Tag Archives: Physical Education Teachers

Teachers who specialized in physical education.

PE teacher, veteran, and pro basketball player Robert Mulvihill

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Beloved physical education teacher Robert Mulvihill of New Jersey was also a former professional basketball player and military veteran. Photo credit: St. Peter’s Preparatory School.

Over the last few years, I have read many stories about classroom teachers who are also talented athletes. One of these was Robert Mulvihill, a high school teacher who was also a professional basketball player.

Robert was born on March 9, 1924, in Washington, DC. As a youngster, he earned a scholarship to attend Gonzaga College High School, a private Catholic school located in the capital city. There he played basketball, and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. Following his high school graduation in 1942, Robert enrolled at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. While there, he played college basketball. When World War II erupted, Robert enlisted in the US Marine Corps, and he also transferred to the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. Later Robert returned to Fordham, where he completed the requirements for his degree in 1948. He was named an All American for 1947-1948, and he was also inducted into the Fordham’s Hall of Fame.

After college, Robert played professional basketball for Wisconsin’s Oshkosh All-Stars as part of the National Basketball League. He did this during the 1948-1949 season. As an All-Star, he played 34 games and averaged 0.9 points per game. Unfortunately, an ankle injury ended his stint with the All-Stars, although he later spent a season playing for Torrington Howards in the East Coast League.

When he concluded his career as a professional basketball player in 1952, Robert relocated to Clifton, New Jersey. There he taught physical education, math, and English at St. Peter’s Preparatory School, a private all-male Jesuit school in Jersey City, New Jersey. There he earned the nickname “The Legend of Prep.” In addition, he ran a summer camp and a tour company that took children on field trips in the summers. Before his retirement in 1989, Robert’s career at the school spanned 37 years.

The former educator passed away on May 17, 2016, in Manasquan, New Jersey. He was 92 years old. To read this Chalkboard Champion’s obituary, see this post on northjersey.com.

 

PE teacher and coach Matthew Beaver succumbs to Covid-19

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Physical Education teacher and coach Matthew Beaver of Salisbury, North Carolina, succumbed to Covid-19 on Jan. 19, 2021. Photo credit: Salisbury post.

We are sad to report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Matthew Beaver, a physical education teacher and coach from Salisbury, North Carolina, succumbed to the disease on Jan. 19, 2021. He was only 40 years old.

Matthew was born on Nov. 24, 1980, in Christianburg, Virginia. He graduated from East Rowan High School in Rowan County, North Carolina, in 1999. Following high school, Matthew earned his degrees in Health and Physical Education. He first attended Piedmont Bible College. While there, he played college basketball. He also attended High Point University. In 2006, Matthew was honored a the Outstanding Student Teacher and Outstanding Physical Education Major.

Matthew inaugurated his career as an educator when he accepted an interim position at Southeast Middle School in the Rowan-Salisbury School System in 2006. At the time of his passing, the beloved educator was teaching physical education at Knox Middle School in Salisbury. He also served his school as a coach of basketball and tennis. He had been employed there since 2007, a total of 13 years.

Matthew was highly respected by his students, their parents, and his colleagues, and he will be fondly remembered. “Great with the kids — his kids and students. He affected so many people in a positive manner, made me a better teacher,” remarked colleague James Phillips. Co-worker Justin Pauley agreed. “He would get to work early. He would never miss. He’d put everybody above himself. His wife, his kids, he bragged about, loved them, talked about them constantly,” Pauley recalled. The beloved educator leaves behind a wife, Ruth, who is also a teacher, and two young children.

To read more about Matthew Beaver, see this article published by the Salisbury Post.

Educator and community activist Cheryl Chow of Washington State

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Physical Education teacher and community activist Cheryl Chow of Seattle, Washington. Photo credit: The Seattle Times

Many dedicated and talented educators make substantial contributions to their local communities. One of these educators is Cheryl Mayre Chow, a PE teacher from Washington State.

Cheryl was born in Seattle, Washington, on May 24, 1946, the daughter of Chinese restaurant owners Ping and Ruby Chow. As a young teenager, Cheryl graduated from Franklin High School, and then enrolled at Western Washington University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Teaching. Later she earned a Master’s degree in Administrative Management from Seattle University.

