Longtime Former Glastonbury Educator Dies

GLASTONBURY, CT — A longtime administrator in the Glastonbury public school system who worked his way through the ranks from the Army to a high school principal to the top education official in town has died.

Henry R. Schoebel died Aug. 28 at the age of 95. He had been living in Peabody, MA.

He was born June 12, 1922 in New York City. He left Tusculum College with the Class of 1945, to serve in the U.S. Army during World War II and returned to graduate in 1947.

He earned a master’s degree and doctorate at Columbia University.

He began as a teacher and vice-principal in Melverne, NY from 1948 to 1958.

In 1958, Schoebel became the principal of Glastonbury High School. He became the director of secondary education in 1963, assistant superintendent of schools in 1966 and superintendent of schools in 1980 until his retirement in 1985.

In a biography on the past principals page on the Glastonbury schools website, he mentioned how he enjoyed introducing new programs at the high school.

"Since high school teachers were also used at the elementary level, I had the task of scheduling them to enable them to get to the elementary schools," he wrote. "At the High School, Current Issues was added to the curriculum. At the junior high school level, Russian started in grade seven. There were many other changes made to strengthen the program at the junior and senior high level. It was an exciting time to be Principal of Glastonbury High School at the beginning of Glastonbury’s growth as a school system of excellence."

See his full obituary here.

Photo Credit: Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home