Remembering the rich legacy of Ed Kirby

FALLS VILLAGE — On Saturday, June 4, a large crowd of people  gathered at Housatonic Valley Regional High School to honor the late Ed Kirby, a true polymath who started geology classes with poetry and told future World Series champs if they didn’t stop cussing they’d be kicked off the baseball team.

The HVRHS Alumni Association organized the event. Kirby, a lifelong resident of Sharon, was a student, teacher, coach and administrator at HVRHS and Region One.  He died last year.

Richard Gustafson (HVRHS Class of 1959) opened the ceremonies by noting the alumni group had raised a hefty $152,860 for the refurbishing of the baseball field (which is named for Kirby).

HVRHS Principal Ian Strever said Kirby was known for his leadership when he was employed by Region One and for being willing to help out when needed in retirement.

Steve Blass (Class of 1960),  the self-described “wise guy” from Falls Village who went on to win two games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1971 World Series, said he was initially scared of the man who became his mentor and friend.

Blass said as a freshman at HVRHS, he was practicing swear words with his pals one day and did not notice that Kirby was right behind them.

“He said ‘If I ever hear that coming out of your mouth again you will never play baseball at Housatonic.’

“Imagine my life without baseball,” said the recently retired Pirates broadcaster.

Blass said the biggest life lesson he learned from Kirby was “Don’t make any excuses.”

“That’s carried me through my career.”

Dick Paddock of Salisbury knew Kirby as a fellow historian. The two met when they were both involved with the Friends of the Beckley Furnace.

After a couple of meetings, “I figured the trick here is going to be listening to Ed, which I did for the next 20 years.”

Paddock said local people had little knowledge of the history of the iron industry in the Northwest Corner.

“Ed thought we needed to change that.”

Geologist Wendy Gerstel (Class of 1976) recalled signing up for geology class in 1975, taught by Kirby and the late David Lindsay.

She said Kirby began the course by reading the Robert W. Service poem “The Cremation of Sam McGee.”

This puzzled her, as she couldn’t make the connection with geology. But later on she got it.

“He taught us how to learn.”

She credited Kirby with instilling in students “a sense of place by studying natural history. It’s not just about the rocks.”

Kirby’s daughter Anne Kirby (Class of 1971) said when her father died she was “unprepared for the outpouring of support.”

She described her father as “rich in imagination and creativity,” and recalled someone as saying Kirby “always spoke in footnotes.”

“He was never bored.”

Kirby’s wife Mary, who was not on the program, thanked everyone for attending and noted the exceptionally clement weather.

“He’s up there, pulling strings, because it’s a beautiful day.”

Gustafson finished the program by getting everyone to rise and sing the school song.

Prior to the ceremony, several men took batting practice on the gleaming baseball field.

A celebration of life for teacher David Lindsay, who died in 2020, will be held on Friday, July 22 from 1 p.m. to 4 at HVRHS.

Anne Kirby described her father Ed as “rich in imagination and creativity.” Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Steve Blass, who became a star pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, recalled his early encounters with Ed Kirby. Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Anne Kirby described her father Ed as “rich in imagination and creativity.” Photo by Hunter O. Lyle