Features

MCCC will miss Ted Vassar

 

From left, students Skyler Prevanas and Christin Kern, Ted Vassar, and students Kathleen O'Brian, Kathryn Beland, Noelle Fragner, and Alan McKee.

 

Art professor Ted Vassar enriched the lives of students in his classroom every day.
 
“Ted is an inspiration to the students and a trusted friend,” said his former colleague, Art professor Gary Wilson.
 
Wilson retired at the end of the 2015-2016 academic year, and Vassar’s retirement was effective Dec. 16, 2016.
 
At MCCC’s Board of Trustees Jan. 23 meeting, board member Jim Devries read the resolution of commendation for Vassar’s retirement.
 
“He has been an outstanding educator at the college for 47 years and an excellent colleague and valued member of the Humanities Social Sciences Division since 1969, and in this role motivated, inspired, and guided thousands of students, as well as encouraged them to become educators and working artists themselves,” DeVries read.
 
Most people on campus know that Vassar is an avid sportsman with a cottage up-north on Beaver Island, and that he has taught longer than any other instructor at MCCC.
 
Most know he is an award-winning watercolorist.
 
“He has always been a striking and noteworthy example of how a real working artist approaches his craft and of the level of dedication required for excellence and professionalism,” DeVries said.
 
Vassar won scores of prizes and best-in-show awards in both regional and national competitions and fairs.
 
Vassar and Wilson acquired and supervised the art collection at the college.
 
Few probably remember when he was the women’s volleyball coach, early in his career at MCCC.
 
Having played volleyball in school, he volunteered to coach the team in 1975.
 
MCCC’s first president, Ron Campbell, reminisces about those early days with Coach Vassar.
 
“He was always very gracious with his time,” Campbell said.  “He had a good sense of humor and related to his students.”
 
Starting out at a new college meant making do with what you had or did not have.
 
“At that time, MCCC didn’t have a gym,” Vassar said. “So we had to practice at the Arthur Lesow Recreation Center in Monroe.”
 
“It took some organization and sharing rides, but we managed,” he said.  “I have a notebook around here somewhere with all the details.
 
Vassar keeps the treasured coach’s notebook on the top shelf in his office, next to the art books and student painting projects. 
 
Though his side of the shared office space resembles one of his award winning watercolors, “Systemization of a Chaotic Condition,” he knows where everything is.
 
The black, three-ring binder is complete with play strategies, restaurants close to the Lesow Recreation Center, directions on how to wash your uniform, and blue mimeograph printing.
 
Vassar said he believes students need recreation and sports as part of their personal growth. 
 
Community campus life could be more fulfilling with team sport activities, he said.
 
“We had a community college league to compete with. It was great fun.”
 
The other side of his office was shared with Wilson, his long-time friend and cohort.
 
“Ted is a great guy to work with,” Wilson said.  “It’s almost unbelievable that two men can share the same office for over 40 years without a cross word between them.  We are a good team.”
 
Vassar said not seeing his friend regularly will be the greatest loss he will feel when retiring.  Second, he said, was his students. 
 
“I figure about five to six thousand students have been in one or more classes Wilson and I’ve taught over the years,” Vassar said. “I really enjoy the students and I’m going to miss them, too.”
 
Many MCCC art students have become professional artists or art teachers themselves.  Vassar admitted he had not kept up with all his students, but some send him a line or give him a call so he knows what they were doing. 
 
He knows for certain that at least 20 are professional artists and about 20 more are teaching art.
 
“We have three different kinds of art students at MCCC,” Vassar said. “Some want to major in art and go on to another school to further their education. 
 
Some are taking an art class to fulfill an elective requirement for a different degree.  Others are in our classes for personal enrichment.”
 
Addressing the needs and skill levels of such a diverse group of students can be challenging, but Vassar took it in stride. 
 
Not only are the goals and skills different for every student, he often combined classes to make sure they were offered at the college. 
 
Because instruction must be individualized, serious art students were appreciative of his individualized instructional style and talent for art. 
 
Probably his early teaching experiences at Toledo Public Schools contributed to his instructional skills. 
 
He taught seventh and eighth grade students at Longfellow Elementary and was teaching at DeVilbiss High School when he was hired at MCCC.
 
Campbell remembered hiring Vassar because he had such a good art portfolio.

Ted Vassar paints with watercolors.

 

“He was a good artist. We learned through the probationary period what a gold mine we had,” Campbell said. “He had a feeling for the students.”   
 
One of his students, Noelle Fragner, was a business student taking painting as an elective because she liked to be creative. 
 
Fragner said Vassar helped her learn new painting skills.
 
