-Dr. Tom Unger -"The Doctor Is No Longer In"

Thomas C. Unger

“The Doctor Is No Longer In”

by: J.B.M. Corporation

“This generation has outstanding promise coupled with outstanding responsibility. I think that this generation can clean up the mess that was inherited and bring us back to better times and greater heights,” said Dr. Thomas C. Unger as he snacked on his mini sandwich during lunch time.

This is one of his last lunch periods at I.E.K.H.S. because of his retirement in June, 2012.

When asked if he takes joy in seeing students learn, he quickly replied, “Yes, it brings more joy than money can bring.”

On September 26, 1945, Thomas Charles Unger was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Unger attended a strict all boys’ Catholic school. He was pretty independent during this time of his life, mainly because his parents’ attention was focused on his older brother who normally got into trouble.

Although Dr. Unger had some independence, his parents still made all his decisions. “I didn’t make any real decisions of my own until college, and they were all the wrong ones,” he stated.

One example of Dr. Unger’s bad decisions was when he enrolled in a 9:00 a.m. Saturday course. “After years at a Catholic school,” he said, “I was so tightly leashed that I was eager for freedom.”

Dr. Unger would party the night before the morning class. Waking up late, he would quickly throw on a trench coat which was easily accessible. “After five minutes into the class, I would fall asleep,” Unger stated as he stared at me in a serious tone of voice. He eventually put on some pounds from all the party junk food and beer. “As I sat in class one day, two buttons of the trench coat popped and left me in my underwear.”

Dr. Unger and I laughed at the memory and at the possibility of it happening to anyone at I.E.K.H.S. With his dry, sarcastic tone, Dr. Unger said that he failed the course with an E and an F. “I got an ‘E’ for embarrassment and a ‘F’ for fail. I slowly learned about life through the bad decisions,” he said as he gently got up and took a walk around the room.

Dr. Unger’s strict childhood played a role in his life and his knowledge that “True success is meeting your own goals and serving the public.” It was like Dr. Unger was teaching me about the qualities of success.

He has earned an Associate’s Degree in Reading at Bucks County Community College, a Bachelor’s of Science in Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s of Arts at Rider College, and a Doctorate of Education at Nova Southeastern University. He began a teaching career at a public school but soon after took a new job at a boarding school.

“When I first started teaching, I realized that some students had better fluency speaking than reading, and it affected their test performance.” Therefore he started his own summer camp for dyslexic girls in the ‘70s in New Hampshire.

Dr. Unger is one the many people who serves as a motivational catalyst for young teenagers on a daily basis. He takes pride in his teaching and deeply observes the caliber of his students, giving them the opportunity to be something astounding in a ninety-minute class period.

Around the time Dr. Unger was pursuing his doctorate in education, his wife got sick. “It was a difficult time with the back and forth hospital motion and driving for miles and miles,” Unger stated as he flipped through a pile of papers on his desk. During that time, he was taking a night courses and working full time as a school headmaster.

He is a spiritual person that believes in God and tries to be integrally moral. “I realized the power and knew that He would not give me more than I can bear; this made me dig deep and trust God,” Dr. Unger said. A steady breeze filled the tropical classroom, shifting the papers from their normal position and making the room feel light.

During this time, his wife and father figures served as a source of strength.

His father also had an important influence. “My father was a source in a negative way because I always tried to please him, and it wasn’t until he was on his deathbed that he told me he was proud of me. I thought to myself , ‘ I wish he had said that sooner and more often.’”

Dr. Unger always has motivational words for his students about life and encourages them to live up to the school motto,“Strive for Success.”

“Ask for help, accept the help, and try another avenue.” This is Dr. Unger’s advice to a struggling student, and he also stated that students should use their time wisely and take advantage of learning opportunities in and out of the classroom.

Dr. Unger will be really missed because of the magnificent impact that he had on his students.

“I love his sarcasm, his smile and his dressing style,” said Jasmine Lavinier, a senior on the 2012 Moot Court team which Dr. Unger coached. I observed the close-knit relationship between the two and the connection they share. It’s not just a student-teacher relationship, it’s more a father-daughter relationship.

She smiled and said, “He made me love English more by challenging me and making me reach my full potential even though I am very lazy.”

Unger has no children of his own, but he has taught thousands who can suffice as family.

He said, “Teenagers have this concept of looking and not seeing, but they always want to know.” I could agree with this statement because many of us are very inquisitive about things we can’t see; in other words, we are “nosy.”

After retirement, Unger plans to create art, travel the world, garden, kayak and write children’s books. “I also want to publish a book about my adventure with the Keanians,” Unger said. Was he joking? We’ll soon find out....