The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Road to bear late principal’s name
EAST HAMPTON — The driveway into East Hampton High School has been renamed in honor to the school’s late principal, John H. Fidler II.
Fidler, 60, died July 30 while hiking with his family on Mount Katahdin, the tallest mountain in the state of Maine.
Board of Education Chairman Christopher Goff and Superintendent of Schools Paul K. Smith came before the Town Council this week to ask the council to approve the name change.
Since his death, Goff said the school board had been inundated with suggestions from friends, colleagues “and former students from all over the country” — including some from as far as California — for an appropriate way to honor Fidler, who spent 27 years in the East Hampton school system.
“We were kind of overwhelmed and in awe, really” about the number and breadth of suggestions of how best to honor Fidler, Goff told the council.
The first decision the school board made “was to slow down,” while members assessed the variety of suggestions, because it was essential “that we include the family in any decision that was going to be made,” Goff said.
Fidler’s widow, Joan, is a teacher in the Madison school system. The couple has two sons, John and Jeffrey.
Once the family agreed with the idea of naming the driveway in Fidler’s honor, the plan was presented to the school board, which board voted unanimously to name it John Fidler Way, Goff said.
Councilors immediately reacted to the proposal favorably then voted unanimously to approve it.
“It’s a very good idea,” Council Chairwoman Patience R. Anderson said.
“This is a great idea,” Councilor Melissa Engel said.
Goff thanked the council for its action and said he was very happy to “order the blue signs with the bell on it” to install at the school.
In addition to naming the drive in Fidler’s honor, the family has given its support to a scholarship fund that will be given in his honor. Donations can be made care of the high school.
Goff publicly thanked Town Manager Michael Maniscalco, Police Chief Sean D. Cox “and the all the officers who helped us in that crazy time back in August” after Fidler’s death.
His wake was held the following week at the high school. “Fifteen hundred people came through the school on that Friday,” Goff said. “That speaks to the person John Fidler was.”