Please join us on Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 4 p.m. at the Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson Street, to celebrate the release of  “They Taught Us Well: Recollections of the Teachers of Hoboken” by William H. Miller and Vincent Cassesa. The book is a publication of The Hoboken Historical Museum. The event is free and the authors will be present. After reading below, you’ll see why we’re saying this will be a true educator and public school appreciation extravaganza!

Bill Miller and Vincent Cassesa were both interviewed on Hoboken Talks. Click here to view Bill Miller interviewed by Bob Foster. Click here to view Vincent Cassesa interviewed by Bill Miller. 

Co-author Bill Miller answered some questions from the Museum.

Process and Inspiration? “Vincent & I taught together for many years. It was like being part of a play, with the other teachers and staff as part of the cast. There were so many very fine and memorable educators! Vincent alone has huge insight, an overview, and an encyclopedic memory. It became obvious: we must go back, remember, and write a book. When Bob Foster agreed to the project in the winter of 2021, it was “full steam ahead!”

Challenges? “Reaching out to scattered and long departed friends, students and to other (mostly retired) teachers to get quotes, recollections and memories. Sometimes we would set-up “shop” at a table in the Malibu Diner to compare notes, plan and do interviews over lunch.”

Time period covered? “The book covers mostly from the 1950s onward, but also reaches as far back as the mid 1940s.”

What was most satisfying? “Praising, but especially remembering the wonderful ‘cast’ that were the teachers of Hoboken. Yes, they taught us and instilled knowledge. More importantly, they were inspirations, sparks and prods. Just great influences on our own future development and lives.”

How many teachers are referenced? “Well over one hundred are mentioned, but it could have easily been hundreds.”

Number of Students Impacted? “There were 14,000 students in the Hoboken Public School System in 1970 alone. Multiple that by 75 years… Hoboken teachers have touched the lives and minds of tens of thousands of students!”

Final thoughts? “I could not have had a better partner/co-author than Vincent Cassesa … alone, he is in the golden tier among Hoboken educators. And to Hoboken itself, we hope, like the Historical Museum itself, to have added something further to the history and times of the mile-square-city!”

Co-author Vincent Cassesa offered these notes: “It was my pleasure to co-author ‘They Taught Us Well’ with my dear friend and colleague Mr. William Miller. Spending hours in Hoboken’s Malibu Diner, we pulled together the teachers we had in the 50’s and 60’s whose methods and concern for our future success will forever be etched in our memories. It was an honor to interview teachers, administrators and students with their own anecdotes about which special teacher earned their praise. Everything was recorded by Mr. William Miller with his little red camera. We also included photos from old yearbooks and our personal archives. We are eternally grateful to my cousin Catherine Gagliastro Abraham, class of 1947 from A.J. Demarest High School, who shared her precious yearbook with us. ‘They Taught Us Well’ indeed, through their knowledge of their subject matter, a smile or tap on the shoulder or simply going that extra mile to ensure our future success and happiness.”