Dr. John Anthony Taddie (age 88), former Solanco High School Principal, passed away on Friday, October 30, 2015 He was engaged to Sarah Weaver Jackson and was the husband of the late Arlene Warfel Taddie who passed away in 1997. Dr. Taddie retired from the Solanco School District in 1986, after 35 years as an educator where he served as Principal of the Solanco High School for 29 years. Prior to his principalship, he was a math and science teacher, serving as department head from 1954-1957, and was the audio-visual and attendance coordinator. Previous to his tenure at Solanco, he taught math and science at Milford Mill Jr/Senior High School in Baltimore County, Maryland. He became Principal at Solanco two weeks prior to the beginning of the school year, creating a student master schedule in short order. Due to the overcrowded conditions at the old Quarryville High School, he drew on the resources of the camping facilities of the Quarryville Presbyterian Home, the old Reynold’s Funeral Home on State Street, the Work Building, the Fritz House and two other buildings near the high school, to handle the student population. His tenure as an educator spanned several generations of students leaving behind a legacy that touched the lives of thousands of people in the Solanco School District. During his tenure as Principal, he was instrumental in introducing college courses for credit taught by college professors for seniors from Solanco and other high schools, the first middle school accreditation for the high school, summer school for make-up courses, advance credit for early graduation, adult evening school, use of data processors and computers for scheduling and attendance , orientation programs for students prior to entering high school, revising requirements for graduation from 13 to 22.4 credits, open campus programs, mid-year graduation, college-style and level at student scheduling, scheduling of all students with no study halls, large and small group classes, semester subjects, in-school suspension programs, work-study program, advanced placement courses, standardized achievement testing, open elective subject of studies, ability to cross-over curriculum or department. Many of these programs were a showcase for other high school educators and colleges, in particular, programs such as the Learning Resources Program, the Vocational Learning Program (VOTEC) and Student Scheduling drew many teachers and administrators from across the nation to visit Solanco. Dr. Taddie graduated from Homer City High School in Homer City, PA in 1945. Following graduation, he entered the Armed Services and served in Bremerhaven, Germany from 1945-47 as a Military Policeman. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana State Teacher’s College, Indiana, PA in 1951 with a triple major. He received the Lt. Alpheus Bell Scholarship Award in his senior year. Taddie was a member of Phi Sigma Pi fraternity. He earned a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1959. He was awarded a scholarship grant for Doctorate studies at Lehigh University which he completed in 1970. He also had graduate studies at Temple University and University of Pennsylvania. During his high school and college years, he participated in sports and musical activities. In high school, he played basketball and track, honored as first team all star in basketball. He was also involved in the band, chorus, orchestra and dance band. On the college level, he played varsity football for four years playing both offence and defense in the same games, and participated in basketball, track, tennis, swimming, and baseball. He also served as an official for basketball and track.
His civic and community activities included serving as a Radiological Monitor for Baltimore County, Maryland, and at Solanco, the Association Entertainment Committee, the Halloween Parade chairman, and the Boy Scout Committee. Taddie was a charter member of the Quarryville Rotary Club and was the Club’s second president. He served a term as Justice of the Peace for Eden Township and was a candidate for the State Senate in 1960. His professional associations included membership in the Solanco Education Association, Pennsylvania State Education Association and the National Education Association. During his administrative tenure, he belonged to the Lancaster-Lebanon Secondary Principal’s Association, serving as President in 1975; the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals; the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He was a Chairman of the Conference of Roses Football League and served on the Board of Control of the Lancaster-Lebanon Athletic Association. He is an emeritus of the honorary society, Phi Delta Kappa. Dr. Taddie traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, Caribbean Islands and South America. His travels included an extended trip around the world in eighty days. He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and golfer and enjoyed skiing, dancing and bowling. Prior to his membership at St. Catherine’s Church of Sienna in Quarryville, he had served as an Elder and on various committees at St Paul’s United Church of Christ in Quarryville. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion from whom he received an award for 60 years of service from the Rising Sun American Legion, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars since 1947. He was also a member of the Quarryville Slumbering Groundhog Lodge, Potter County Rod and Gun Club, Allemande Dance Club, the Pennsylvania Association of Retired Teachers, and Tanglewood Manor Golf Club. He was instrumental in organizing the Tanglewood Men’s Golf Association, serving as its first President. At one time, he was a member of the Quarryville Fire Company and Ambulance Association. He received the following military honors: World War II medals, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Honorable Service Button, Sharpshooter Badge, and Rifle Bar. Dr. Taddie was born in Oakfield New York, the son of the late Anthony and Mary Capitosti Taddie. His father emigrated from Italy. He is survived by long-time fiancée, Sarah Jackson, his wife Elizabeth Arlene Warfel Taddie who preceded him in death in 1997, his daughter, Sandra June Nance, wife of Robert Nance of Lansdale, PA, and Stephen John Taddie, husband of Kathleen Haley Taddie of Paradise Valley, Arizona; two grandsons, Jonathan and Derek Taddie and three granddaughters, Danielle Elizabeth Nance, Christa Dardaganian and Amy Nance along with 5 great- grandchildren, Kailey Tindle, Theodore Boeke, Faith Boeke, Joshua Dardaganian and Sarah Dardaganian. Also surviving is one brother, Alex of Homer City, PA. A brother, Joseph of Enumenclaw, Washington and a sister, Joanne Taddie Gullace of Auburn, Washington are deceased. The Memorial Mass will be on Saturday, December 19, 2015 from St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 955 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville, PA 17566 at 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Mark Speitel as celebrant. A visitation will take place at the church on Saturday from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Interment will be private in the Quarryville Cemetery. Dr. Taddie has established a new scholarship, The Dr. John A. Taddie Scholarship for a graduating Solanco High School Senior. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Dr. John A. Taddie Scholarship Fund, c/o Stellar Capital Management, 2200 East Camelback Road, Suite 130, Phoenix, AZ 85016. Arrangements have been entrusted to Dewald Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Quarryville. Please visit the online guestbook at www.dewalds.com Comments are closed.
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