Coming Attractions – Lowell Tech Institute Years – 1957 to 1961
The Cold War was in full bloom in the late summer of 1957, when I surprisingly learned that my academic grades, which I had developed at l’Ecole Saint-Joseph for Boys, a bilingual high school, during the previous four years, made me a potential candidate for admission to one of several engineering/science programs at the local technological institute, which many residents of the the city had dubbed as LTI. This Lowell Technological Institute was conveniently located on Technology Boulevard, off the old Moody Street Bridge and near the new VFW Highway.
If true, a more opportune situation could not possibly have been presented to me at this time in my life. This potential, good break meant that I, literally, could walk to-and-fro to my college classes from my home in Centralville – a 20 to 25 minute jaunt on a calm and pleasant day. However, during times of inclement weather such as blizzards, nor’easters, or icy streets, the challenge of this trek could significantly increase enough to test the mettle of any young and spirited athlete.
More Details on this Encouraging, Academic Development
Apparently, the Brother Superior at my high school had spoken with my mother regarding the possibility of my entering LTI as a freshman in September of 1957. In a face-to-face interview scheduled for a few days after, the Dean of Students, Mr. Richard Ivers, indicated that I might be eligible to receive a Jacob Ziskind Scholarship during my freshman year, which further sweetened the bargain.
Given that my family’s financial status in the community at the time ranked us as excellent candidates for a basic sustenance allocation from the local but poor Saint-Vincent de Paul Society, Dean Ivers’ generous proposition seemed almost too good to be true.
And, yet, it was real and genuine! I had been presented a pot of academic gold by a suddenly benign and generous universe out there. Never in my dreams had such a situation taken place. A fascinating future just might be in the cards.
And, in reference to cards,
“Ma mère tirait les cartes chez nous pour prédire l’avenir aux voisins, mais, moi, je ni tenais pas.”
“My mother would read the cards for neighbors at our house to predict the future, but I never believed in this.”
Finally, as I understood it years later, the Jacob Ziskind Scholarship was made available, at that time, to academically superior candidates, who were children of former employees of Lowell’s massive textile mill industries. In a curious sense, my father’s self-sacrifice of physical and mental well-being from 1943 to 1953 (he died at 43 in 1953) while working in that dangerous and noisy environment was partially responsible for my being chosen as a worthy candidate for the class of 1961.
This tale has the elements of an existential morality play from the steppes of Russia during the period of the Tzars.
CORRECTION: I beleve that I was offered a scholarship covering tuition (by not books) through the good graces of Dean Richard Ivers for my freshman year. The Jacob Ziskind Scholarship was later awarded for the next three years at LTI.
More to follow soon!