This article was first published in March 1994. It is from the second issue of the tenth volume of The Classic. This article was chosen as Founders Day was recently held on October 26, in Colden Auditorium at Queens College.
First Founder’s Day, a formal affair, sets tradition
Can you imagine a Founder’s Day when all of the teachers are dressed in caps and gowns and the whole school is invited to the assembly?
This is exactly what the first celebration marking the reestablishment of Townsend Harris High School was like. Faculty, alumni and students filled Queens College’s Colden auditorium on October 25, 1984 to take part in an event which united the old with the new and which faculty members now describe as having been “incredible,” “fascinating,” “important” and “memorable.”
Among the many guest speakers at the event were alumni, Principal Malcolm Largmann, President of Queens College Saul B. Cohen, and Harrisite Heather Nash. Dr. Jonas Salk, Townsend Harris alumnus, class of ’31, and inventor of the polio vaccine, spoke about the role of science in the future. His speech commended the alumni and brought out the importance of the rebirth of this school.
Also present was Rabbi Moses Rosenthal, who was the oldest living alumnus. According to Supply Secretary Joanne Gruber, whose daughter Mara was in the class of 1988, “[Rabbi Rosenthal] will always be my most vivid memory associated with Founder’s Day. He was this small, unique man whom I found fascinating. He had to be almost 100 years old.”
Assistant Principal of Science Susan Appel described her feelings about the celebration: “It was almost like a graduation. We wore caps and gowns and I was able to meet Mr. Saik as well as many other important alumni. Most of all, I’ll always remember that the assembly was where 1 first beard the Ephebic Oath.” Ms. Appel added that the oath, a pledge that all Harrisites take to honor and attempt to improve their school, city and country, seemed routine to her when she first heard it, but now she has “reached a point where I am very moved by it. It sends shivers up and down my spine when I hear it now,” she said.
“Founder’s Day was one of those things you’ll look back on and be glad that you shared with your friends,” said Christie (Hyun-Su) Yi, a member of the first graduating class. Christie added that her most memorable Founder’s Day vision is one of planting a tree on the Queens College campus.
Librarian Valerie Billy commented, “I think that what struck us that day was that a few months back, we didn’t exist, and on that day, all of these important people were there just for us.” After the ceremony, the 200 students traveled back to the high school where everyone participated in a workshop where time capsules were made; their contents represented the year at Townsend Harris. The time capsule idea came from Assistant Principal of Organization Malcolm Rossman. He said that he wanted “the students to have a sense of being part of history.” The capsules have been saved and may be opened on a special occasion one day.
Townsend Harris alumna Mara Gruber said, “Founder’s Day was so exciting. We were all together celebrating something we had all worked hard for, making our school work.”
Dr. Largmann added.
“Founder’s Day is … [a reminder] that this is a very special school; I only hope [the students] realize that.”
Ishle Park and Shalini Persaud contributed to this article.
