Henry Mcgovern

Plattsburgh Henry McGovern Cumberland Head Henry McGovern of Cumberland Head, much beloved elementary art teacher at Northern Adirondack Central School and 50-year veteran educator in the North Country, passed away on July 24, 2010, at CVPH Medical Center. Henry was born May 6, 1933, in Cambridge, Mass., to Henry and Ann (Leal) McGovern. He graduated from Arlington (Mass.) High School in 1951, earned his Bachelor of Science in art education from Massachusetts School of Art in 1955 and served in the U.S. Army from 1956 - 1958, stationed in Berlin during the Cold War. It was during his college career that he discovered the unique teaching ability that characterized a career that earned him kudos from faculty and students wherever he taught. The two years he spent with the army in Berlin brought out a talent for cartooning and light journalism as editor of the base newspaper. Henry began teaching in the North Country in 1959. First, students in Dannemora, then three generations in Altona, Lyon Mountain and Ellenburg have been treated to his wild and wacky sense of humor and creative teaching. He never talked down to children and tried to instill in them a strong sense of individual responsibility and respect for all living things, for each other and for themselves. He was a teacher of legend and wherever he went, he ran into former students (to whom he would merrily respond, "And who did you use to be?") who happily recounted memories of puppets, cardboard castles, funny movies, race tracks and clay projects they'd enjoyed as kids. Henry was also adjunct faculty at Clinton Community College during evening hours in the late 1980s and even taught several art appreciation courses via Clinton Community at Altona and Dannemora prisons for several years, earning high grades from students there as well. Henry was much loved by faculty and staff at NAC for his kindness, dedication, humor and always agreeable nature. He was a unique combination of serious and silly, who brought out the best in people and never had a bad word to say about anyone. His love of animals brought into his life his wife of 35 years, Cynthia and furry multitudes of handicapped, abused, abandoned, homeless and otherwise unfortunate critters rescued from travail and adopted into the McGovern family to live long, loved and happy lives. Also, on the side, Henry was one of our local painters, specializing in actual North Country scenes and earlier, in historically accurate transportation paintings. He loved classical music, could read in four languages, had an almost-photographic memory, was an amateur astronomer and read every book he could get his hands on, a true "Renaissance person." But he was best known for his Jim Henson-esque sense of humor and whimsy. Henry is survived by his wife; his cousin, Virginia Stowell and her husband, Walter of Tewksbury, Mass.; his cousin, Bob Kelm of Venice, Calif.; three brothers-in-law and their families; and a huge family of adopted special needs kitties and his beloved dog, Carrie. He is also survived by several close friends who are like family and three generations of the thousands of lives he touched during his long and happy career. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at the United Methodist Church on Beekman Street in Plattsburgh on Aug. 14 at 10:30 a.m. A buffet will follow at the church social hall. Memorial donations may be made to the animal rescue organization or shelter of your choice. The family would like to thank everyone at NAC, the cancer center, CVPH and Hospice of the North Country for their incredible support during Henry's illness. Arrangements are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901, (518) 561-3980. Online condolences and memorial candles may be offered at www.brownfuneralhomeinc.com