Robyn Pring
I am so saddened to learn of George Trautwein's passing. Sadly, my first year at Blind Brook was Mr. Trautwein's last. As a musical theater obsessed young child, Mrs. Gober would always tell me "just wait until you get to Trautwein". Any "older" students I had met, praised him to the skies, so that first day of seventh grade, I felt like I was about to meet a legend. I don't think I knew what to say or do with myself. His warmth filled the LGI, and even though he was nearing the end of his career, he taught with so much passion and enthusiasm that it may as well have been the start. How special to be in a place where teachers took an interest in what you love and encouraged you to be whatever you wanted....and then some! At that stage of life, I hadn't known many people who loved performing arts the way I did and it was an honor to be led by a dazzling aficionado who seemingly knew every lyric, and every beat of both the greats and the obscure of musical theater. Though I had a wonderful relationship with his replacement teacher, I never will forget the anticipation of getting to Blind Brook and learning from the man who defined performance in our little corner of New York. His legacy far exceeded his time there as we used much of his sheet music for choir and participated in the Harrogate Music Festival. I wish I knew Mr. Trautwein better, but that is one of the many unique things about our school, the teachers were all worth knowing a little better. Reading all of your reflections in this group, they are full of celebrations for both GT and the Blind Brook way of life in years past. Most view university as their best shot to grow and define themselves, but clearly so many former students here feel we were fortunate enough to have those golden years a bit early. A close knit small student body, open classrooms, praise for individuality, and a genuinely inspired teaching methods. Blind Brook "back then" may have been the only place where truly no child was left behind, because everyone just cared so much and was willing to work with you on the things that made you great, and the things that made you want to bang your head on the wall of the commons. Arriving at Blind Brook, all I really liked was theater and dance and did not have many other interests at the time, but I credit the teachers for making EVERYTHING interesting to me. It changed my world. All of them, especially Trautwein, were notoriously strict, but they also had humor about their own subjects and had no problem letting you know their own opinions, and in turn inspiring us to formulate our own. One of the worst things you could do there was not have a voice, never think outside the box. The testing was secondary to the learning experience and the lasting impact of the skills we were meant to acquire. The crazy things those teachers had us do are by far the most enduring memories (and lessons). Charon's forensic investigations, mock trials, Curto's Sing Sing trips, Del's passion for both sides in "Of Mice and Men", Patrao's perfectly twisted humor towards "Lord of the Flies", Lobby making fun of the videos she needed to show us, Tibbs' wooden car races and so many more genius lesson plans designed to appeal and inspire. The juxtaposition of disciplined lesson plans with ridiculous amounts of fun was often seamless and we were constantly learning, even if we didn't know it at the time. The Blind Brook teachers made me want to see the world, learn everything I can and help to impact the lives of others. I entered college as a musical theater major and quickly missed the diversity that had previously been offered to, no, thrust upon me. I quickly picked up a second major in English and a minor in History and I don't know if I would have done either of these things if these early teachers hadn't believed in me and left me wanting to learn more. Every day I appreciate the existing talents Mr. Trautwein and Mr. D helped me to explore, and the newer interests the rest made me discover in my time there. Trautwein's loss is greatly felt by all of us, but he is a part of the BBHS legacy, and everything Blind Brook will always "Go On" in us lucky ones.
I am so saddened to learn of George Trautwein's passing. Sadly, my first year at Blind Brook was Mr. Trautwein's last. As a musical theater obsessed young child, Mrs. Gober would always tell me "just wait until you get to Trautwein". Any "older" students I had met, praised him to the skies, so that first day of seventh grade, I felt like I was about to meet a legend. I don't think I knew what to say or do with myself. His warmth filled the LGI, and even though he was nearing the end of his career, he taught with so much passion and enthusiasm that it may as well have been the start. How special to be in a place where teachers took an interest in what you love and encouraged you to be whatever you wanted....and then some! At that stage of life, I hadn't known many people who loved performing arts the way I did and it was an honor to be led by a dazzling aficionado who seemingly knew every lyric, and every beat of both the greats and the obscure of musical theater. Though I had a wonderful relationship with his replacement teacher, I never will forget the anticipation of getting to Blind Brook and learning from the man who defined performance in our little corner of New York. His legacy far exceeded his time there as we used much of his sheet music for choir and participated in the Harrogate Music Festival. I wish I knew Mr. Trautwein better, but that is one of the many unique things about our school, the teachers were all worth knowing a little better. Reading all of your reflections in this group, they are full of celebrations for both GT and the Blind Brook way of life in years past. Most view university as their best shot to grow and define themselves, but clearly so many former students here feel we were fortunate enough to have those golden years a bit early. A close knit small student body, open classrooms, praise for individuality, and a genuinely inspired teaching methods. Blind Brook "back then" may have been the only place where truly no child was left behind, because everyone just cared so much and was willing to work with you on the things that made you great, and the things that made you want to bang your head on the wall of the commons. Arriving at Blind Brook, all I really liked was theater and dance and did not have many other interests at the time, but I credit the teachers for making EVERYTHING interesting to me. It changed my world. All of them, especially Trautwein, were notoriously strict, but they also had humor about their own subjects and had no problem letting you know their own opinions, and in turn inspiring us to formulate our own. One of the worst things you could do there was not have a voice, never think outside the box. The testing was secondary to the learning experience and the lasting impact of the skills we were meant to acquire. The crazy things those teachers had us do are by far the most enduring memories (and lessons). Charon's forensic investigations, mock trials, Curto's Sing Sing trips, Del's passion for both sides in "Of Mice and Men", Patrao's perfectly twisted humor towards "Lord of the Flies", Lobby making fun of the videos she needed to show us, Tibbs' wooden car races and so many more genius lesson plans designed to appeal and inspire. The juxtaposition of disciplined lesson plans with ridiculous amounts of fun was often seamless and we were constantly learning, even if we didn't know it at the time. The Blind Brook teachers made me want to see the world, learn everything I can and help to impact the lives of others. I entered college as a musical theater major and quickly missed the diversity that had previously been offered to, no, thrust upon me. I quickly picked up a second major in English and a minor in History and I don't know if I would have done either of these things if these early teachers hadn't believed in me and left me wanting to learn more. Every day I appreciate the existing talents Mr. Trautwein and Mr. D helped me to explore, and the newer interests the rest made me discover in my time there. Trautwein's loss is greatly felt by all of us, but he is a part of the BBHS legacy, and everything Blind Brook will always "Go On" in us lucky ones.
