Dear Editor, I would like to add to the excellent letter written
by Mike Porrazzo, about the recent passing of Mr. Robert Caredio, a
very remarkable and inspirational teacher at Live Oak High School.
Mr. Caredio taught there from the early ’50s into the ’80s and
inspired countless students to pursue higher education and a career
in education.
Another Live Oak High School grad recalls inspirational teacher

Dear Editor,

I would like to add to the excellent letter written by Mike Porrazzo, about the recent passing of Mr. Robert Caredio, a very remarkable and inspirational teacher at Live Oak High School. Mr. Caredio taught there from the early ’50s into the ’80s and inspired countless students to pursue higher education and a career in education.

He was a huge influence on my brother Bob (1962 LOHS grad) and myself (1966). We both went on to college inspired by his example, encouragement and enthusiasm for education to become teachers ourselves. We are only two of countless Live Oak students that went on to higher education following the footsteps and inspiration of Mr. Caredio. He was a patriot who loved this country and he loved teaching his classes in United States History, Current Affairs and Social Problems. Education and teaching were his life. He was always the champion and advocate for the underdog, the under privileged, the minorities of our community. He always encouraged his students to take advantage of our state’s higher educational system to better themselves, their lives, their families, our community, our state and our country.

Mr. Caredio always challenged his students to think and reason, not just repeat rote answers. He was a master teacher who also taught many student teachers. He had high standards as an educator and worked hard to maintain them. I remember only essay exams in Mr. Caredio’s classes. And he read and graded them and marked them up, with questions and comments for further discussion. In class, he was engaging and relentless, but in an exciting and fun way with index-finger pointing and that wry smile of his that always made his class the highlight of our school day. No “wishy washy,” “milky toast” answers allowed in Mr. Caredio’s class “Baby!”

Mr. Caredio taught during a golden age of education in Morgan Hill. Before Morgan Hill became an orchard-gobbling bedroom community for the “Silicon Valley.” A time when teachers lived here and were a part of our rural community of Morgan Hill and San Martin. They raised their kids here with us and they were like aunts and uncles to their students. They knew our names and our families. A time when teachers were highly regarded and respected. A time before state and federal mandated testing and guidelines became so dominant in our schools. A time when teachers were allowed and encouraged to teach students how to think for themselves and how to write what they thought down on paper in a cohesive, logical manner, not just to pass a test.

When I graduated from Live Oak, I asked Mr. Caredio to sign my yearbook. He did and added “Good Luck to you. Let me know how you are doing. R. J. Caredio.” Those words were classic Mr. Caredio. He was always interested in how his students were doing. He wished the best for them. He cared about them.

In a way, Mr. Caredio had two families. He had a great traditional family consisting of Mildred, “Babe,” his wonderful wife (the crown jewel of his life) and five smart, talented children (Live Oak grads, of course) all very successful in their own right (some teachers). But he also developed a family of former students (many of them now teachers) that remained in close contact with him through the years with lively debates on topics of the day or just “how are you doing” discussions and visits. I was so lucky to have had Mr. Caredio as a teacher during that “golden age” in rural Morgan Hill. But it is the decades of friendship that followed as a member of his second family that I cherish the most. My brother and I are only two of so many that feel the same way. Like Mike Porrazzo, we will never forget the inspiration planted in us by Mr. Caredio.

Thank you Mr. Caredio. Your spirit for education and teaching will echo in the class rooms of Live Oak and in the hearts of your students forever … “Baby!”

For the record, I bailed from a teaching career for engineering after I learned how difficult it really was to be a teacher. Something that Mr. Caredio made look so easy and fun. My brother made a long career of education as a professor at Fraser Valley University, BC, Canada. He just retired this last year.

Ed Ferri, LOHS Class of 1966, Gilroy

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