Charles Potashnik

By SEAN BARRON Correspondent

HOWLAND — Charles Potashnik may have only one head, but on it he proudly wears a variety of hats.

“A lot of people have contributed over the years to my well-being in many respects,” he said. “It’s like giving back. It makes me feel good as an individual if I help someone.”

In many respects, Potashnik, 80, has followed — and continues to follow that trajectory. He retired in 2009 after having taught social studies, economics, psychology, government and advanced-placement history for more than 46 years at Howland High School.

In addition, Potashnik was instrumental in starting the Howland Achievement Hall of Fame in 2014 and has conducted research to locate former students to honor for their accomplishments. He also served many years as a Howland Athletic Hall of Fame member, volunteers as a hypnotherapist to help students relax so they can better prepare for academic, music and sports competitions, as well as improve their grades. Along those lines, Potashnik has met with students before important events in their lives to give them encouragement to believe in themselves and aim for their full potential.

For such efforts, he has been nominated as one of this year’s Community Stars. The program, co-sponsored by the Tribume Chronicle and Trumbull 100, recognizes the brightest examples of community service and the people who do those good deeds.

On various occasions, Potashnik added layers of reality to what he taught in his classroom to enrich the learning experience for his students. He welcomed Holocaust survivors to his classes, and on one occasion, Potashnik brought former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson to his psychology class, where the boxer discussed the value of education and family, as well as taking care of one’s body.

He also sweetened things a bit for his economics students by allowing them to create “little companies,” in which the students competed with one an other. Those who “lost” money had to buy do nuts for those who “won,” he fondly recalled.

Other achievements include working on be half of Warren Civic Music projects and driving neighbors to doctor’s appointments. In 1969, Potashnik co-founded Contact Trumbull, a 24-hour all-volunteer ecumenical organiza tion that three Warren-area churches had launched.

Potashnik displayed a taste of modesty when asked about his continued efforts to reach beyond himself and to leave his mark on many hearts and lives.

“I don’t want to be an old person and look back and say, ‘I wish I had done this or I wish I had done that.’ People I’ve helped are inspiring in so many ways.”

Nevertheless, the longtime educator plans to continue literally giving part of himself in another, potentially life-saving way: He has a goal of donating 25 gallons of blood on behalf of the Red Cross and has one gallon to go.

“Basically, he eats and sleeps Trumbull County,” said Linda Aggarwal, who’s known Potashnik about 37 years and nominated him as a Community Star. “All four of my sons had him (as a teacher) and they loved him. He’s touched so many lives.”

Aggarwal praised her longtime neighbor for other charitable and selfless acts, such as his penchant for handwriting recommendation letters for anyone who asks for one. Before Potashnik and his wife left on a six-week vacation to Florida this year, he gave a neighbor Potashnik’s snow blower, with instructions to clear other neighbors’ driveways in the event of a heavy snow, Aggarwal explained.

Potashnik also enjoyed giving some students rides to school, though with a humorous string attached: Whenever such students saw someone’s empty garbage can on the curb, they were required to take it to the person’s garage.

“My kids still talk about that,” Aggarwal said, adding that she selected her beloved neighbor as a Community Star because of his care, compassion and kindness toward his students and many others.