REFLECTIONS

It seems that no matter where our paths have gone over the years, Mr. Falcone gave us values and an understanding of life and art that will always unite those of us who spent time in that place. I remember his expressions, gestures and caring spirit. I remember his contagious laugh and exuberance. His spirit will always be with me.

— Beverly Sanders Potts, 1968
    November 3, 2000

What a brave and bold spirit! Mr Falcone opened that 1st door for me which, in hindsight, has made all the difference. He gave us all art, culture, passion, respect for the past, respect for each other, integrity and dignity (plus an appreciation for Sophia Loren). I remember Mr Falcone (modestly!) boasting about his alumni - it touches me that we alums can now come together to sing his praises.

— Inge Daniels, 1989
    March 12, 2001

I think this site is a great tribute to Mr. Falcone. Can't remember what year it was but I had Mr. Falcone for Art. About halfway through the year I got moved to another art teacher. My grade went from A to C. Never could get over it. Lost most of my interest in Art. He definitely had the knack of bringing out the best in everyone he came in contact with.

— Paul Gibson, 1963
    May 27, 2001

I am far from a Penncrest art major alumna... I took the required art courses in 7th and 8th grade--NOT with Mr. Falcone--and barely made it through. I am a great appreciator of art, and a lousy maker of art. But I did graduate from Penncrest in 1965, and I just wanted to tell you what a terrific website you've created! It brings back wonderful memories--particularly of the way Mr. Falcone and his students transformed our little lobby into the most amazing and magical place every Christmas. All of us who were at Penncrest were certainly aware of Mr. Falcone; that he was one of the great gifted teachers. Teachers who were just head and shoulders above the rest--and many of the rest were very good! These teachers were inspiring, though, and as your website makes clear, the lessons they taught us remain with us, even all these years later. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

— Pamela Erbe, 1965
    May 25, 2001

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My career has been modeled after CJF's standards for excellence, passion for art and life, and devotion to art students. He had the MOST profound influence on me as an artist and as an art educator. I hope to affect art students with the spirit, energy and discipline that I learned from CJF. I have the good fortune of being an Art Supervisor in a district that values, supports and nurtures the arts. As I work with staff on professional development I constantly envision CJF as my guru/role model. I do admit that I NEVER used an orange X in my grade book. They still haunt me.

Here's to Art, Life, Work, & Sacrifice.

— Leeann Rhoades, 1971
     July 6, 2001

I only went to Penncrest one year, 1964-1965. When I came to school on the first days I asked to take an art course. Mr. Falcone was kind enough to suggest that perhaps I could take two since I had most of the credits I needed to graduate. I did well and will always remember his kindness and interest in me. I was not a stand-out person at Penncrest. I didn't know anyone there at first. I made many friends, most of them from Mr. Falcone's classes. Some of the reflections have indicated the transformation that the school entrance took on every Christmas. People from all over would come to see this wondrous metamorphosis of school to medieval town. I have tried many times in these nearly 40 years since graduation to describe what the Penncrest art students would accomplish. Art is a visual thing. Talking about it just will not do. I miss that Christmas I spent at Penncrest, I miss the people I worked hard with to transform the school. But, mostly I miss Claude. I teach today because he inspired me to greater things.

— Christopher Hatton, 1965
     August 6, 2001

I've avoided writing for the reflections page because I couldn't figure out how to start. Last night I had a dream. Mr. Falcone, my daughter, my daughter's HS art teacher, and I were all in "the Art Room". We were organizing boxes of Prismacolor pencils and talking about students and lesson plans. Mr. Falcone left us saying, "I taught you all that I could, now it is up to you."
When I was at Penncrest it never occurred to me to consider teaching. I think now that Mr. Falcone encouraged us all to be the best artist that we could, but he was such a magnificent teacher that following in his foot steps was overwhelming. I spent 30 yeas in commercial art. Mr. Falcone was always the angel on my shoulder guiding me to do my best. When my daughter entered High
School I discovered that I really enjoyed the age group. I started working as a sub for various art teachers. Last year I had the opportunity to teach
middle and high school art to an at risk student population. What a privilege. I was thrilled that students who barely came to school got there
in time for art and worked. Claude was on my mind daily. The Website was on my computer regularly. It seems very poignant to me that I started the position the same week that Mr. Falcone died. I sent him a Christmas letter every year and had stopped in to visit a few times. But I never got to thank him for the gift of teaching.