“Everyone gets to do their art work at their own level,” Fragner said. “He is an amazing teacher, yet a tough critic, because he knows art.”
 
Kathleen O’Brian was a life-long learning student in watercolor class.  She had never taken formal lessons in art, but had studied on her own for several years. 
 
Having the opportunity to study with an award-winning watercolorist enlightened for her.
 
“He is a phenomenal instructor and artist,” O’Brian said.  “He knows just what to help you with and then he lets you do it.”
 
“You can’t hover over them,” Vassar said. “You have to let them go on their own.  It’s a studio.  The students are doing the best they can at the level they are.”
 
Student Christin Kern was undecided about her major, but knew she wanted to pursue a career in art.
 
“Professor Vassar is so helpful,” Kern said. “He gives you feedback on what you are doing good and what you need to improve on.  I like that he looks at my work individually and knows how to help me get to the next step.”
 
Vassar’s office was often open.  He stayed available to his students and was a good role model for aspiring artists because he was always working on something himself and eager to show it off.
 
“It’s my home away from home,” Vassar said.
 
There was an art piece on Vassar’s bulletin board, with a note attached. It came from a student, he said.
 
“You have helped me take some of the secret out of seemingly unattainable concepts,” the note read. “You, above all others, have helped me to grow as an artist.”  
 
Community campus life could be more fulfilling with team sport activities, he said.
 
“We had a community college league to compete with. It was great fun.”
 
The other side of his office was shared with Wilson, his long-time friend and cohort.
 
“Ted is a great guy to work with,” Wilson said.  “It’s almost unbelievable that two men can share the same office for over 40 years without a cross word between them.  We are a good team.”
 
Vassar said not seeing his friend regularly will be the greatest loss he will feel when retiring.  Second, he said, was his students. 
 
“I figure about five to six thousand students have been in one or more classes Wilson and I’ve taught over the years,” Vassar said. “I really enjoy the students and I’m going to miss them, too.”
 
Many MCCC art students have become professional artists or art teachers themselves.  Vassar admitted he had not kept up with all his students, but some send him a line or give him a call so he knows what they were doing. 
 
He knows for certain that at least 20 are professional artists and about 20 more are teaching art.
 
“We have three different kinds of art students at MCCC,” Vassar said. “Some want to major in art and go on to another school to further their education.  Some are taking an art class to fulfill an elective requirement for a different degree.  Others are in our classes for personal enrichment.”
 
Addressing the needs and skill levels of such a diverse group of students can be challenging, but Vassar took it in stride. 
 
Not only are the goals and skills different for every student, he often combined classes to make sure they were offered at the college. 
 
Because instruction must be individualized, serious art students were appreciative of his individualized instructional style and talent for art. 
 
Probably his early teaching experiences at Toledo Public Schools contributed to his instructional skills. 
 
He taught seventh and eighth grade students at Longfellow Elementary and was teaching at DeVilbiss High School when he was hired at MCCC.
 
Campbell remembered hiring Vassar because he had such a good art portfolio.
 
“He was a good artist. We learned through the probationary period what a gold mine we had,” Campbell said. “He had a feeling for the students.”   
 
One of his students, Noelle Fragner, was a business student taking painting as an elective because she liked to be creative. 
 
Fragner said Vassar helped her learn new painting skills.
 
“Everyone gets to do their art work at their own level,” Fragner said. “He is an amazing teacher, yet a tough critic, because he knows art.”
 
Kathleen O’Brian was a life-long learning student in watercolor class.  She had never taken formal lessons in art, but had studied on her own for several years. 
 
Having the opportunity to study with an award-winning watercolorist enlightened for her.
 
“He is a phenomenal instructor and artist,” O’Brian said.  “He knows just what to help you with and then he lets you do it.”
 
“You can’t hover over them,” Vassar said. “You have to let them go on their own.  It’s a studio.  The students are doing the best they can at the level they are.”
 
Student Christin Kern was undecided about her major, but knew she wanted to pursue a career in art.
 
“Professor Vassar is so helpful,” Kern said. “He gives you feedback on what you are doing good and what you need to improve on.  I like that he looks at my work individually and knows how to help me get to the next step.”
 
Vassar’s office was often open.  He stayed available to his students and was a good role model for aspiring artists because he was always working on something himself and eager to show it off.
 
“It’s my home away from home,” Vassar said.
 
There was an art piece on Vassar’s bulletin board, with a note attached. It came from a student, he said.
 
“You have helped me take some of the secret out of seemingly unattainable concepts,” the note read. “You, above all others, have helped me to grow as an artist.”