Live Poets Society Inaugurated: 2015

Celebration of Ned Whaley's Life

   On Saturday April 4, 2015, Dave Briggs and I attended a gathering of "Mr. Whaley's family and friends" to celebrate his life. Ned passed away on December 26, 2014(Obituary), but certainly not from our minds, not from our hearts.

   The event was held at the American Legion Post No. 6, Farmington, N.H. and was sponsored by his three son's, Matt, Chris, and Mike. Many friends and family members were present including his beloved grandchildren. Dave and I proudly represented all students who graced the English and Backgrounds classes of HHS, as well as those who participated in the Winter Carnival ski events, the Ski Team, the school newspaper, or perhaps even in a study hall which he monitored. We all felt the presence of his guiding hand, even though we probably didn't realize it at the time.

Following a period of arrival and a catered lunch, the three sons of Ned began the festivities, each giving a presentation. Matt produced a slide show set to music from Ned's record collection. There we could see things that were so important to him - family and family events such as graduations, military service (his own in the US Army's 10th Mountain Division which served in the high mountains of Italy during WW II), weddings, sporting contests, weddings, vacation travel, as well as friends and of course, his profession: teaching and painting. It was a very touching show.
   A few selections are shown here ... [There is no audio for the first as it was blocked by YouTube due to copyright law. The others are fine.]

Chris followed with memories of Ned's favorite sayings and some animal stories quite familiar to the family. I didn't get good coverage of the beginning of this, but the lead in was this: imagine a hot summer day after a long day of hiking. The family is in the Nash Rambler rumbling down the highway towards home. The boys are thirsty and hungry. Syping a gas station, they cry out for him to stop and get them drinks. His response: "Oh Nooooo, there's water at home!"

Ned was evidently the proverbial zoo keeper of stray animals, both domestic and wild! We heard those family stories as well.

Next up was oldest brother Mike. Mike read two of Ned's poems which tell much of his inner soul. The first was called Tom Larsen; it tells of a wartime experience high in the mountains of Italy during WW II. The second reading was Little Boys. Oh how he loved his grandchildren.

After two family friends gave short talks on Ned's friendship over the years, I was up! As students of Mr. Whaley (not "former" students, for we were always his students, even in later life.), I tried to explain what an honor and a privilege it was to be in his classes - even though we certainly didn't understand the depth of our learning at the time. I read a poem written by my wife Kathy for the 2011 Live Poets Society Gathering - Reflections. Therein she so eloquently describes how Ned impacts those who never met him and never sat in his classroom, but knew his heart through his students ... or from her husband.

Following me, Dave brought his "A-game" to the stage with The Nash Rambler and a reading of another poem written for the 2011 Gathering. This one is authored by Sally Marcotte and is called: Our Dynamic Mr. Whaley.

After the festivities, Chris said that it was good for the grandchildren to hear from us as students of their Grandfather. It certainly provides another dimension to the life and legacy of him in their eyes!

Mike, Dave, Matt, Chris, Bob