school. I remember the new teachers. I remember how young & totally cool they all seemed . . . John Mills, Steve Jones, Bil Johnson, Doris Patrao . . . and how cool the school without walls seemed. I especially remember Bil Johnson's ponytail . . .
I spent most of my time in the art room with Mr. Marlis and Mrs. VanB. I didn't "do" school plays or choir or musical instruments. I left that stuff to Michael and Nikki. I was an artist. I was too cool for that. Or so I thought. Besides I couldn't' sing. Then there was 11th grade (or was it 10th?) and Mr. Trautwein. I'm pretty sure I just happened to be in the "right place at the right time" when he was looking for kids to fill the smaller roles in the production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", but he made me feel like I was just the kid he was looking for. Before I knew what hit me, I was an Ishmaelite. I didn't even know what an Ishmaelite was, but as much as I had hated to admit it, dancing around on stage in a blue toga was kinda fun. I don't remember much else about that play and most of my memories of Mr. Trautwein are from his interaction with my brother and sister, but I do remember studying & watching him during rehearsals and thinking to myself, maybe I should have spent a little more time singing or acting or SOMETHING. Mr. Trautwein was interesting and being around him was never boring.
I'm 52 years old now. I have a 20 year old son in college. I'm still an artist. I'm still rebellious. I'm still an independent thinker. AND I still remember this man who "made" me participate in a school play all those years ago. He believed in me and I like to think that he was trying to save me from my 16 year old self . . . or maybe he just needed a warm body.
I have been reading some of these memories of Mr. Trautwein. I am completely moved. I didn't know him nearly as well as most of you although both my brother Michael and sister Nikki were deeply ensconced in his world. At BBHS I was an artist. I was independent. I was a rebel. I was in the very first graduating class of BBHS back in 1976. My class chose the school colors, the sports team name, the name of the year book. For the record, I remember being horrified at the choice of "Trojans".
I still think back fondly on the days when we moved into the "NEW" school. I remember the new teachers. I remember how young & totally cool they all seemed . . . John Mills, Steve Jones, Bil Johnson, Doris Patrao . . . and how cool the school without walls seemed. I especially remember Bil Johnson's ponytail . . .
I spent most of my time in the art room with Mr. Marlis and Mrs. VanB. I didn't "do" school plays or choir or musical instruments. I left that stuff to Michael and Nikki. I was an artist. I was too cool for that. Or so I thought. Besides I couldn't' sing. Then there was 11th grade (or was it 10th?) and Mr. Trautwein. I'm pretty sure I just happened to be in the "right place at the right time" when he was looking for kids to fill the smaller roles in the production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", but he made me feel like I was just the kid he was looking for. Before I knew what hit me, I was an Ishmaelite. I didn't even know what an Ishmaelite was, but as much as I had hated to admit it, dancing around on stage in a blue toga was kinda fun. I don't remember much else about that play and most of my memories of Mr. Trautwein are from his interaction with my brother and sister, but I do remember studying & watching him during rehearsals and thinking to myself, maybe I should have spent a little more time singing or acting or SOMETHING. Mr. Trautwein was interesting and being around him was never boring.
I'm 52 years old now. I have a 20 year old son in college. I'm still an artist. I'm still rebellious. I'm still an independent thinker. AND I still remember this man who "made" me participate in a school play all those years ago. He believed in me and I like to think that he was trying to save me from my 16 year old self . . . or maybe he just needed a warm body.
