Lawrence Hally
I nominate Lawrence Hally to the Branford Education Hall of Fame. Since 1978, Larry has been an adjunct professor in the state’s technical college system. Being an adjunct, Larry is not eligible for tenure. His work stands alone. As an at will employee Larry's has been continuously employed for forty years, which speaks to his dedication and mastery of the art of teaching. He started teaching mathematics at Greater New Haven Technical College in 1978 during its first year of existence. When Greater New Haven Technical College and South Central Community College merged in 1992 to become Gateway Community College Larry was asked to stay on as part of the transition team. He’s been there ever since. During his forty years as a math professor he has help individuals prepare for their first job, transition to a new career or enhance the career by brushing up on some long forgotten skills. These transitions allow working professionals to improve their lives, many times in mid-life. I have personally spoken to former students who have become electricians, teachers, auto mechanics, nurses, accountants and bankers. Larry’s teaching style allows for the presentation of complex concepts in a non-threatening, nurturing environment. I’ve had former students say to me they really enjoyed Larry’s class because he took a light hearted approached to teaching an intimidating subject. Along with his four decades of teacher at the college level, Larry has also several years teaching in both grammar school, (St. Mary’s in Branford), and high school (East Haven and Hand). He was the boys’ track coach at East Haven. In his second year he directed them to their first winning season ever. Likewise, he coached the boys’ and girls’ track team while at Hand High School in Madison. Those teams went on to finish in the top five in the state numerous times. He is past president of the Connecticut S Gauger, an organization of model train enthusiasts who not only promote model training and the history of railroading. While under Larry’s leadership the group has had numerous lectures from world renowned authors speaking about the history of the railroad from South Africa, China, Europe, South America and the United States. He promoted local trips to the Shoreline Trolley Museum, Grand Central Station and the South Norwalk Switch Tower Museum. In 1994, Larry’s was one of the founding members of Save Our School, an organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the Laurel Street School. He worked extensively as a member researching the history and architecture of the Laurel Street School. He was part of the organization that brought together a diverse group of people in an effort to save Laurel Street School. This group included former students, local architects, historians, businessmen, clergy and politicians. Larry has demonstrated throughout his life the ability to combine his three passions – mathematics, history and education. Larry has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to these three pursuits and would be a worthy member of the Branford Education Hall of Fame.
My nomination into the education hall of fame, Lawrence D. Hally, has proven his service to Branford and the surrounding towns for decades. For 40+ years, he has, and still does, contribute to the community, and to our youth, guiding and directing their future.
In his youth he began his career as a high school teacher, when salaries were so low it was difficult to support a family on a teacher's salary. Lawrence branched out to find a career that would give him the satisfaction of teaching and the salary to support a family. It was in the early days of data processing so Lawrence made the leap to a new profession, hoping for the same satisfaction he had in teaching. I was fortunate to be part of the change Lawrence made and watch him as, even in this new position, he continued teaching by helping his counterparts learn new developments in data processing. However, data Processing was not enough to satisfy his desire to continue teaching, and thankfully so, because his influence continues to help so many. After much thought and soul searching he decided to continue teaching at night after his regular day job. He taught the SAT course in Branford for many years, and two of my children, attended his course, as well as so many other students. He filled his classes with students who told their friends how much he helped them, and how he made the class fun and entertaining. Lawrence has a special "knack" for being able to connect with young and old students, he has a special talent for giving his students special tricks to remember how to perform their tasks. He is compassionate and cares about making sure his students succeed.
Let me give you a few examples of his special connection with students as a group and as individuals. In Lawrence's 30 plus years at Gateway Community College he has influenced many students. Gateway is a diverse community with many students working full time and trying to complete a program that will move them toward better employment. Lawrence is so understanding about the challenges associated with working full time and also trying to complete a program. He knows because he went through the same challenges when he was completing his masters and 6th year programs. A student once told me, he is a great teacher, he knows how to make math seem easy. Mr. Hally gives me tricks and tools to remember the formulas and facts. Lawrence once told me, and he is so right, smart people don't necessarily make good teachers because the work comes easy to them; it is us average people who need tricks and ways to remember the facts we are trying to learn. Lawrence passed on the tricks he figured out for himself to his students so they might achieve the success he has. Lawrence has spent his career entertaining and training students in the math field and making them feel good about math and working through their fears. His students only want to take classes he teaches. Recently his students at Gateway submitted to the Gateway staff a request for him to teach the matriculating courses for their program. The entire class signed the petition and the Gateway staff, recognizing his talents to connect with the students, authorized his teaching the classes. This is just one example of his connection with his students and his ability to encourage their learning and success.
