I was cleaning up in my store room this week and came across a NDP poster which sent me to the desk to write my memories of a wonderful family that have through the years been special to me.
One of the most respected teachers at Bradford District High School (BDHS) was Don McFadyen “McFee”.
Don was born on March 29, 1930 in Galt, Ont. He went to school at Galt Collegiate Institute and I believe one of his first methods of making money was in a band.
In 1949 he met the love of his life Jean Webster. Jean lived at Glenville, west of Newmarket, on Highway 9. Don and Jean were married at Glenville on May 5, 1951. They settled in Toronto, then later moved to Glenville.
Jean and Don welcomed a son Randall to their home in 1956. Later in 1958 a son Joel was born. Now that they were married Don thought he might like to teach as his profession. His first teaching job was at BDHS in 1962. He worked part time until 1964 when he was hired full time. He taught English and music. His love of music brought life into the school as he offered junior and senior band as part of the curriculum.
Don recognized that there was a lot of talent at BDHS so he started offering drama at the school. With an interested group of students he nurtured a wonderful group of talented thespians and took them to the Georgian Bay Drama Festival bringing back to BDHS numerous awards.
Students and teachers alike were very proud of Don's achievements.
I believe it was in 1966 that I entered high school and took up band in Don's music class. I played the French horn and trumpet. I can still hear him, with baton in hand, ushering the words in German, "Eins Zwei Drei," and we would begin to play. One of our pieces was an exert from Peer Gynt Suite No.1, “Morning Mood.” Whenever I hear it playing I think of Don.
One year in his English class he announced that we had to write an essay. Whatever subject we wanted but it had to be so many words or pages. Well not much of a writer at the time, I worked and finally got it turned in. In later years, I asked him about the essays. Did you read all 30 of them? "No I just burnt them," he said. "The important thing was that you all exercised your brain."
As mentioned before he was the most respected teacher in my five years of school, and I am sure in his years at BDHS. If you were not paying attention to his teaching or just being a jerk he would stop, look down at the culprit and say: "You are disrupting my class and it is my wish that you leave the room. For the rest of the class, hit the washroom, don't get caught and come back to class tomorrow in a better state of mind."
He didn't want to get his students in trouble so that was the next best thing for both of them.
Don drove a van to school and one day in 1968 it had a new paint job. Accompanying the new paint job were the letters "NDP." Well word got out quickly that someone at BDHS was running in the national election for that alleged Communist Party. Made for some interesting conversations among the townspeople.
After high school I started my real friendship with Don and Jean. While taking my apprenticeship for re-upholstery it was coming up to school summer holidays and Don and Jean and boys were heading Kingston way so Don could get more credits to his teaching degree. They approached me asking if I would go down to their Glenville home and look after their property, keeping the lawns cut and pool cleaned. What a great chance to get out into the world and learn that in life there were duties and things to do to keep a house up. They didn't know it but by living there it taught me that nothing is given in this life and to survive you had to budget your week's wage making sure the rents or mortgages were paid first, they your bills, food and if any was left your indulgences. Thanks to Jean and Don and my parents I think I made out OK.
Don and Jean and the boys became very good friends of mine. When I graduated as a journeyman apprentice in upholstery I bought my first home at highways 88 and 400. Shortly after I introduced the McFadyen crew to my partner Kerry and we would go to each others' homes to play cards. We had lots of fun over the years. By then the boys worked for me.
Mom and Dad were in England when I decided to open up the wood shed and summer kitchen into a large family room. I managed to buy enough, and more, windows to use in the new room. We started to put the windows in but I didn't want one in south wall. The weekend Mom and Dad came home we were to get them at airport and my back was out. My sister and husband came with me to pick them up. I told them not to stop in at my house but Dad insisted we drop in to see the place. Well when he saw the renovations he wanted to know why there was no window in south. I told him I didn't want to see the shop when not working.
Dad said it was crazy not to have a southern exposure window that would help heat the room in winter. So he didn't come out like he used to.
Don said he knew the problem because his father-in-law did the same thing. They wanted to feel included in their children's projects so Buster's window was put in the south wall and next thing I knew he was out helping again.
Don and Jean's 25th anniversary was coming up so Kerry and I suggested their boys have a surprise party for them at my place. We had the party on one of our game nights so they would not get suspicious. The guests parked at restaurant and hid in the house. Joel had new film put into a camera by a storekeeper so no one bothered to take pictures. The party was a complete surprise and success. When Joel went to get the film developed the storekeeper had put the film in wrong so no pictures were available. We said well we will have to wait until the 30th anniversary.
Don was a man that loved his wife unconditionally, every time she came into a room he would compliment her with such words like "My God Jean you are beautiful" or " You light up my live everyday!" On Aug. 17, 1979, Don awoke to a heart attack. Unable to communicate, Jean called for an ambulance. Don later passed at York County Hospital (now renamed Southlake Regional Health Centre). Word got out and everyone was in shock. There was a celebration of Don's life on Aug. 20, 1979. As expected the school auditorium was packed full.
Jean is still living and looks as beautiful as she was when Don passed from this world.
I am sure many of you reading this will think fondly of Don and his achievements to BDHS.
