In 1981, when I attended the 110th reunion of Newmarket High School, I was given a gift of a special reunion yearbook written by my uncle, George Luesby, published for the occasion.
Everyone who attends a school reunion secretly longs to see their old teachers again and perhaps connect on a more personal level with them. This new series of articles will, I hope, provide a window to some of the legendary teachers who have taught at Newmarket High School.
I realize I cannot profile everyone. I have therefore instituted a criterion to keep me focused. I plan to feature Newmarket High School’s long-serving teachers, those who stayed the course over the years and who interacted with a variety of generations of high school students over their careers.
As part of the 1981 reunion celebration, my uncle wrote about the devotion of long-standing teachers in his 1981 reunion magazine. Willard Post Fish was one of the teachers cited.
Thanks to the kind assistance of my friend, Nancy Fish, and the incredible background information she has so kindly provided, I have decided to feature her dad, Willard Post Fish, in this weekend’s inaugural column with the intention of profiling William Elliott in the coming weeks. Both men most certainly meet the criteria, standing front and centre in the memories of those who had the privilege to have had both men as mentors during their time at Newmarket High.
One of the first things I learned from Nancy was that her dad’s name was Willard, not William. My uncle, who would host Mr. and Mrs. Fish at his home, addressed him as Bill, as I recall. I always addressed him as sir, as I was taught to do as a young lad.
Perhaps we should get the background facts out of the way first. Willard Post Fish was born in a farming community near Oakville in 1919. He had two siblings: a sister, Grace, and a twin brother, Arnold. Fortunately, he was able to combine his love of the farm with his future educational goals, attending the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph, where he received his bachelor of science in 1943.
He then went on to attend the Ontario College of Education and accepted a teaching position in Sault Ste. Marie. He would find not only his first teaching position there but a lifelong partner and future bride in Mary Robinson, a city girl and a Catholic. At the time, this was quite unique — the marriage of a Catholic and a Protestant.
Fish made his debut at Newmarket High School in 1946, hired to teach science and phys-ed; yes, I said phys-ed. It is my understanding he coached a football team back then. As I recall, he certainly looked the part — husky and muscular. His wife, who had also held a teaching position in Sault Ste. Marie, would soon join him in Newmarket.
I have an immense respect for those who teach, and I realized that even more so when I found myself in a classroom doing my presentations. Those who spent the better part of their lives pursuing this calling deserve our admiration and respect. This is the reason I wanted to pursue this series and to honour Fish.
His career spanned 35 years, 34 of those years teaching at Newmarket High School, which included 20 years as the head of the science department, spanning two generations of Newmarket youth. In that time, he became synonymous with the institution, a fixture if you will.
Depending on your age, you may remember him teaching the general sciences or primarily biology as the head of the science department. At one point in his career, he served as the Newmarket district president of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation.
I remember him heading up the science department, which included an eclectic group of colleagues. I would think it would have been a full-time job just administrating to the likes of Dial Thompson or Carl Twiddy.
So, what was he like as a teacher? I suppose you would characterize him as strict and demanding, but he was also compassionate and understanding. I served on several school committees and on the student council during my school days. I must admit there were days when I was a bit overwhelmed with my schoolwork and all the extracurricular activities I took on. Mr. Lewis was my teacher adviser and on more than one occasion he would say, “Go ask Mr. Fish what he thinks.” As I recall, he never steered me wrong.
I had Fish for biology, a subject that was not one of my favourites. Seeing that I was struggling, he took me aside and said I would henceforth be partnering with a young lady who was good in the subject. He looked at me and said, "She understands what is required in this class and she has a future in science. You will sit there and pay attention. You do not want to mess with her plans, do you?” By some miracle, I passed biology, amazed in the confidence he had shown in me.
