CHESTER, Vt. – Dick joined the Green Mountain High School faculty in Chester in the early ‘70s, having completed his degree at Bates College and a three-year stint in the U.S. Army. Knowing Dick as a unique individual, probably neither of these endeavors went without bumps in the road, but both contributed to his future as an educator. He began his time at GM teaching French, but soon added Spanish to his repertoire, and finally Russian, which he had learned while in the military. At the time, the machine tool companies in Springfield were doing business with Russia, and Dick was often called upon to interpret. Teaching three languages while communicating personally in English had to be exhausting, and was a testament to Dick’s intellect.
Mr. Hoyt quickly became a solid member of the Green Mountain faculty; he would often suggest unique solutions to the ongoing shortcomings at the high school, and would never refrain from asking those questions that others shied from. In the mid ‘70s, GM created an experiential program called Project Challenge, and Dick took that to another level, encouraging unity and teamwork in his students by asking the whole class to climb aboard a smallish platform, or to climb over a 12-foot wall while communicating in their foreign language. He also became active in the outdoor challenge activities, e.g. the ten-day Maine canoe trips, backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and walking the New Hampshire seacoast.
Dick eventually left Green Mountain to seek further degrees at both Middlebury College and also at UMass, and he continued his career teaching at both private and public schools in Massachusetts. Mr. Hoyt left this world on Feb. 23 of this year, from his home on the coast of northern Maine, but not without leaving enjoyable memories in the minds of those who knew and learned from him.
Written by James Ball.