The Petition For 'The House That Mr. Fetterman Built'

NEWTOWN SQUARE—We all have heroes–those individuals that help us grow into who we become. Sometimes those people have a better idea of our potential before we do. Growing up, teachers make up a good portion of these unsung heroes.

Now 11 years later, graduates Pat DiPersia and Adam Cavanaugh are looking to honor their former teacher and mentor Henry Fetterman who taught at the high school from 1965 up until the time of his death in 1999.

DiPersia and Cavanaugh have recently launched a petition, which they plan to present to the in hopes of naming the auditorium (currently under renovations) in Fetterman's honor.

There were two sides to Fetterman. In his biology classroom, he was known to be tough and held his standards high. The key to his success is that Fetterman made students want to reach his expectations.

"There was no question about, whether or not you were going to get it. He knew you were going to get it, even though you didn't," recalled DiPersia.

Outside the classroom Fetterman was the technical and musical director of the high school drama department. In this role, Fetterman really connected with his students. He was known to take extra time to help students if they hit a rough patch on the stage or at home. After DiPersia and Cavanaugh left the biology class, they never saw him as a science teacher again, but rather a mentor.

Fetterman and his crew spent practically two-thirds of the school year in the auditorium. Fetterman recruited Cavanaugh into the drama's technology department. Cavanaugh hadn't really thought about joining, but there was something Fetterman saw in him.

Years later, he is now a television producer and credits his career choice to Fetterman. Cavanaugh isn't alone. Since DiPersia and Cavanaugh have launched the petition, they have found generations of graduates who have stayed in drama, theatre, or entertainment fields because of the four years spent with Fetterman.

Fetterman's dedication to his students was steadfast, even a month or two before his death. DiPersia and Cavanaugh visited him in the hospital and found him still working on designs and tech plans for the spring musical. He passed in February on that year, but his influence was still a part of their production of Little Mary Sunshine.

After Fetterman's passing in 1999, the school board was approached with the idea of renaming the auditorium in memory of the beloved teacher who had spent 34 years at the high school. At the time the board seemed in favor of the prospect, but decided it would be best to wait until after potential reservations.

"It was a little run down at the time, and renovations kept getting put off and finally now renovations are in full swing. That's when I started pushing things again," said DiPersia about urging the school board to name the auditorium in honor of Fetterman.

However, the current board may not share the same sentiments as those serving 12 years ago. When DiPersia re-addressed the idea of naming the newly renovated auditorium as the Henry E. Fetterman Performing Arts Center before the board, he was told the school did not want to set a precedent of naming rooms after teachers.

According to DiPersia, it was "because the board didn't want other students coming to us asking to dedicate different rooms to different teachers." The school felt there would be an outpouring from other students for dedications.

Superintendent Dr. Merle Horowitz explained to Marple Newtown Patch that the school board's current status on the topic isn't actually a policy; it just really hasn't really been addressed.

"There's been very little communication to me and the board about this desire to name something. I believe there were some letters or emails written a couple of years ago that I forwarded over to the board," shared Horowitz. "And at the time that they had that, I believe there was concern about setting a precedent because we don't have things named for people in our school district other than the schools themselves," said Horowitz.

However, Horowitz believes that the school board would address and be willing to discuss the petition started by DiPersia.

So far, the petition has been extremely successful. At two weeks in, the petition already has 235 virtual signatures. DiPersia and Cavanaugh are heavily relying on social networks and websites to connect with alumni and former colleagues. DiPersia has been able to connect to his graduating class as well as generations before him and even one Marple Newtown alumni who lives abroad.

"The one good thing the petition is doing is giving us ways to communicate with people that we don't have access to contact info," said DiPersia.

The electronic petition also allows DiPersia and Cavanaugh to send information back to their supporters. Their current focus is trying to get the word out and, hopefully, when they are able to readdress the board they will be able to bring some of their supporters.

"This way we can sway some minds," said Cavanaugh.

On the petition's website and their Facebook page, there are comments from dozens of people who admired Fetterman.

Thom McHugh worked with him for 25 years in the high school's drama department, along with supporting the cause he posted, "Because of his lifelong commitment to performing arts brilliance brought about by the inspiration of a generation of students, Hank Fetterman truly deserves to have the 'house' that he built bear his name."

The petition is still collecting signatures. DiPersia and Cavanaugh encourage former students and staff who have had the pleasure of experiencing Fetterman to share their memories on the Henry E. Fetterman Performing Arts Center Facebook page.