The next two examples of Lawrence's influence in the field of education are personal ones for me. My husband wanted to return to school at age 30 and was very concerned as to whether he could master the material in the electrical engineering program because he had taken very little math in high school. Lawrence talked to him about taking the "plunge" back to school. He suggested to my husband that he take a night course to see how he felt about heading back to school. I suggested he take Larry's math course, knowing Lawrence would be honest about whether my husband could really head back, and I knew Larry was the kind of teacher to give my husband the confidence to return to school. After every class my husband would return home to tell me what a great teacher Larry was, and how he made the classes fun and entertaining while getting the material across in a way everyone could understand. Lawrence passed on funny anecdotes that helped the class remember the orders of operations and easy ways to solve equations. Tricks that to this day my husband passes on to our grandchildren! Lawrence without knowing it has passed his teaching talents across generations. My husband graduated with an electrical engineering degree thanks to the effort and "push" Lawrence gave him. My second personal example involves my special needs nephew. My nephew is the oldest of 5 children and became handicapped as the result of an auto accident at age 3. He comes from a family of high performers and as a result wanted to attend college too. He graduated high school at 19 and spent a few years doing part time work at the local grocery stores. He started taking one course at a time during the day and the administration at Gateway was not always attentive to the fact that this student really cared about matriculating not just taking one course at a time. Lawrence saw him one afternoon and asked how he was doing. My nephew started telling Lawrence about the courses he had been taking. During their discussion Lawrence asked my nephew if he was in a program of any kind. He said no one had talked to him about a program, or what that meant. Lawrence made an appointment with the administration and took the time to explain the benefit of being in a program to my nephew. Lawrence brought my nephew to the meeting with the administration and setup a program for my nephew to pursue. This is just one example of Lawrence going out of his way, taking his personal time to help students who need guidance.
Lawrence is a teacher that every parent hopes their child gets during those difficult years of deciding what they want to do after high school. He is always willing to recognize a student's talents and direct them to their best future choices. Sometimes it is a trade school, sometimes to a community college knowing their financial situation, or their uncertain talents. His willingness to help students, not just lecture them for two or three hours a night, makes him an unusual teacher, combining his "knack" for connecting with his students and his willingness to work with parents and significant others to help students achieve their goals. Some students who approach Lawrence for help are not even in his classes. They approach him based on friends who had him in classes and know he would never turn down an opportunity to help students work through their problems, nor hesitate to tell parents or significant others to "back off" and let whatever the situation is to run it's course.
Lawrence has lived in Branford his entire life and even today continues giving back to the community. While transporting people to their doctor appointments from the community center, I am sure he is teaching as he drives, telling his riders about the history of Branford and interesting facts about the community. Teaching is in his blood. Like a master craftsman, he teaches everywhere he goes, it is part of his being. Choosing him as an inductee into the Branford education hall of fame, I feel, will show wise decision making on the part of the committee!
In his youth he began his career as a high school teacher, when salaries were so low it was difficult to support a family on a teacher's salary. Lawrence branched out to find a career that would give him the satisfaction of teaching and the salary to support a family. It was in the early days of data processing so Lawrence made the leap to a new profession, hoping for the same satisfaction he had in teaching. I was fortunate to be part of the change Lawrence made and watch him as, even in this new position, he continued teaching by helping his counterparts learn new developments in data processing. However, data Processing was not enough to satisfy his desire to continue teaching, and thankfully so, because his influence continues to help so many. After much thought and soul searching he decided to continue teaching at night after his regular day job. He taught the SAT course in Branford for many years, and two of my children, attended his course, as well as so many other students. He filled his classes with students who told their friends how much he helped them, and how he made the class fun and entertaining. Lawrence has a special "knack" for being able to connect with young and old students, he has a special talent for giving his students special tricks to remember how to perform their tasks. He is compassionate and cares about making sure his students succeed.
Let me give you a few examples of his special connection with students as a group and as individuals. In Lawrence's 30 plus years at Gateway Community College he has influenced many students. Gateway is a diverse community with many students working full time and trying to complete a program that will move them toward better employment. Lawrence is so understanding about the challenges associated with working full time and also trying to complete a program. He knows because he went through the same challenges when he was completing his masters and 6th year programs. A student once told me, he is a great teacher, he knows how to make math seem easy. Mr. Hally gives me tricks and tools to remember the formulas and facts. Lawrence once told me, and he is so right, smart people don't necessarily make good teachers because the work comes easy to them; it is us average people who need tricks and ways to remember the facts we are trying to learn. Lawrence passed on the tricks he figured out for himself to his students so they might achieve the success he has. Lawrence has spent his career entertaining and training students in the math field and making them feel good about math and working through their fears. His students only want to take classes he teaches. Recently his students at Gateway submitted to the Gateway staff a request for him to teach the matriculating courses for their program. The entire class signed the petition and the Gateway staff, recognizing his talents to connect with the students, authorized his teaching the classes. This is just one example of his connection with his students and his ability to encourage their learning and success.
