PC P RO F I LE S
Farewell to Three All-Star Teachers
Harvey Rentschler Hon. 1689
When the news that teachers Robert Gordon, Harvey Rentschler and Jean Taraborelli would retire at the end of this year posted to the Penn Charter Facebook page, former students replied with gratitude – and many anecdotes. There was sadness, too. “Tears,” wrote Dillon Minacci. Some students remembered one of the teachers, or two, but Jason Winig gave a shout-out to all three: “Mr. Gordon was patient enough to help me get through calc even when things got tough. Ms. Taraborelli made Spanish fun and encouraged me to go to Spain, helping instill a love of travel and, of course, Spain! And, well, Mr. Rentschler taught us our state capitals and, strangely enough, to never yawn without covering your mouth.”
Read more about Gordon, Rentschler and Taraborelli, including recollections from students.
Robert Gordon Hon. 1689 A member of the math department since 1987 and currently director of the Math Center, Robert Gordon is the faculty’s most accomplished tango dancer. He brought his sense of humor to math and, for more than a decade, to his role as coach of the Comedy Sportz club. “On one of the many days B- math were giving Mr. Gordon less than complete attention he just borrowed Wyatt Gallery’s leather jacket and sat right down [to teach] the group,” wrote Carolyn Kogan Loughran OPC ’93. “He never let our colorful behavior get in the way of his stellar lesson plan.”
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“Mr. Gordon, thank you for all the time you spent with me at the math center!” wrote Samantha Jarmul OPC ’09. “That extra support got me through calculus and allowed me to be confident and comfortable with a subject that did not come easy to me!”
Harvey Rentschler has taught fifth grade for his entire 38 years at Penn Charter and leaves a legacy in Lower School. The long and lanky runner also coached boys cross country from 1976 to 2005; he won 12 league championships and four state championships, and was named independent school coach of the year in 2001. “Will always remember Mr. R’s kind reassurance, ‘It’s not a test, it’s an evaluation!’ Always made me feel better,” wrote Alice Affleck Bullitt OPC ’98. “And I’m lucky enough to run into him on runs in my neighborhood.” “Mr. R made me feel like a ‘super star’ when I caught a tennis ball he launched up into the air at recess,” recalled Megan Evans Kafer OPC ’95. “He treated me to a Dunkin Donut of my choice the next morning, yum!”
