D E PA R T I N G FAC U LT Y by Josh Walker, Upper School Russian teacher
On a spectacular spring day at the BB&N turf field, a group of students lined up to play members of the faculty for the 2015 Senior Spring Project Ultimate Frisbee Game. Just as the participants were finishing their warm-ups, one final faculty member emerged from behind Renaissance Hall to take the field: Bob Edbrooke, replete in his BB&N track suit and BB&N cap. Jeremiah Blacklow ’15 ended up lining up across from Edbrooke. “It was definitely really great for us that he played,” Jeremiah recalls of the match. “I actually spent quite a bit of time guarding him, and it was really encouraging to see him acting rather youthful for his age.”
Students and faculty who have gotten to know Edbrooke well over the past 25 years would not have been surprised by his athleticism or that he spent one of his final Friday afternoons at BB&N engaged with the students. During his tenure at the Upper School, teaching Latin and History, Edbrooke involved himself in every aspect of student life. He found the time and energy for BB&N academics, athletics (coaching JV Girls Basketball and JV Girls Tennis), the arts, and also school trips to Turkey, Italy, and Greece. English teacher Althea Cranston worked closely with Bob for the duration of the School’s Ancient Mediterranean Studies Program, for which teachers took on a long list of additional responsibilities. Cranston was impressed with his level of dedication to this program, the depth of his knowledge, and his teaching experience: “Bob was an encyclopedia for the ancient world, was impeccably organized, and insightful about the Ninth Graders’ efforts and achievements when the teachers had to agree on grades for the portfolio and other interdisciplinary assignments.” Photography teacher Parrish Dobson concurs with Cranston’s assessment. “His deep knowledge of ancient history helped us all think creatively about using the art collections at the MFA as a springboard for research,” Dobson says. “In the very best sense of the term, Bob put the school first in everything he did,” says former faculty member Peter Tower. “Whether he was busy with the operations of teaching, designing new ways to improve his courses, or envisioning overseas travel to enhance his students’ understanding, Bob was 100 percent a devoted teacher.” Math teacher Meena Kaur notes that Edbrooke was a fixture at School events: “I’ve run into him at probably every BB&N game I’ve ever been to. And musical performance. And theatrical show.” Edbrooke, indeed, seemed to make time for every musical performance at the School. “Bob was always front and center at concerts held on campus,” orchestra director Brian Reasoner says. “In March 2003, we held the first-ever Arts Bash, and 18