The next two examples of Lawrence's influence in the field of education are personal ones for me. My husband wanted to return to school at age 30 and was very concerned as to whether he could master the material in the electrical engineering program because he had taken very little math in high school. Lawrence talked to him about taking the "plunge" back to school. He suggested to my husband that he take a night course to see how he felt about heading back to school. I suggested he take Larry's math course, knowing Lawrence would be honest about whether my husband could really head back, and I knew Larry was the kind of teacher to give my husband the confidence to return to school. After every class my husband would return home to tell me what a great teacher Larry was, and how he made the classes fun and entertaining while getting the material across in a way everyone could understand. Lawrence passed on funny anecdotes that helped the class remember the orders of operations and easy ways to solve equations. Tricks that to this day my husband passes on to our grandchildren! Lawrence without knowing it has passed his teaching talents across generations. My husband graduated with an electrical engineering degree thanks to the effort and "push" Lawrence gave him. My second personal example involves my special needs nephew. My nephew is the oldest of 5 children and became handicapped as the result of an auto accident at age 3. He comes from a family of high performers and as a result wanted to attend college too. He graduated high school at 19 and spent a few years doing part time work at the local grocery stores. He started taking one course at a time during the day and the administration at Gateway was not always attentive to the fact that this student really cared about matriculating not just taking one course at a time. Lawrence saw him one afternoon and asked how he was doing. My nephew started telling Lawrence about the courses he had been taking. During their discussion Lawrence asked my nephew if he was in a program of any kind. He said no one had talked to him about a program, or what that meant. Lawrence made an appointment with the administration and took the time to explain the benefit of being in a program to my nephew. Lawrence brought my nephew to the meeting with the administration and setup a program for my nephew to pursue. This is just one example of Lawrence going out of his way, taking his personal time to help students who need guidance.
Lawrence is a teacher that every parent hopes their child gets during those difficult years of deciding what they want to do after high school. He is always willing to recognize a student's talents and direct them to their best future choices. Sometimes it is a trade school, sometimes to a community college knowing their financial situation, or their uncertain talents. His willingness to help students, not just lecture them for two or three hours a night, makes him an unusual teacher, combining his "knack" for connecting with his students and his willingness to work with parents and significant others to help students achieve their goals. Some students who approach Lawrence for help are not even in his classes. They approach him based on friends who had him in classes and know he would never turn down an opportunity to help students work through their problems, nor hesitate to tell parents or significant others to "back off" and let whatever the situation is to run it's course.
Lawrence has lived in Branford his entire life and even today continues giving back to the community. While transporting people to their doctor appointments from the community center, I am sure he is teaching as he drives, telling his riders about the history of Branford and interesting facts about the community. Teaching is in his blood. Like a master craftsman, he teaches everywhere he goes, it is part of his being. Choosing him as an inductee into the Branford education hall of fame, I feel, will show wise decision making on the part of the committee!
I’ve known Lawrence for over sixty years, growing up in Branford . He has always been an outstanding person and educator. As childhood friends, Larry always maintained high ethical standards and Consistently choosing the right path to follow. He along with my brother Joe, were and are terrific role models constantly choosing to help others. His educational leadership was demonstrated in the classroom and on the athletic field. Growing up together, working with his dad’s business Larry took great pride in leading various work crews throughout high school and college.
Credit to Larry’s work ethic was demonstrated on the athletic arena as he ran cross-country at Notre Dame High School and Southern Connecticut State College. His willingness to help others is demonstrated by being a positive role model to his teammates, students an friends.
His formative years as an educator began at St. Mary’s church (alter boy) then teaching and coaching at St. Mary’s school. He then brought his knowledge teaching and coaching at East Haven High School followed by teaching at Daniel Hand High School in Madison.
I had the privilege of working against and with him as an opposing basketball and track and field coach. Starting as a rival track and field (East Haven H S), then as his assistant at Hand High School. Larry always gave above and beyond what other coaches did to help all his students and athletes. I give Lawrence Hally my highest recommendation to attain the title of Branford Education Hall of Fame. There is no finer teacher, coach, mentor and friend.
Credit to Larry’s work ethic was demonstrated on the athletic arena as he ran cross-country at Notre Dame High School and Southern Connecticut State College. His willingness to help others is demonstrated by being a positive role model to his teammates, students an friends.
His formative years as an educator began at St. Mary’s church (alter boy) then teaching and coaching at St. Mary’s school. He then brought his knowledge teaching and coaching at East Haven High School followed by teaching at Daniel Hand High School in Madison.
I had the privilege of working against and with him as an opposing basketball and track and field coach. Starting as a rival track and field (East Haven H S), then as his assistant at Hand High School. Larry always gave above and beyond what other coaches did to help all his students and athletes. I give Lawrence Hally my highest recommendation to attain the title of Branford Education Hall of Fame. There is no finer teacher, coach, mentor and friend.