He spent 38 years teaching and leading at St. Michael's School

Robert "Whitey" Tavares is retiring after nearly four decades at school

Manuel C. "Manny" Correira
Posted 5/25/16

The saga of Robert “Whitey” Tavares, better known as “Mr. T” to fellow administrators, faculty members, and students at St. Michael’s Country Day School in Newport, reached its climax on …

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He spent 38 years teaching and leading at St. Michael's School

Robert "Whitey" Tavares is retiring after nearly four decades at school

Posted

The saga of Robert “Whitey” Tavares, better known as “Mr. T” to fellow administrators, faculty members, and students at St. Michael’s Country Day School in Newport, reached its climax on May 20 at a gala retirement party on school grounds.

“I never expected anything like this,” said the 68-year-old Portsmouth resident, who is wrapping up 38 years as a permanent fixture at the academy. “I was truly overwhelmed.”

The 38 years of employment is the most of any educational/teaching staff member in the school’s history.

A Bristol native and son of the late Julio “Whitey Mello” Tavares and Catherine (St. Angelo) Tavares, Robert Tavares was a star athlete at the former Colt Memorial High School in Bristol, graduating in 1965. He later became one of the town’s best recreational softball and basketball players. He’s also an established runner, competing in numerous marathons (including the famed Boston Marathon) throughout his adult life.

Growing up on Richmond Street in Bristol as a youngster, Whitey has many fond memories of living the dream in the old neighborhood.

“Those were great days,” he said. “We played a lot sandlot baseball and basketball on the Town Common … great memories with some great kids.”

During part of his retirement party, Mr. Tavares just sat back and absorbed everything former administrators, fellow teachers and students had to say.

“I'm still trying to let Friday evening sink in and process it all,” he said of the hundreds in attendance. “Maybe I never will.”

Mr. Tavares said if it wasn’t for St. Michael’s School, his direction in life would have probably taken a different turn.

“I don't know what I would have done with my life if St. Michael's hadn't come along for me,” he said. “I've never been a goal-setter. Maybe that was a good thing, because some really interesting and beneficial sidetracks always seem to come my way and I had the intuitive sense to follow those sidetracks. The Army was one. I hated being in the Army, especially at the time with Vietnam raging. I thought for sure my unit would go there, but we ended up in Korea instead. The Army took me to Ft. Meade, Md., and that's where I met my wife, Debby, and everything changed…because she is everything to me.

“We came back to my (our) beloved Bristol, but I was still searching though I wasn't fully aware of it at the time. I was majoring in accounting but I knew it wasn't for me, nothing in business was either.”

Teaching had always enticed Mr. Tavares, and he gave it some serious thought.

“I headed off to Rhode Island College,” he recalled. “Teaching/coaching had always lurked somewhere in the back of my mind. That's what led me there, but it wasn't like I was sure of anything back then. I graduated in 1974 with a degree in Elementary Education. I would later get a Masters in counseling from RIC in 1978.”

Mr. Tavares thought he would end up in public schools; private school education wasn't even a consideration.

“I knew nothing about independent schools.” He explained. “I then did a lot of bouncing around, subbing everywhere, trying to break in. Debby remained patient. I don't know why. That's how she's been with me…always.”

Then, St. Michael’s came into the picture.

“At first, I thought I would be there a short stint and then I would land a job in a public school,” he said. “But I slowly fell in love with the school and its people — the kids, my teammates, even most of the parents. It's been such an incredible place for me. Passion met purpose there for me. Passion and purpose are great, but they always need to meet opportunity. St. Michael's was that opportunity...the right place with the right people.

“People who encouraged me, supported me, and allowed me to feel safe enough to take risks in so many different areas, like with my public speaking and the morning notes that I've put out every day for close to 20 years, I think,” he continued. “I’ve become a confidant to so many kids and so many parents, so many teachers too — offering guidance and wisdoms I've picked up as I've matured. My counsel to them has been born out of the many mistakes and lessons I've needed to learn throughout my own life.”

You could feel the love at his retirement party as a number of administrators, faculty members and past students stepped up to the podium, one by one, to salute this most sincere and genuine individual.

“All I've wanted to do at St. Michael's is to try to help kids, teachers and parents feel good about themselves as they try to meet needs in their lives,” Mr. Tavares said. “Of course, I wasn't always successful, but I did try the best I knew how to try.”

St. Michael’s science teacher and former athletic director Emlen Drayton served as emcee for the event, calling Mr. Tavares not only a close working associate, but a good friend.

“He has meant so much to so many people here, including myself,” he said. “He’s going to be tough to replace.”

Robert and Debby Tavares will celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary in August. They have two daughters, Tracey and Tara; four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

“I’ll take some time off and relax,” Mr. Tavares said in pondering his immediate future. “I’ll look to see if there’s something else that will keep me going. I can tell you this, though, I’ve been truly blessed.”

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