Winter's Legacy Remembered for his Work as a Guidance Counselor

[Pictured Above] is the bench dedicated to him for his work with the cross country team.

By Ryan Sy
           Wall High School lost one of its longtime guidance counselors and coaches over Christmas break when former guidance counselor Mr. Thomas Winters passed away on Mon., Dec. 24. His passing came as a shock because he had substitute taught just the week before.
         Prior to retiring and becoming a substitute, Mr. Winters was the track coach and cross country coach along with being a guidance counselor at Wall for 33 years. Before coming to the High School, Mr. Winters was the director of guidance at Antwerp International School in Ekeren, Belgium.
          “He was focused of you, the person he was spending time with and he was a very and kind person.” said guidance counselor Mrs. Judith Gilberti, who worked with Mr. Winters during his tenure. “He had a wonderful working relationship with families and he has had many students who have come back to visit him and they were in college and grown adults coming back to say hello and to say thank you to him for his contributions to their education.”
        Mr. Winters attended Seton Hall University on a full athletic scholarship for running. He still holds the cross country record for the 6-mile run there. Then he coached both girls and boys track and cross country team at Wall. He even took a girls team to a national meet down in Walt Disney World for track. He also trained Olympic runners at his home in the Italian Alps. His legacy on the track and cross country program is so extensive there is a bench dedicated to him outside of the school at the athletic entrance. The bench originally sat at the front entrance of the school but was moved to the athletic entrance as a more proper spot around the school.
        This tragic news saddened the Wall High School community and especially the students and staff who knew him when he was a part of the faculty. Mr. Winters always referenced the guidance department as his second family because of its tight-knit nature during his tenure.
           Mr. Winters impact on Wall was great and he will be remembered for his personality, dedication and love for Wall and has left a unforgettable legacy on the school.

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