EHSA’s Volunteer Troops Keep Our Alumni Connections Alive

EHSA’s Volunteer Troops Keep Our Alumni Connections Alive

With more than 12,000 English High Alumni names, addresses, phone numbers and emails in our database, it takes a great deal of effort to keep it all up-to-date and accurate.  Meet two of our volunteers who make it possible and learn a little bit about what they do.  And, if you’re interested, find out how you can join the cause.

Brigitte Edwards, MS/P, MBA, EHS ‘79

 Attended EHS:  1975-79

Favorite EHS memory: My favorite memories of my time at English are the spring semesters that I was involved in fashion shows with my fellow students. My favorite teacher was Ms. Mawn for my Advanced Mathematics course.

How did English High impact your future life: The thing that I learned at English that had an impact on my future life was how important attendance is in work and school. I implemented this knowledge when I worked at Granite City Electric in the Finance department and attended Lesley University’s School of Management at the same time. Both environments needed near perfect attendance to achieve.

What are you doing now in your life? What I am doing now is volunteering for my alma maters, English and Lesley University. Throughout my career I have steadily volunteered and am engaged in civicism.in order to make a difference in my community.

What do you do in your volunteer time with EHSA?  Do you enjoy it? Most of my work at EHSA is remote so the work primarily involved with the computer. I enjoy this because it assists me in maintaining my computer proficiencies and learning new ones.

Richard White, EHS ‘70

Attended EHS: 1967-70.  I lived and grew up in Dorchester, transferring from the Grover Cleveland Jr. High. 10th grade was a long trip from Dorchester to the Brighton Annex. Junior and Senior years were at Avenue Louis Pasteur.

Favorite EHS memory:  I enjoyed foreign languages. I took French, Spanish and a year of Latin. I developed a good friendship with my locker buddy. We had to share lockers back then. Enjoyed most of my classes. Sadly, my mother died in my junior year,1968, which didn’t allow me to participate in clubs and sports. I was the oldest of four and had to help my Dad with the household. Mr. Guiney, Mr. Russell, Mr. DeSantis, and Mr Mazur are fondly remembered teachers.

How did English High impact your future life: I am sure my life was impacted from the education that I received, both academically and socially at English High. I went on to Quincy Junior College and Boston State. I found my profession in banking. I worked in the retail banking industry for 35 years in all positions and with three banks over my career.

I also was a caregiver to my family over the years. I do enjoy travelling and reading, which I can do more of now, since I retired in 2012.

What are you doing now in your life? I found that I had time to give, so I called Mike Thomas at the alumni office. He helped me to reconnect with my locker buddy and I asked him if there were any volunteer opportunities with the association. He said yes, indeed, and I have been helping for two years. I started working completely from home and now I go into the office on Tuesdays. I do anything that is needed, but I do like data entry. I feel it makes a huge difference, having accurate contact information for the alumni.