Thanks
to Tom Tomasek for this article about Charles Croasdill. Appearing in the Oct.
20, 1978, Lakes Ledger, it’s based on an interview Tom and photographer Mike
Larson had with Mr. Croasdill. Note that while Mr. Croasdill retired from
teaching at Lakes and Clover Park in 1978, he went on to teach seven years, 1979-1986, at Fort Steilacoom Community College
which today is called Pierce College.
Coffee, contemplation crown Croasdill’s career
Story by Tom Tomasek
Photo by Mike Larson
Clad in a blue shirt,
gray sweater and checkered pants, Mr. Charles
Croasdill entered the Clover Park
Pharmacy, a place where he has occupied a seat for 17 years. He sat down, and
the waitress placed a steaming cup of coffee before him.
CHARLES CROASDILL, retired
teacher, is little different from Charles Croasdill, teacher. Asked what he has
been doing since retiring, he responded, “I am the ultimate hedonist,” When
this reporter asked what hedonist meant, Croasdill replied, “Get a dictionary
and look it up.”
Of his activities in
retirement, he said, “I play golf quite often, I bowl once a week, and I do
quite a bit of reading,” Croasdill stated. “I’m ready for John Bodenhammer and
Chris Lucey if they are ready.”
Croasdill is still
teaching, if only on a part-time basis. Recently he substituted for Mrs. Dona
Everett’s classes. During his years as a Lakes teacher, Croasdill earned renown
for his writing assignments, and, though a substitute he was true to his
reputation.
ABOUT THE DAY he
substituted at Lakes, Croasdill said, and “I was grateful for the reception I
received.” He said that, due to sentimental reasons, he has not returned to the
room where he taught for several years at Lakes. “I was going to go by, but I
couldn’t do it,” he said.
Does he miss Lakes? “Yes,
I missed being in the classroom,” Croasdill responded. “I miss the essays on
the side board. I would occasionally make a grammatical error and hope some
bright student would notice. I miss walking around the classroom and looking
over students’ shoulders and catching mistakes. I also miss the class
discussions,” he continued.
“One of the primary
reasons I retired was due to my health,” Croasdill states. “I couldn’t hear
what some students would say, and it was pretty embarrassing. I do miss the students,
and I hope I am invited to commencement exercises," he continued. “I would
like to see this year’s senior class graduate.”
ALTHOUGH CROASDILL does
miss teaching, he pointed out the advantages of retirement. “I can now roar out
of bed at 9 in the morning,” he said. “I no longer worry on Sunday nights
trying to plan something for Monday.”
Reflecting on his
teaching career, Croasdill said, “I know I must have hurt some students, but I
think I did more good than harm.”
FUTURE PLANS for
Croasdill include a cruise to Australia in January. He also is interested in attending
Pacific Lutheran University or the University of Puget Sound to study such
courses as geography or archaeology.
Speaking about college he
commented, “If a student can, he should attend college. Fewer and fewer people
are attending college, but for an overall education I feel college is very
important.”
With that last bit of
advice and an empty coffee cup, Croasdill departed to check on the fortunes of
the Washington Huskies.
Though he has retired,
Croasdill is far from forgotten by those who applied pen to paper in his
classes.
“I THINK he was the best
English teacher I ever had. He was an island entire of himself. I wish he was
back this year to teach,” states Cathy Smith, senior.
Senior Sue Silvey said,
“He was an excellent teacher, and the fact that he had to retire was sad.”
“I was very disappointed
to see him retire, because he played a major role in furthering my education as
well as others,” commented Jim Jornlin, senior.
John Heussman, senior,
states, “His standards made me push harder. His teaching qualities are rare.
It’s a shame to see him retire.”
