Teachers will get a big bang out of this

Imagine my surprise and joy after seeing a picture of my high school chemistry teacher, Dan Visconti — Mr. V — in Newsday’s Letters section on Sept. 26.

He and his good friend of more than 50 years, Phil Sheridan, were the two Patchogue-Medford High School teachers who helped shape my future. (Mr. Sheridan was my inspiration for majoring in biology in college.) The Class of 1972 just had our 50th reunion and many remember them fondly.

Both had high expectations of us. Yes, spelling counts, and punishments fit the crimes — cleaning mouse tanks (rat patrol), washing dirty glassware and polishing lab tables took place during after-school detention.

Favoritism wasn’t evident. Upon catching me with a squirt bottle of distilled water pointed at classmate Danny Ross, Mr. Visconti bellowed from his prep room, adjacent to the classroom, “Miss Rosenberg, the shower!” The rule: If caught spraying someone, you have to pull the safety shower on yourself after school. That’s 20 gallons of water! Any and all students could watch. It didn’t matter that I never squirted it. I merely pointed it at a classmate who had tied my lab apron strings to my belt loop in knots. This was 1969-1971, when teachers could hold students accountable.

Early morning Regents exam review sessions took place at 6:45 and were heavily attended. Many students who went to Smith Point Beach on Memorial Day weekend brought their review books. Our teachers’ dedication made us want to do well.

While sophomore and junior years were filled with the usual teenage experiences — sporting events, social gatherings, road tests, class rings, proms and heartbreak — both teachers instilled in me passion for their subjects and a strong work ethic. My notebooks had such good class notes that I used them during my freshman year at Purdue University in Indiana. I had hoped to attend veterinary school but changed paths when I was wait-listed.

Most teachers rarely know the effect they had on shaping their students’ lives. I was fortunate to student teach with Mr. Sheridan to complete my teaching certification at Stony Brook University. I taught science at Westhampton Beach High School for 38 years and loved it.

In 1999, I attended a forensic science course at Northport High School taught by Jennifer Visconti, a high school science teacher. After class, I mentioned that my high school chemistry teacher was Dan Visconti. She said that was her father. The next day, Jen told me her father had a file box with a card on every former student, and he remembered me.

Fast-forward to 2007. Mr. V was called as a reference for a potential teaching hire at Westhampton Beach, Frank Diehl. Mr. V was Frank’s instructor at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. Mr. V told the high school administrator, in passing, “I think one of my former students, Susan Rosenberg, is the head of your science department.” As it turns out, Frank and two other teachers I brought into the department, John Vahle and Matt Berkhout, all had Mr. V for organic chemistry. The legacy continues.

Mr. V, Mr. Sheridan, Frank, John, Matt and I have dined together several times. The letter to the editor that Mr. V’s wife wrote about his carefree diet appears to be true. He looks great and is still going strong. Happy 90th birthday, Mr. V!

Reader Susan Rosenberg lives in Westhampton Beach.