Posted May 29, 2012

Top: Dr. Wang addresses the audience. Middle: Dr. Wang, along with his wife Judy, listen to the Shaker High School Select Chorus perform. Bottom: (L-R) Frank Berlin, Dr. Wang and Timothy O'Brien.

For the first time in nearly 40 years, Dr. Frank Wang stepped foot in the former Goodrich Elementary School and it didn’t take long for the memories to come flooding back.

Though the building is now used as the district’s central offices, Dr. Wang was able to point out certain parts of the former elementary school that he attended to his family, such as the beautiful mural that blankets a wall in the upper part of the building that was dedicated by the sixth grade class in 1962.

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Dr. Wang was on hand today to remember the memory of his former second grade teacher Mrs. Isabel Robinson and donate a check for $30,000 to the district in her honor. Robinson was a teacher who made a lasting impact on the life of Dr, Wang. He was a student of Mrs. Robinson’s in 1971-72 when he attended the former Goodrich Elementary School.

“Mrs. Robinson was different,” Dr. Wang said. “I was shy as a child and was told I had a neurological impairment. She took time with me, tutored me and I trace a lot of my success in life to her and my other wonderful teachers.”

Dr. Wang looked at home in his former school as he posed for photos outside of the building with his family and North Colonie Superintendent D. Joseph Corr before heading into the cafetorium for the festivities. Dr. Wang spent time talking with two of his former teachers who were in attendance, Frank Berlin and Tim O’Brien. He also had the opportunity to speak with former Goodrich Elementary principal Robert Farrell.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Thomas Rybaltowski opened the afternoon discussing Dr. Wang’s very successful career, one that has seen him earn his Ph.D. from MIT, become CEO of Saxon Publishing and in July, he will assume the position of president of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics.

“Even with all of his success in life, Dr. Wang has never forgotten his humble beginnings as a student in North Colonie and the teacher who made the biggest impact on him, his second grade teacher Mrs. Isabel Robinson,” Rybaltowski said. “Dr. Wang, your donation today will honor the memory of Mrs. Robinson but it will also go a long way to positively transform the lives of our students. It’s wonderful to think that a teacher who taught in this building nearly four decades ago is still helping students learn today and we all have you to thank for that.”

“I know Dr. Wang is here to celebrate the contributions and inspiration provided by these very important people in his life,” Superintendent D. Joseph Corr said. “The fact that he is taking the time, making the effort, and utilizing his personal resources to do this speaks greatly to his character. He clearly has recognized and appreciated the gift given to him by these wonderful individuals and now seeks to return those gifts in a way that will be extended well into the future. We are most grateful for his appreciation of these fine teachers.”