Through his social interaction with my aunt and uncle, I became aware Fish was so much more than a high school teacher, as he tirelessly worked within his community. Nancy reminded me of his work with the Children’s Aid Society, the Canadian Cancer Society as its treasurer, and with Young at Heart, devoting many hours. He was also a member of several clubs, the numismatic and horticulture societies being the most prominent. In 1989, in recognition of his long-standing devotion to and participation in the community, he was nominated for the citizen of the year.
His work with Young at Heart was particularly remarkable. It is a Catholic organization, and he was a Protestant. Religious affiliation was not a factor in his choice of community work. Nancy made me smile when she told me that at his funeral, numerous Catholics in attendance were confused as they always thought her dad was of their faith. The two churches came together to honour a man who worked diligently for their parishioners, regardless of faith. He became known as the “best darn Protestant Catholic in town.”
I can remember he was thrifty, advising me in my position as student council treasurer to always watch for sales; no sense paying full price. He shared this trait with my uncle. They both would discuss value versus cost as a topic.
Nancy tells me her dad had a passion for travel, relaxing at the cottage, playing bridge, watching the Blue Jays, and performing self-appointed traffic control on his Millard Avenue. It is always a revelation to discover your teachers have a life outside of school.
I conduct oral history interviews in Newmarket, and the subject of Fish will frequently come up in our conversations. Time, it seems, had embedded his memory and our time in his class as a part of our high school days. Surprisingly, many indicated he still remembered them years later. Nancy confirmed nothing made him happier than to encounter a former student. He seemed to have a soft spot for those he taught; the phrase ‘former student’ was tied to the name of almost everyone he talked about.
Science and the pursuit of scientific wonders seem to have also permeated his life outside of school. According to Nancy, he collected specimens, including snakes, which he would immerse in formaldehyde. He would often take his science department members to his cottage for professional development days, searching for unusual fauna, insects and animals, all part of team building and in the name of his beloved science.
In her eulogy for her dad, Nancy characterized him as eccentric, kind, honest, loving, hard working and generous, firm in his convictions and a believer in one’s individual rights — much the same qualities I remember in the man at school.
Back then, Newmarket was a small, close community. I am not too sure whether it would have been easier or harder to be a teacher in that environment. Most of us question what our legacy will be. For teachers like Fish, there is no ambiguity involved in his legacy. He had a lasting influence on his students, imparting an understanding of the wonders of science and an understanding of commitment to one’s craft.
In 1978, Fish and colleagues Lynne Mertens (nee Westlake) and John Crowther organized a Newmarket High School reunion honouring its 110th year to be held in 1981. In commemoration of the event, a special edition of the yearbook was published, and my uncle created a history of the school, which gave me the opportunity to flex my research skills.
It is worth noting that for the occasion, 36 former students were invited to write about their reminiscences of their years. In almost every segment, Fish’s name was mentioned.
His name is proudly displayed on the Trafalgar Memorial in Oakville, which is dedicated to Trafalgar Township veterans who served during the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War.
Fish was a dedicated Newmarket resident from his arrival in 1946 until his death in October 1995. Whether you knew him as a teacher, committee member, neighbour, or mentor, he was a pillar both within the school and in his community and a tribute to our town.
I was pleased to lend my name to a nomination sent to the town to honour Fish by having his legacy recognized in the naming of a street or parkette in his name. A community only preserves its identity by honouring those among us who epitomize what the community stands for, and I feel Fish checks all the necessary boxes.
I shall profile more of the prominent teachers in future columns. I have included a listing of the long-serving teachers I hope to profile in the future.
Sources: Written biography of Willard Post Fish by Nancy Fish; eulogy of Willard Post Fish delivered by Nancy Fish; Purple and Gold: special-edition yearbook 1871-1981; snippets from oral history interviews conducted by Richard MacLeod; The History of Newmarket High, Article #4; The Newmarket Era.
Newmarket resident Richard MacLeod, the History Hound, has been a local historian for more than 40 years. He writes a weekly feature about our town’s history in partnership with NewmarketToday, conducts heritage lectures and walking tours of local interest, and leads local oral history interviews.
