Decker, Benjamin J. "Jay"
Decker, Benjamin J. "Jay", 74, of West Yarmouth, MA died at home on Saturday April 17, in the presence of his wife and daughters.
Mr. Decker was born in Deland, Fl on March 23, 1930. He grew up in Lebanon Springs, New York and graduated from New Lebanon Central High School.
He and his wife, Sandra (Rhiner) married in 1952.
Mr. Decker received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education. from Brockport State University.
He taught at both the elementary and high schools in Greece, NY but the majority of his career was spent at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, MA. He was a member of the history department when the school opened in 1961.Over the years, Mr. Decker taught government., economics and sociology.
He became assistant principal and eventually the principal of Wahconah Regional High School where he stayed until his first retirement in 1990.
Mr. Decker loved the subjects he taught and his students. As principal, his door was always open for students to come in, talk and have a piece of candy from the jar he kept on his desk. He coached basketball and soccer for many years and it was understood that his love for the game included his players.
After devoting 29 years to Wahconah, Mr. Decker spent 5 years in Human Resources at the Kolburne School in New Marlboro, MA and was interim principal at New Lebanon H.S. in Lebanon Springs, NY until retiring to West Yarmouth, in 1996.
He loved the ocean and fishing with his son, his back yard and playing with his grandchildren.
His passion for teaching and his belief that all children deserve an equal chance for education remained a constant in his life.
Mr. Decker is survived by his beloved wife Sandra, his daughter Jayne and her husband, Michael, his daughter Julie and her husband, Richard and a son, Mark Decker. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Ian, Derek, Graham, Thea, Dancia and Benjamin, his brothers Larry, Robert and David, his sister June and many nieces and nephews.
A service in celebration of Jay Decker’s life will be held at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA at 11:00 Am on Saturday, May 1st.
Friends and family may gather at the funeral home 30 minutes before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benjamin Jay Decker Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Franklin Savings Bank ,P.O. Box 825, Farmington, Maine 04938 to award graduating seniors from an underfunded high school in the U.S. This year’s award will go to a student from Tallahatchie High School in Webb, Mississippi.
Mr. Decker was born in Deland, Fl on March 23, 1930. He grew up in Lebanon Springs, New York and graduated from New Lebanon Central High School.
He and his wife, Sandra (Rhiner) married in 1952.
Mr. Decker received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education. from Brockport State University.
He taught at both the elementary and high schools in Greece, NY but the majority of his career was spent at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, MA. He was a member of the history department when the school opened in 1961.Over the years, Mr. Decker taught government., economics and sociology.
He became assistant principal and eventually the principal of Wahconah Regional High School where he stayed until his first retirement in 1990.
Mr. Decker loved the subjects he taught and his students. As principal, his door was always open for students to come in, talk and have a piece of candy from the jar he kept on his desk. He coached basketball and soccer for many years and it was understood that his love for the game included his players.
After devoting 29 years to Wahconah, Mr. Decker spent 5 years in Human Resources at the Kolburne School in New Marlboro, MA and was interim principal at New Lebanon H.S. in Lebanon Springs, NY until retiring to West Yarmouth, in 1996.
He loved the ocean and fishing with his son, his back yard and playing with his grandchildren.
His passion for teaching and his belief that all children deserve an equal chance for education remained a constant in his life.
Mr. Decker is survived by his beloved wife Sandra, his daughter Jayne and her husband, Michael, his daughter Julie and her husband, Richard and a son, Mark Decker. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Ian, Derek, Graham, Thea, Dancia and Benjamin, his brothers Larry, Robert and David, his sister June and many nieces and nephews.
A service in celebration of Jay Decker’s life will be held at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, MA at 11:00 Am on Saturday, May 1st.
Friends and family may gather at the funeral home 30 minutes before the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Benjamin Jay Decker Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Franklin Savings Bank ,P.O. Box 825, Farmington, Maine 04938 to award graduating seniors from an underfunded high school in the U.S. This year’s award will go to a student from Tallahatchie High School in Webb, Mississippi.