Upon her graduation from college, the neophyte educator became a physical education teacher. As a teacher, she was known for her toughness, high standards, and tenacious advocacy for children. Eventually she became a principal of first Sharples Junior High (renamed Aki Kurose Junior High) and then Garfield High.

Cheryl’s devotion to young people is very evident. Among her many achievements, she served as the Assistant Director for the Girl Scouts of Western Washington, a girls’ basketball coach for the city parks and recreation department, and she also directed the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team. “Everything that Cheryl did, she worked to instill leadership among the girls and kind of mentor them for their adult lives,” remembers friend Lorena Eng. In addition to this work, Cheryl helped to form an outreach program for teens involved in Asian street gangs.

Cheryl also served as the President of the Seattle School Board and worked at the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. In addition, she served two terms on her local city council.

This Chalkboard Champion passed away from a central nervous system lymphoma on March 29, 2013, at the age of 66. She is interred at Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park in Seattle. To read more about Cheryl Chow, see this obituary at The Seattle Times.

Isabelle Salmon Ross: Settler and Pioneer for PE

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Isabelle Salmon Ross: Settler and pioneer for physical education for women and special education students. Photo credit: BYU Library

Many wonderful teachers were also pioneers in their time. Such is the case of Isabelle Salmon Ross, who was not only a settler in the Utah Territory in the 1800s, but was also a pioneer of physical education courses for women and special education students during her lifetime.

Isabelle Salmon was born on November 1, 1867, in Perry, Utah Territory. Her parents, William Weir Salmon and Margaret Hay Hunter Salmon, had immigrated from Scotland. Isabelle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education at the University of Utah. She also attended Harvard University. After college, she became a physical education teacher in the public school system in Salt Lake City, at Brigham Young College, and at the Utah State School for the Deaf and the Blind in Ogden, Utah.

Isabelle was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served her church in the general presidency of the Primary organization. While working in that capacity, Isabelle met and fell in love with fellow Mormon Charles James Ross. On September 29, 1897, the pair married in the Salt Lake Temple. Her husband was from Ogden and was a member of the general board of the Deseret Sunday School Union. He also served for a time as the manager of Ogden Tabernacle Choir.

In her later life, Isabelle suffered from coronary heart disease. Sadly, she passed away on December 28, 1947, in Salt Lake City. She was 80 years old. She is interred at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

Coronavirus claims life of NYC PE teacher David Behrbom

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Coronavirus claims the life of New York City Physical Education teacher David Behrbom. He was 47 years old.

With great sadness we report the loss of yet another beloved educator to the coronavirus. David Behrbom, a physical education teacher at New York City’s PS 55, passed away on April 5, 2020. He was only 47 years old.

David’s career at PS 55 spanned 15 years. The school is located in the Bronx area of the New York City. In addition to physical education, David taught math and health education. David is remembered by everyone for the annual  Spring event he organized. The event was an Olympic Field Day, which brought together students and staff for a fun day of friendly athletic competition.

As a youngster, David was recognized as a talented athlete, particularly on the baseball diamond.

Outside of the classroom, David also coached Little League baseball and soccer in his home town of Ardsley in Westchester County. He enjoyed old-school hip-hop and was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees.

“As an educator, Behrbom was an amazing individual,” remarked PS 55 Principal Luis Torres. David’s co-workers shared the sentiment.  “I will always remember David as a great teacher and colleague,” expressed retired teacher Maria Arroyo. Fellow educator Nalda Munroe agreed. “David was a pleasant, friendly, and encouraging teacher and co-worker,” she recalled. “His presence in my classroom will never be forgotten….the way he interacted with the students…He will surely be missed,” she said.

In March, David was diagnosed with leukemia and began undergoing chemotherapy. Shortly thereafter he was diagnosed with COVID-19, and was awaiting the go-ahead to use an experimental treatment that involved platelets when passed away at White Plains Hospital Center in White Plains, New York.

You can read more about David Behrbom at this link to his memorial at the  United Federation of Teachers.