TOM  PEDAS ARCHIVES   

Pedas has taught music and directed choirs for 33 years, 16 of them in the Cranford School District. Pedas spent five years as Cranford High School's choir director before moving to his position at Hillside Avenue School. This June, the music teacher will retire from his post at Hillside Avenue School.

Although he enjoyed teaching at the high school level the most, the hardest part about his retirement will be leaving the younger children.

“The eighth-graders will be leaving the school anyway,” said Pedas. “The toughest part will be leaving the little kids, most of whom I've taught since they cane to this school. A little third-grader said to me, 'Mr. Pedas, why do you have to retire? Can't you stay until I go to high school?' That's what makes it so tough.”

Students aren't the only ones who consider Pedas a special person. Co-workers and administrators also sing his praise.

“Mr. Pedas is a person with many talents,” said Superintendent of Schools Lawrence Feinsod. “ Through his efforts, Cranford had many students in state and regional choral groups. We've had more of our students involved than many other towns.”

During his tenure at Hillside Avenue School, Pedas had more than 200 Students chosen for All State Elementary and Junior High Honor Choir. Eight of his students also were chosen for All Eastern United States Honor Choir, while nine were chosen for National Honor Choirs. Likewise, while he taught at Cranford High School, more than 150 of his students were selected for state and regional honor choirs.

“Tom Pedas has a tremendous ability to teach the young voice, to help students find their voice and grow in their voices,” said Lynn Berry, director of the Cranford High School music department.

In a way, Pedas actually has taught the world to sing. In 1993, while he was teaching at the high school, Pedas and his students participated in the Rhythm Around the World Program.

Pedas brought more than 150 students from around the world to Cranford for four days.

“Everyone said I was crazy and that I wouldn't be able to house all of these students, but I did it, ” said Pedas. “The community was wonderful, especially considering that some of the students didn't speak English.”

Pedas' talents and efforts aren't limited to choral directing.

He is the founder of the Linden Summer Playhouse, which he directed for seven years, and the founder of Celebration Children's Choir. He has directed musicals for Hillside Avenue School, Scotch Plains Players , and Mystic Vision Players, and he has served as musical director for the Cranford Repertory Theatre.

Pedas said he did not realize how busy he had been until he pulled out old scrapbook where he has kept pictures and articles of his accomplishments while working in Cranford.

“I just keep doing,” said Pedas, “I go from one project to the next that I never really kept track of everythink I did until I looked at this old book.”

This year Pedas directed “ Les Misérables ” for Scotch Plain-Franwood High School.

To help students embrace their roles, Pedas took the cast to soup kitchens to serve meals and to perform at homeless shelters.

The cast also chartered a bus to bring the residents of a shelter to one of their performances. A canister drive at the end of each performance raised more than $5,500 for the Interfaith Council for the Homeless of Union County.

“We thought we'd raise $1,000 maybe,” said Pedas. “We had no idea we'd be able to raise this much.” Their production of Les Misérables recieved various Rising Star nominations from Paper Mill Playhouse.

Pedas could tell hundreds of stories about individual people that make teaching worthwhile, but one of his favorite moments took place during a trip to Virginia with the school choir.

“We were competing in the Williamsburg Music Festival against 43 other choirs and we came in first place,” said Pedas. “The best part was singing at William and Mary College for all 5,000 poeple we just beat.”

Though he is retiring, Pedas will still keep himself busy. He most likely will continue to direct musicals and has received an offer to teach a class at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Pedas also might return to working on cruise ships, as he had done before.

Additionally, Pedas successfully ran the New York City Marathon in 1993 and soon hopes to participate in another marathon.

“I'm not going to be sitting around, that's for sure,” said Pedas.

Pedas has been a guiding force and an inspiration to many students throughout his teaching career. Recently, a surprise retirement party was given in his honor. More than 200 peers, colleagues and former students attended.

“Students I've taught years ago still call or visit to thank me for all I've done,” said Pedas. “It's all of those little moments I love.”

Pedas' last project at Hillside Avenue School will be directing the eighth-grade choir for Class Night later this month. He will work with his students right up until that moment and his students know he won't settle for anything less than their best efforts.

“He's a bit of a perfectionist,” said eighth-grader Noah Anderson. “It needs to be the best it can possibly be. He makes us try our hardest, but that's a good thing.”