Before They Were Mariners

Sr. Luis Gonzales has worked at Moreau for 27 years as a Spanish teacher. As a kid, he had many ideas of who he wanted to be when he grew up. First, he thought of being a bullfighter, but after he realized how horribly the bulls are treated, he changed his mind. He considered being a professional soccer player, taking his drive out onto the field. But instead, he landed on his dream of becoming a lawyer. He worked hard and studied vigorously for years and succeeded as an exceptional lawyer. After a while as a lawyer in Peru, he transitioned to teaching as a Spanish teacher here at Moreau.

When looking back on his days studying, he remembers one teacher who pushed him to his limits and played an important role in his work as a lawyer: Mr. Nelson Ramirez, who had taught one of the hardest classes he had ever taken. Only two people passed his class, and Sr. Gonzales was one of them. Later on in his work as a lawyer, Sr. Gonzales crossed paths with this teacher in the courtroom. The judge for one of his cases happened to be Mr. Nelson Ramirez! Sr. Gonzales recalls the impact that teacher had on his life, and the serendipity of seeing him again as a well-accomplished lawyer.

FUN FACT!

Throughout his career, Sr. Gonzales has continued to make time for one of his favorite hobbies: music. He has been passionate about music for years and loves rock music such as Elvis Presley and the Beatles. He remembers singing for his brother’s salsa orchestra, performing and singing beside an amazing group of musicians.

This year is Mr. Ed Varga’s first year teaching at Moreau in the Theology department; however, he has been involved with Moreau for a while. His wife, Mrs. Varga, has been working at Moreau for years as our Receptionist, and his kids are alumni.

Mr. Varga originally obtained his bachelor’s degree in fine arts, but then decided to work in marketing and advertising for a short period of time. He then felt a strong calling to become a Catholic priest, so he decided to follow his heart and got his master’s degree in Theology. He worked at St. Joseph’s in Alameda as their vice principal and religion instructor coordinator, and then returned back to marketing and advertising, which he did for 25 years. Although his profession changed, Catholicism stayed a consistent value and large part of his life. He participated in running confirmation programs and teaching youth groups. He found his way to Moreau when he started substitute teaching here. He loved it, and soon enough, it became a full-time job.

Mr. Varga’s teaching has been influenced by an inspiring teacher he had as a theology student: Fr. Gelbi. Fr. Gelbi introduced him to a new way of teaching. He incorporated other subjects into most of his lessons. For example, he had his students study the psychological development of Jesus, an exercise which combined both psychology and theology.  Mr. Varga took what he learned from Fr. Gelbi into his own classroom, emphasizing the different ways to approach, question, and learn about things, avoiding telling his students what to think.

FUN FACT!

Mr. Varga has played trombone in jazz bands since middle school. He now plays classical guitar and has been in a rock band for eight years. Ask him to show you his great Elvis Presley impression!

Frank Knight has been a teacher here at Moreau for 17 years. When he was younger, he envisioned himself as either a professional athlete or a firefighter; jobs he knew provided him economic security. For his first job, Knight worked as an online car salesman but outgrew this job and wanted to look for a more social and balanced one. He reached out to his high school principal in search of teaching connections, and she threw him into a classroom right away. She saw the potential for an amazing teacher and gave him the push that led him into teaching. He later on worked at Fremont High School in Oakland for 10 years, an experience that heavily influenced his teaching later on. He noted the fulfillment behind being able to support students who came from extreme circumstances, and how he developed better skills on how to be there for his students.

Knight specifically remembered one teacher that inspired his teaching: Mr. Basset. Mr.Basset taught Government and Economics at Knight’s high school and was a teacher that he looked up to. His sarcasm and joking nature are things that Knight strives to emulate in his classroom.

FUN FACT!

Coach Knight is addicted to doing crossword puzzles! Faculty from the 3rd floor make sure to collect crossword puzzles and give them to him.