Four inducted into district’s Alumni Honor Roll
POTTSTOWN >> Four Pottstown High School alumni were added to the district’s Alumni Honor Roll Oct. 19 and, for the first time since it was founded 32 years ago, the event also served as a fundraiser for the Foundation for Pottstown Education.
The inductees were Jim Bush, class of 1962, Therese Rinaldi, class of 1979, Johnathan Corson, Class of 1982 and Heather Thiret, class of 1991 and bringing the total number inducted to the honor roll to 129.
As always, in addition to recognizing the achievements of alumni, the high school ceremony is also meant to provide insight and inspiration to current students about their potential to achieve after high school.
After the ceremony at the high school, a reception was held at Brookside Country Club.
James Bush
After graduation in 1962, Bush served in the U.S. Army Reserves and attended Pierce Junior College earning his associates degree in accounting in 1970. Bush then earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Ursinus College. From May of 1964 through September 1968, he worked as a commercial loan officer and assistant branch manager for the Philadelphia National Bank in Pottstown.
Then in 1960, Bush returned to his alma mater becoming the supervisor of accounting and assistant business administrator before being hired as the business administrator in 1968 until his retirement in June of 2006.
“I have been involved with the Pottstown School District for 50 years of my life (12 years as a student, 38 years as an employee). The Pottstown School has been and continues to be a leader in education in the area,” Bush said.
“I am honored to be recognized by the school district as a member of the Alumni Honor Roll. When I look at accomplishments of those previous and current inductees, I am proud to be included as a member,” he said.
Therese Rinaldi
After high school, Rinaldi earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Widener University. In 1989 she earned her degree of doctor of podiatric medicine from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine.
After earning her doctorate, Rinaldi became a podiatric surgical resident at what is now known as Washington Hospital Center. In 1990, she returned to Pottstown as a director andsSurgeon for the Pottstown Foot and Ankle Center before becoming a partner and practitioner at the Foot and Ankle Health Group, PC in Pottstown, Royersford and Boyertown.
When asked what graduating from Pottstown High School means to her, Rinaldi responded “Graduating from the same high school as both of my parents was a grand tribute to their faith in the quality of the education they received. I know Pottstown High School equipped me with the necessary knowledge, experience, confidence and skills to go anywhere and do anything I dreamed - for that I am thankful.”
Jonathan Corson
Corson is a reactor operator for Arkema Chemicals.
He is extremely active in the Pottstown community and is currently serving as the president of the Pottstown NAACP, a position that he has held for the past two years. He is also a Pennsylvania State Constable, serving since 2013, and also serves on the Pottstown Human Relations Commission.
From 1980 through 2000, Corson served as a trustee for the Church of the Living God where he played the organ and was a drummer. Other community activities include serving on the Grants Committee for the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, Co-Captain for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, a board member for the Ricketts Community Center and participated in the Foundation for Pottstown Education’s Dancing with the Stars.
Graduating from Pottstown High School, “is a part of a proud and rich history which going back to the Chestmont League, watching Pottstown High School’s finest playing in those Friday night football games. It seemed like the whole town shutdown to come out and watch,” Corson said.
“It was also the Pottstown/OJR Thanksgiving Day football games, seeing some of those local heroes come back home. It was also the basketball games where if you did not get there before half time of the JV game you did not get a seat. The baseball games, track meets and wrestling matches, and being mentored by those local hero’s at the Ricketts Center and to have some of my friends grow up to become some of Pottstown Finest,” Corson said.
Heather Thiret
Thiret earned her bachelor of science degree from West Chester University and holds a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate. She is currently working on her master’s degree in leadership through Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
She entered the service in 1992 and has spent 25 years there, 10 as enlisted and 15 as an officer. Heather holds a ranking of Major in the U.S. Army and has received several honors including a Bronze Star Medal.
She has also served as a TAC Officer/Instructor at the OCS Officer Candidate School Academy from 20102013. She is currently the Officer In Charge of Military Ascensions Vital to National Interest Program in Fort Belvoir, Va. Thiret has been active in the Veterans Outreach Program/Homeless Vets and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.
“I am proud to be from Pottstown, because these are my roots. The familiar places and faces that continue to be part of my life even today, almost 25 years after I left. It is always still good to come ‘home,’” Thiret said.
“Hometown, isn’t just a place, it is a feeling ... from Ice House Deli, Manatawny Park, Brunish’s, Frankie and Johnny’s, the Elks, the Carousel, Pottstown Trojans, The Mercury, High Street, Waterfront Park, Sunnybrook Ballroom, the community people (alumni) and feeling etc ... it’s the familiar places and faces that continue to make me proud to come home and call Pottstown home,” she said.