Skip to main content

Remembering Leo

Coventry Elementary School, 1960's

I present, for your Sunday contemplation, the following conversation from the Coventry Elementary School group on Facebook:

Does anyone remember Leo the crossing guard at the Coventry Mayfield intersection during the early 60's ?

I was a safety assigned to that intersection in late sixties with an extremely elderly crossing guard. Maybe the same man?

In the late 50's, at the corner of Washington and Berkshire stood Stanley. He wouldn't let me around the corner when I was little. There were also adult crossing guards at Coventry and Euclid Hts. Remember doing "doubles?"

And they always told us "doubles" were not allowed.

Yes, we had to make sure that each crosser stopped in the middle for safety.

That was him. He stood there forever. Thanks for remembering.

He was so old and frail by the time I worked with him. I used to worry about him!

I know and we all just loved him.

And his memory is not forgotten.

I had my picture in the Plain Dealer with the crossing guard. Sorry don't remember his name.

I remember fighting with my mother that I had to go to my Safety post on a particularly cold day because I didn't want him to be alone.

How sweet is that.

*****

Yes, I do remember him, although I didn't remember his name. His eyes used to water from the bitter cold of Cleveland winters. He only had the woolen cloth coat and cap provided in those days for the auxiliary police; on really bad days he wore earmuffs, I think. I have remembered him all these years and the pride and personal responsibility I felt in helping him cross the younger children across that busy, double intersection. I don't think he talked much. I was a little afraid of him because he seemed rather serious to me, but I hurried to my post even in the coldest of weather because I didn't want him to be alone.

"They are not dead who live in the hearts they leave behind." --Tuscarora Proverb

 

 

     

    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Getting Fresh

    One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...
    1 comment
    Read more

    They Can Wait

    This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
    1 comment
    Read more

    What Kids Are Thinking

      It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...
    1 comment
    Read more