The first time Jeff Sobrinski met his wife, Kathy, the two showed up for job interviews in the Dennis Township School District. That was 33 years ago, when both were fresh out of college.
“I thought she was really cute,” Jeff said of Kathy.
Kathy, however, was too nervous to notice much about him, she said.
They both got jobs — Jeff as a fourth-grade teacher and sports coach, and Kathy as a first-grade teacher. And they went together to a Christmas party thrown by colleague Joan Gerber that first year.
“We’ve been together ever since,” Jeff said.
Last Friday, the residents of Marmora in Upper Township retired together, after staying in the same district their entire careers.
“Bittersweet is the correct word,” Jeff said of his feelings about retiring. “I love what I do.”
He has taught different grades and coached many sports, and for seven years was the district’s special education and basic skills teacher assigned to Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School. He will continue as assistant girls basketball coach at Ocean City High School, working with coach Paul Baruffi, he said, along with coaching the Cape May Technical High School golf team.
Kathy plans to do a combination of tutoring and volunteer work.
Both of their daughters have gone into education. Ashley, 25, joined Teach for America out of college and is in her fourth year teaching in Washington, D.C. Marilee, 23, recently got her master’s degree in speech pathology and works for the Linwood School District.
“It’s in our blood, for sure,” Jeff said.
Science of love
There must be something romantic about teaching together. Egg Harbor Township High School chemistry teacher Kyle Herman proposed to Kimberly Kimpton, another chemistry teacher, during morning announcements Dec. 21.
You can view his proposal at http://bit.ly/YCKgnP and her reaction at http://bit.ly/12JmVQE
Going to China
Atlantic City High School guidance counselor Henry Winkler is one of four high school educators selected to travel to China next summer for a week with Arcadia University’s Educators’ Preview and the Pay It Forward–Get It Back Scholarship program.
Winkler was nominated by former student Alexandra Mazzo, of Brigantine, a student at Arcadia who said Winkler encouraged her to challenge herself academically. Mazzo received a $1,000 scholarship for study abroad. Arcadia is a private university in metropolitan Philadelphia.
More stories to tell
Michelle Brunetti Post writes about the lives, careers and good deeds of southern New Jersey residents Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays in ‘Everyone Has a Story.’ To share your story, call
her at 609-272-7219 or email her at: MPost@pressofac.com
