The "Fame and Fortune" Story
It was an ordinary day. I had just come back from Mike Bovie’s home in Manheim Township, Lancaster, PA. Mike was a student of mine when he was in high school and was probably one of the most talented students I ever had in class. Mike started Lancaster Stained Glass
Designs over 20 years ago and has made the business a huge success. He has doubled his business in just about every year during the last the ten years. He recently completed a large glass etching of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address for the Museum and Visitor’s Center at the Gettysburg National Military Park. He also did a design in the floor at Harrisburgh International Airport. He is now doing a series of Stained Glass Panels for Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. They are for a chapel at the college. He estimated it will take him about 120 hours on each of the panels. His business is thriving even as most struggle. I visit him frequently to buy glass and materials for my hobby of stained glass. Y
ou can visit him at www.lancastersgd.com. I have had many other extremely talented students in my 33 years of teaching. Another would be Carolyn Jones. Carolyn became a professional photographer and has her studio in New York. She is a fashion and portrait photographer for Esquire, Interviews, and Italian Vogue among many other publications. She also made the television documentary “Women.....on Family.” In 1994 Carolyn published her first book called “Living Proof” which offers unprecedented insight into the astounding strength of the human spirit when confronted with illlness, pain, loss, and death. She capt
ures people from all backgrounds living with HIV and AIDS. Beautiful book! I was lucky enough to have her send me an autographed copy and an invite to a book signing and reception. Carolyn’s photos can be seen at www.carolynjonesphotography.com. Another talent I had was Alex Brand. I knew him better as Jeff in high school. He was a talented student as well as a sharpshooter on my 1972 State Rifle Championship Team. Jeff.....er Alex is also a glass artist. He lives in Corning, New York and has a studio at his residence. He sells his art at shows all over the country. H
e recently visited with me and told me he was going through a rough time because of the economy. He is now working for Corning Glass 
doing glass blowing demonstrations on Celebrity Cruise Ships in the Mediterranean. His blown plates, dishes and goblets are beautiful. You can see Alex’s work at www.alexbrand.com. Another student who I had for two years in school and became one of my best high school photographers was Jerry Driendl. As a senior he entered more photos and won more prizes than anyone ever in the history of the National Scholastic Art and Photography Contest. He was awarded a full scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia for his talent. Jerry has been a stock photog
rapher for over 10 years. He is one of the top 40 photographers at Getty Images, the worlds’ leading stock agency. He is also represented by National Geographics Society, and Panoramic Images. His art, prints and posters can be seen in countless magazines, on television and in major motion pictures. A few years ago he presented me with a matted and framed print of his first famous poster called “Homeward Bound” which depicts an Amishman and his girlfriend driving his buggy in a snow storm. It was taken for an assignment in my class. Check out his work at www.postercheckout.com/a/jerry_driendl/. I had another student who became famous, but I can take no credit for getting him started, since I only had him for a study hall. He is the pro golfer Jim Furyk. He did play on the same baseball team as my oldest son. He was the catcher for the team and Derek was the pitcher. The two students who I am most proud of though and who followed in my teachings in the graphic arts are my two sons, Derek and Tad. Derek is a pressman, in charge of a large web press for Donnelly Printing Company and Tad is a pressman, in charge of a web press for Intel Printing Company. Not only did they follow into the field of printing, but they are excellent at what they do which is why they were made pressmen. And then there is my daughter Brynn who I am equally proud of who followed her Dad into education as a teacher. She teaches elementary school and is not only a teacher, but a mother figure to all her students. When I look back on the many students who made a successful career in the graphic arts or photography (and even teaching), it makes me realize the influence a teacher can have on a student. It’s tremendous and therefore it's important that you take it seriously!! I believe I did! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
It was an ordinary day. I had just come back from Mike Bovie’s home in Manheim Township, Lancaster, PA. Mike was a student of mine when he was in high school and was probably one of the most talented students I ever had in class. Mike started Lancaster Stained Glass
Designs over 20 years ago and has made the business a huge success. He has doubled his business in just about every year during the last the ten years. He recently completed a large glass etching of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address for the Museum and Visitor’s Center at the Gettysburg National Military Park. He also did a design in the floor at Harrisburgh International Airport. He is now doing a series of Stained Glass Panels for Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. They are for a chapel at the college. He estimated it will take him about 120 hours on each of the panels. His business is thriving even as most struggle. I visit him frequently to buy glass and materials for my hobby of stained glass. Y
ou can visit him at www.lancastersgd.com. I have had many other extremely talented students in my 33 years of teaching. Another would be Carolyn Jones. Carolyn became a professional photographer and has her studio in New York. She is a fashion and portrait photographer for Esquire, Interviews, and Italian Vogue among many other publications. She also made the television documentary “Women.....on Family.” In 1994 Carolyn published her first book called “Living Proof” which offers unprecedented insight into the astounding strength of the human spirit when confronted with illlness, pain, loss, and death. She capt
ures people from all backgrounds living with HIV and AIDS. Beautiful book! I was lucky enough to have her send me an autographed copy and an invite to a book signing and reception. Carolyn’s photos can be seen at www.carolynjonesphotography.com. Another talent I had was Alex Brand. I knew him better as Jeff in high school. He was a talented student as well as a sharpshooter on my 1972 State Rifle Championship Team. Jeff.....er Alex is also a glass artist. He lives in Corning, New York and has a studio at his residence. He sells his art at shows all over the country. H
e recently visited with me and told me he was going through a rough time because of the economy. He is now working for Corning Glass 
doing glass blowing demonstrations on Celebrity Cruise Ships in the Mediterranean. His blown plates, dishes and goblets are beautiful. You can see Alex’s work at www.alexbrand.com. Another student who I had for two years in school and became one of my best high school photographers was Jerry Driendl. As a senior he entered more photos and won more prizes than anyone ever in the history of the National Scholastic Art and Photography Contest. He was awarded a full scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia for his talent. Jerry has been a stock photog
rapher for over 10 years. He is one of the top 40 photographers at Getty Images, the worlds’ leading stock agency. He is also represented by National Geographics Society, and Panoramic Images. His art, prints and posters can be seen in countless magazines, on television and in major motion pictures. A few years ago he presented me with a matted and framed print of his first famous poster called “Homeward Bound” which depicts an Amishman and his girlfriend driving his buggy in a snow storm. It was taken for an assignment in my class. Check out his work at www.postercheckout.com/a/jerry_driendl/. I had another student who became famous, but I can take no credit for getting him started, since I only had him for a study hall. He is the pro golfer Jim Furyk. He did play on the same baseball team as my oldest son. He was the catcher for the team and Derek was the pitcher. The two students who I am most proud of though and who followed in my teachings in the graphic arts are my two sons, Derek and Tad. Derek is a pressman, in charge of a large web press for Donnelly Printing Company and Tad is a pressman, in charge of a web press for Intel Printing Company. Not only did they follow into the field of printing, but they are excellent at what they do which is why they were made pressmen. And then there is my daughter Brynn who I am equally proud of who followed her Dad into education as a teacher. She teaches elementary school and is not only a teacher, but a mother figure to all her students. When I look back on the many students who made a successful career in the graphic arts or photography (and even teaching), it makes me realize the influence a teacher can have on a student. It’s tremendous and therefore it's important that you take it seriously!! I believe I did! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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