Ira's FHHS Retirement Party June 8, 2006 Ira Goldberg retires as Head of the Forest Hills High School Music Department Congratulations Ira on your retirement. It is true that you have finally retired from your post as Head of the Forest Hills High School Music Department. However, we know that you leave behind (as three principals and many colleagues attested in their speeches and accolades about you at your retirement event on June 8th, 2006) a larger Music Department and one of the finest teams of music instructors that FHHS has ever known. Just like your predecessor before you, Marty Bass, you were an exemplary professional and it is clear to see how many, not hundreds, but thousands of lives you touched over the years as the Chairman of one of the finest music departments at one of the best schools in New York City. Over the years, as your wife, I saw first hand, how much of an impact you have made in the lives of many students, as I witnessed how you were approached by many of them sometimes at supermarkets, drugstores, banks and restaurants. Many of these men and women are politicians, doctors, dentists, lawyers, stockbrokers and bank officers who with a glint in their eye and joy in their voices instantly recognized you as their unheralded music teacher from Forest Hills High School. I have seen with my own eyes, the deep respect and the joy that has eminated from the faces of now grown men and women, upon meeting you once again in the most impredictable places. I have also heard them speak of all you did for them, fondly recalling all of the wonderful memories that they had in your classes, how you made them laugh and brought joy to their lives through music instruction. I heard them tell you how much you made them want to report to classes at the ungodly hour of 8:00 am in the morning and how you made their lives so much better, by being a compassionate, fun teacher and kind listener. Many of these students shared their confidences with you and remember you and these special moments and incredibly so, many years after having graduated from college, starting families and becoming professionals themselves. What greater testament than this can there be that proves just how much of great music professional and humanitarian you truly were and still are. Many of your students came from some of the finest homes and had great upbringings and yet there were those who at some turn during their time under your wing, turned to you for comfort and for answers during some difficult situations and you went beyond the responsibility of teaching music and extended your humanity and your compassion to them. They recalled of having needed advice and emotional support and how you were possibly the only person (to them) at the time whom they felt understood them. Some recalled in my presence how you helped turn their wayward lives around and just how much of a difference it made to have you as their music teacher, in their young and tender lives. Yes, I was a witness and I know what I saw and what I heard. When meet former students there is always, that spark of surprise and gladness in their eyes to see you once again and know that their music teacher "Ira Goldberg" is still here with us. Somebody put the glint there and now I know that it could only have been a great and caring person -- you Ira. You made many personal sacrifices in your own life or should I say, our lives, to do what became an incredible work for FHHS, as an administrator and instructor and I have finally seen that it was worth my hanging in there, even when at times I felt that I didn't see you very much. I had to learn to exercise patience and understand that I had to let you be you, for the sake of these young lives. I knew that as a man you needed to do what you needed to do and a big part of me was glad that I stepped back and let you shine and do what you felt you had to do. It was worth it that you made these sacrifices that you made for the department that you loved running, for Playpro and so many other events, but mostly for the children whom I could clearly see truly came to love you. It is not everyday that one sees a child cry over graduating because they won't see you again. I saw over the past several years and days leading into your retirement, what a truly GREAT and wonderful man you are, for myself and through the eyes of those whom you have helped. I see it in the respect that you receive from your peers and the wonderful team of music teachers that you supervised and are leaving behind, and I saw and heard it when you would step up on stage to direct the Jazz Band, to the sound of the roaring voices of students who always gave you the most powerful, loudest and heartfelt standing ovations year after year. You're leaving a legacy at FHHS and you were and continue to be truly loved Ira. You were and continue to be a one of a kind educator. Many great music administrators will come and go at FHHS, but we all know that there will always be only one Ira Allen Goldberg. We know you're going to continue doing your piano gigs, possibly start a Jazz Band or that Music School that you've been dreaming of starting, but if you choose to stop, rest and do nothing, you truly deserve it and them some after working so hard over the years. Mr. Stephen Frey, the Principal of FHHS said at your retirement event, "I don't believe in talking about the past, Ira Goldberg has encared to us -- FHHS - a great future!" How true this is Ira. Ms. Felicia Hirata and Ms. Rowena Karsh, both former principals also said it best when they acknowledged how dedicated and untiring an administrator you were. When Ms. Karsh stated that "Ira was really a Mr. Holland at Forest Hills High School", in her speech, I privately knew that this was true. I've seen the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus" and each time I see this movie, I feel that it is as if I am seeing Richard Dreyfus playing you in the role of Mr. Holland. I never had to hear about this from these three great and wonderful Principals of FHHS to know this, but it was an honor that they mentioned it, because they recognized your love for dedication and excellence. As Mr. Holland discovered...'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans' and as your own years in music unfolded the joy of sharing your contagious passion for music with your students became your own true definition of success. As your wife, I have seen your dedication, your hard work and the outpouring and love that has been reciprocated to you because of it. I have been by your side and I have seen it, lived it and experienced the joys and the sorrows of your work. I have known of your great personal sacrifices and in the end it was all worth it, because Ira you are a man of great integrity, strength, fairness, compassion and someone who never said "no" to anything he was asked to do in the school system and in our personal lives as well (even though I would sometimes plead with you for our sake to please say "no" to long term projects, you always followed your heart). I saw that you really were a Mr. Holland first hand and through the eyes of many a happy professional who has met you somewhere, who has recalled that once upon a time as your young student they had you to turn to. I see it also through the eyes of the incredibly wonderful faculty of music instructors that you are leaving behind who are Walter, Robert and Jeff and your peers. I know that they will continue to follow your example and lead and teach keeping the pursuit of excellence in mind. It is the legacy that you are leaving to a great school, Forest Hills High School. I am sure that these young men will also be lead by their hearts as you once were. It was in fact what set you a part as an educator and yet sadly, what there is so little of in today's world. It is obvious to me that all who worked with you, including these young music instructors respect you and came to appreciate you deeply as I could see this in all of their speeches. They said such beautiful things about you. Isn't it wonderful to know Ira, that they loved you well? I and all who saw you at the retirement event can clearly see how truly happy you were with your decision to retire -- you were tired and felt "it is time". I also know and I solemnly promise you that you will enjoy every bit of your new found life... For our time is finally here... Your Wife - Carmen