— Jan VerBraeken
    January 11, 2002

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Mr. Falcone was a real eye-opener for me. He gave me my first awesome glimpse of New York City! He gave me the skill to observe, evaluate and give constructive criticism. And he gave me the feeling that with art I could be bold. I often think of him and am grateful for the nudge he gave me.

— Becky Heller Shirer, 1968
    December 27, 2000

The most brilliant, knowledgeable, energetic, dynamic, communicative, enthusiastic, exuberant, expressive, entertaining, witty, exhilarating, exciting, stimulating, inspiring, fascinating, charismatic, challenging, demanding, sympathetic, empathetic, caring, involved, self-sacrificing, dedicated, committed, culturally and intellectually well-rounded, impressive, influential, inimitable, unique... in short, the most complete, outstanding, and unforgettable teacher, mentor, and friend I have ever had.
 
I feel incredibly fortunate that our paths crossed and intertwined for 4 years, and extremely proud and honored to have been able to continue to know him for 36. Just as he remembered every one of us, none of us will ever forget him.
 
There will never be another Claude J. Falcone.

— Donna Meiss, 1968
    May 24, 2001

I am an alumna of Claude's program he called ART 7 -- taught to juniors and seniors who hadn't embarked on the full Art Major curriculum their sophomore year. It was given that name because it was taught during seventh period each day. I believe this only lasted a few years. I teach art in southern Chester County and in the summer I teach a children's program in West Chester. I'm happy to say I ran into Claude once in the cafeteria at the Philadelphia Art Museum and was able to tell him how much his teaching had contributed to my leadings in life.

— Jill Benjamin, 1968
    May 25, 2001

Mr. Falcone. He shamelessly shared with us his compassion, his creativity, his patience, his insightful stories - his person. What patience it was that brought out the artist in all of us; no matter how talented or untalented we were, somehow, in his program, more of our persons pushed to the surface. While always concerned with the big picture, the smaller threads of his program helped us grow tenfold in our lives, inside and outside the institutional walls. While Art Major held open that door to the world for us, our eagerness to run out there into the deep ROYGBIV yonder and see what jewels the universe held for us far past the boundaries of Penncrest naturally overflowed.

"Thou shall not copy." Surely none of you have forgotten that first commandment we received in the starting days of Art Major! It has definitely stuck with me as my first commandment in the work I do. What Mr. Falcone has taught us, has stuck with us through and through, in art and in life. Art and life are indeed synonymous.

And even now, I still try to avoid those orange Prismacolors lying around in the office.

— Vivian Chang, 1992
    June 27, 2001

I love the site. I'm always referring to Claude to my students, and now I have a picture to show them. Claude is a big part of what I do as an art teacher. Thank You.

— Karen Schwarz Bollinger, 1992
    September 15, 2001

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In class the other day, while playing some of Brightman's lovely arias, I caught a student doing a caricature of me. It brought back memories of a time when caricature as one of Mr. Falcone's students truly became high art,. the nose exagerated, the mustache, the hand waving an orange X, all to be included in the sketchbook. He was delighted, it gave him extreme pleasue. I
kept the copy of his curriculum guide until two years ago when I thought, well, I'll never be an art teacher, and I gave it away to someone who was. I had travelled on the art show / high end craft circuit of the ACC, Rosen agency for years. This year, after five years of costuming the high school shakespeare productions (He adored opera remember?) I was invited to teach art. I am working on curriculum planning for our arts magnet high school, writing grants for an interdisciplinary program which incorporates Howard Gardner's ideas on the naturalistic intelligence, developing kids portfolios, etc. etc.. Claude who got the brunt of my teenage angst, and always wanted the best for all of His children, is there somewhere with that totally incomparable laugh, seeing the humor in it all. I found myself telling the young student "You know, if your'e going to do it... make sure you draw the
nose big enough." That was what Claude had said to me.... His picture from the 72 yearbook sits on my desk.

— Judith (Judy) Showell Loeber
    April 21, 2002

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