postaff
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 118
Location: Chambersburg
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 Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:07 am Post subject: Article: Fred Shilling remembered |
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By TRACY PANZER
Staff writer
Fred Shilling had three passions in life: Family, sports and education. Friends describe him as quick-witted and spirited, and as genuinely kind and caring.
Shilling, on medical leave from his post as principal at Shippensburg Area Senior High School, died Wednesday afternoon.
“He was a great friend, and one of my most favorite people to be around,” said former Chambersburg Area School District Superintendent Ed Sponseller. “He’s one person who truly will be missed.”
The news of his death by suicide shocked the Shippensburg school system, and his friends and family throughout the community. Assistant Superintendent Alan Moyer declined to comment on Shilling’s death, citing a request for privacy from the family. He did say the news was hard on both the students and staff.
Moyer said the staff was notified Wednesday evening of Shilling’s death, and faculty meetings were held prior to the start of school Thursday. Acting Principal Bruce Levy notified the students as part of the morning announcements.
“The thing I’m most proud of is our students,” Moyer said. “I think they have been very understanding and sensitive of our staff, given the nature and difficulty of this tragedy.”
He said Levy was very honest with the students, and that they’ve shown their adult side.
Shilling, 56, spent his career in education. He began as an English teacher at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, where he also coached basketball and football.
He later moved to J. Frank Faust Junior High School in Chambersburg, where he took over the reigns from Sponseller as assistant principal. He served in the same capacity at CASHS, and spent the last 16 years of his life as principal at Shippensburg Area Senior High School.
Shippensburg school board president William Gould said Shilling was a tremendous leader, and was instrumental in a renovation project that occurred at the high school under his tenure. He added that Shilling had a reputation of “being there” for both staff and students.
That’s true, 2004 graduate Keri Krall said.
She said she has only fond memories of him as a principal, and he regularly walked the halls to get to know the students.
“He knew me by name, and he cared about what you were doing outside of school,” Krall said. “He was definitely not just a principal. He was like a friend to everybody.”
Shilling was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring, Chambersburg, and a host of educational organizations. He was a regular at the YMCA in Chambersburg, and was a member of the Chambersburg Road Runners.
Sponseller said the pair shared many workouts and runs, including their first marathon — the Marine Corps Marathon in the fall of 1983.
“He was a lot of fun to be around. He would have me laughing so much that sometimes when we’d be running I’d almost have to stop for a minute. He was the life of the party, that’s for sure,” Sponseller said.
Dave Matthews, YMCA director and a long-time friend, said Shilling was a school administrator who recognized the value of athletics in a student’s life.
But sports wasn’t Shilling’s sole focus, Matthews said.
“He was genuinely a kind and outgoing person who always had an interest in what was going on in your life,” Matthews said. “He always wanted to know how people were feeling, and if he could do something to brighten your day he would.”
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday in the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring, 221 N. Main St., Chambersburg. The Rev. Dr. William H. Harter will officiate. There will be no visitation prior to the service, and interment will be private.
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Tracy Panzer can be reached at tpanzer@publicopinionnews.com or 262-4754. |
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