Tag: Teachers

Teachers: Mr. Shannon

In April 2025, Thomas Edward Shannon died peacefully in his favorite chair at home watching a Final Four game with his wife Joan of 66 years.

Tom was raised in Irvington, New Jersey, and graduated from Seton Hall Prep and Seton Hall University. After graduating, Tom married Joan Meyer, also of Irvington, and entered as an officer into the United States Army. He served in Fort Lewis, Washington, and Bamberg, Germany.

Back home, he pursued a career in education, teaching Math at Irvington High School and Myrtle Ave. JHS for over thirty years.

I had Mr. Shannon for Albebra I at Myrtle. I was not a very good math student (hence becoming an English teacher) and I received a “D” in the class. I decided to go to summer school to try to raise the grade so it would look decent for college admissions. Guess who my teacher was that summer at IHS? yes, Mr. Shannon. I felt doomed. But he was very patient with me and all of us struggling with “finding X” and the second time around it made sense. I got an “A” and he averaged my final grade to a “B.”

After retirement, Tom and Joan enjoyed many trips throughout the United States and Europe. Tom especially loved vacationing in Manasquan with his family, his brothers, and their wives.

Obituary

Rest in Peace

Teachers: Henry Skirbst

Our classmate, Paul Stahl, stayed in touch with several Irvington faculty members and sent us some information about a history teacher some of us had at Myrtle Ave. Junior High. I had him in 7th grade. The course was about New Jersey history. Mr. Skirbst was a dynamic teacher who made history come alive. I remember he would often complain that just learning names and dates meant you were learning about “dry bones,” and he wanted to flesh out the story of our past.

Myrtle Ave. Junior High Faculty 1968 Yearbook – Skirbst is first row, far left

Mr. Skirbst was an Irvington kid and an IHS graduate. He was even a town councilman.

Paul was in touch with Mrs. Skirbst, and she gave him five books he had written. His expertise was in NJ history, especially the Revolutionary War. One of those books is Tales of a Battleground: New Jersey’s Role in the Era of the American Revolution, which examines the important, yet often overlooked, role New Jersey played in the War.

His wife also sent Paul a copy of the Celebration of Life held for him.

Mr. Skirbst was involved in more than just teaching, as this bio shows. (He was also a Mason, like Paul.)

Some books by Mr. Skirbst

Tales of a Battleground: New Jersey’s Role in the Era of the American Revolution
Tales of a Frontier Land
Tales and Trails: New Jersey’s Places, People, and Past