Teacher had a gift for seeing a student’s potential
William (Bill) Klos of Kitchener Born: Feb. 8, 1938 in Cambridge Died: May 12, 2020 of respiratory complications
Some teachers leave such an indelible mark on their students that, even decades later, a mention of their name rekindles deeply held emotions.
Bill Klos was one of those teachers.
The beloved educator and community volunteer — he died May 12, 2020 — made an impact on those he connected with that cannot be overstated. Yes, he was a good teacher, but he was also the kind of teacher who provoked and encouraged his students to be reflective.
Former student Ed Pritchard said the longtime educator “naturally brought out the intellectual curiosity in everyone.”
“He wanted to know why you thought something, not just what you thought, and that made you really dig down and explore how you arrived at your position,” said Pritchard.
Bill was born in the Galt area of Cambridge on Feb. 8, 1938, the eldest of two sons. Their parents, Bill and Laura Klos, ran a few small businesses, starting with a restaurant and later a variety store. Bill worked in the family restaurant and from the time they were young, Chester Klos said the brothers were expected to provide maximum effort.
The brothers’ entrepreneurial father had a Grade 3 education, but he was able to build small businesses and support his family.
Chester also noted how his brother took after their mother musically. She played guitar, Bill played violin and as an adult joined the Kitchener-Waterloo Community Orchestra, where he also sang in the choirs. He held a long-standing love of musical theatre as well, a love he would share with hundreds of students over three decades as a teacher.
Bill graduated from the University of Ottawa and his first teaching job was at the all-boys St. Jerome’s High School in downtown Kitchener. It closed in 1990 and Bill transferred to Resurrection Catholic Secondary School, retiring three years later. In his 33-year career, Bill taught many subjects as well as serving as a guidance counsellor and vice-principal.
“He was often able to take people under his wing,” said architect Roger Farwell, who includes himself in that group.
Farwell was the first of his siblings to pursue post-secondary education and he said it was because of Bill’s encouragement. Their friendship lasted four decades.
Bill never married or had children, so he created his own family. Many were former students and all were devoted to the man who had given them so much.
“There were literally thousands of people he helped,” said Farwell. “He took people in (to his home).”
Aside from his outstanding abilities in the classroom, Bill was a powerhouse as a director for musicals and his greatest triumph, Jesus Christ Superstar, played to sold-out crowds at its second presentation at Centre in the Square in 1990. Quite the achievement for a high school production.
Farwell said Bill was always opening the world of the arts to students and recalls him recruiting the school’s jocks “and putting them in tights.”
“He opened their eyes,” said Farwell.
Bill engaged as many students as possible in all productions, convincing them they had talent. Mark Panchaud was conscripted to be Bill’s assistant director. No choice, he just had to do it because Bill saw an ability in Mark that he did not recognize himself.
“Bill showed me, as he did with many through his actions, how to deal with people, how to serve people, how to express ideas,” said Panchaud. “He ignited in me a spark for the love of theatre.”
Former student Lisa MacColl said, “he had a gift for seeking out the quiet, the shy, the withdrawn, and coaxing them out. He always saw potential even when no one else did.”
Mark became one of the early presidents of JM Drama, the professional theatre company Bill helped founded and which manages the Registry Theatre. He had previously founded JM Drama Alumni, a group of community members he enlisted to volunteer in student productions at St. Jerome’s and the all-girls St. Mary’s High School.
In a tribute, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said his old teacher had been “in the top five people who influenced my life and the person who I am today.”
Bill travelled after retirement, engaged in luncheon, dinner and travel clubs and learned to use computers. He was soon teaching seniors to use the technology.
In a short bio, Bill outlined his many years of teaching and said, “if someone were to ask me for advice on a career choice, I tell them there is nothing better than becoming a dedicated teacher.”
It’s a common belief that Bill’s influence in the classroom launched the careers of dozens of professionals, from doctors to engineers. He also developed a stream of actors, producers and musicians.
As Panchaud said, they all “owe their choice of career to Bill.”
Freelance writer Valerie Hill is a former Record reporter. She can be reached by email at vmhill296@gmail.com