A Hawken Legend Passes On

Hawken School has lost a beloved former teacher with the passing of Mr. Charles Poutasse, age 87, on Friday, October 3. Mr. Poutasse was a member of Hawken`s faculty for 34 years. His journey with Hawken School began when he was employed by Hawken Headmaster Carl Holmes at Great East Lodge Camp in Maine. He then came to teach at Hawken School at Mr. Holmes` requests in 1948. In an era when suits were the norm for faculty, Charlie Poutasse always wore flannel shirts. They became his trademark. Charlie was a shop teacher and a science teacher at the Lyndhurst Campus. Countless students can thank Mr. Poutasse for teaching them how to fix a leaky faucet or a broken window. He was also head of the primary school at Hawken, overseeing kindergarten through third grade. An article in the 1980 Hawken Review noted "Charlie Poutasse is one of those +óGé¼-£naturals` who so cleverly mixes teaching, playing and tender loving care that the kids +óGé¼-£get educated` before they`ve even thought of how to resist." Charlie retired from Hawken in 1980 and was bestowed with the honor of Honorary Alumnus by the Alumni Association in 1995. Every 50th Reunion Class requested his presence at their celebrations, which he attended enthusiastically. He was also a fixture at the annual Alumni Winter Luncheons and receptions for Hawken faculty and staff. In his spare time, Charlie was a mountain climber, and a skilled whittler who, being a fabulous bird watcher, often chose to carve birds. While at Hawken, he led bird walks in the woods on Lyndhurst`s campus, which is affectionally named Poutasse Woods. As his daughter Margaret Poutasse shared, "He was always extremely proud of his association with Hawken School and his former students, many of who have kept in touch all these years and were always in his thoughts." A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 29 at 11 a.m. at the Community Church of Chesterland, 11984 Caves Rd., Chesterland, 44026. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Letters of condolence may be sent to Charlie`s daughter, Margaret Poutasse, at 2248 Harcourt Drive, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106.