Our Wildwood, Winter 2018, Volume 42

g i v i n g v o i c e

Amy Abrams Jay Goodfader ‘82

Q/ a

. ABRAMS: What was your favorite spot on campus?

Jay Goodfader ’82 is an alumnus of Wildwood Elementary School, before the middle and upper campus was opened and the elementary program went until 6th grade. The Goodfader family joins a growing number of Wildwood alumni who choose Wildwood for their children. Jay has stayed close with many of the teachers over the past 35 years. Here, he talks with Amy Abrams, director of college counseling and alumni relations, about why he chose Wildwood for his son Ty.

GOODFADER: The library. I like to say that I had read every book in the library before I left. The first couple of years when Ty was in the Pods (K-1st grade), I could volunteer in the library, and that was wonderful. From 2nd grade on, parents don’t do that. It becomes a library tech, and I said I’m going to become a library tech, too. [laughs] Q/ a . ABRAMS: Who were your favorite teachers when you were here? I’m still friends with them on Facebook; they’re both running schools in other places. Tim Ford introduced me to The Hobbit, and he also introduced me to Buckminster Fuller. Fuller was my idol, the guy I wrote my 6th grade project on, and they were able to introduce me to him, and I was able to talk to him. That’s a highlight of my life. Q/ a . ABRAMS: Why did you choose Wildwood for your son Ty? GOODFADER: I went to an open school night [Beyond . the Textbook event] at the elementary school and it went very well. The teachers that I met were very enthusiastic and very like my old Wildwood teachers, so I felt a connection there. GOODFADER: My favorite teachers were in 5th and 6th grades, Tim Ford and Gerri Chizeck.

Our Wildwood /Winter 2018 2/3

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