In appreciation: Ed Kirby

I was never Ed’s science student nor his baseball player, but Ed Kirby was my principal when I taught at HVRHS and a fine one, among the very best. Always fair and considerate, Ed was a good listener and a thoughtful dispenser of sound advice. 

After receiving the principal’s helm from Dr. Stoddard, Ed formed the faculty council to provide him additional insight, thus providing the department heads a voice in leading the school. He encouraged faculty innovation in considering how the curriculum met student needs. These were good, challenging years.

These were also times of student unrest: sit-ins on the oval and a variety of other mostly peaceful protests—in the morning one never knew. Principal Kirby, always calm and assertive, managed with Vice Principal Dick Alto to gentle the students back to class. 

I vividly recall his introducing Butch Cassidy’s sister in a student assembly. Ed enjoyed sharing his passions and was an eloquent spokesman for all his varied interests.

One of my special moments was dedicating our 1956 class year book to Mr. Kirby; another moment, many years later after we were both retired, was introducing him for the dedication in the senior courtyard of the new replacement White Oak. The original after some 200 years was felled in a severe wind storm. For some 80 years, Ed accompanied that august tree, nearly 40% of its life.

Ed Kirby will always be synonymous with the Housatonic Valley Regional High School for his lifetime of service as student, teacher, principal and assistant superintendent. 

Clearly, I have alway admired Ed Kirby: for his leadership in education, for his interest in documenting aspects of the American West and the local iron ore industry, writing the history of his town of Sharon, and for his roles as leader in that community with his gracious wife, Mary, and their five fine children. There will forever be Ed Kirby.

Ellery W. Sinclair

Retired English Teacher & Department Head

Falls Village