Saul Bruckner, founder and former principal of Edward R Murrow High School, passed away from a heart attack over the weekend. His wife found him in the swimming pool in the backyard of their Mill Basin home.

Bruckner founded the acclaimed school in 1974. By the time I arrived as a sophmore in 1980, Murrow had already molded minds as brilliant and eccentric as Jean Michel Basquiat. Murrow was an “alternative” high school. Principal Bruckner believed students should have the freedom of choice.

I’m not sure how the school has changed since the years I left, but at the time….

1. There were no bells. Class schedules were slightly confusing. I still have dreams that I’m walking around the hallway trying to figure out which class is next.

2. Instead of grades like A, B, C, it was E for Excellent, G for Good. To this day, people look at me funny when I say “I was a straight E student in math, I don’t know what happened to me.”

3. No sports. Yeah, we had gym. But no teams. The emphasis was on music, theater and the arts. Kind of like a school full of “Glee” kids, or at the time: “Fame”.

4. “Periods” were called “bands”. A free period was “opta band”. OPTA standing for “Optional Time Activity”.

Saul Bruckner’s vision of a New York City public school didn’t work out so badly. Apart from Murrow being ranked one of the best schools in the country, it’s clear to see how much the school has shaped student’s lives. Ask most folks how they felt about their high school years, they didn’t exactly love it. Ask a former Murrowite and they always look back with a smile.

And that was all Mr. Bruckner’s doing.

There were over 700 kids in my graduating class and nearly 4000 in the entire school, yet he seemed to know everyone’s name. I was one of the students who took advantage of the freedom. In other words, I cut a lot of classes. I’d be sitting in the hallway when Saul would come up to me and say “Miss Bobb, shouldn’t you be in French class now?” Sometimes he would make me go and sometimes he would let me screw up my future interactions with French people. But he trusted that I would make the right decision on my own.

The last time I saw Saul Bruckner was in Caravelle Restaurant in Midwood (where else?). He had retired by then and he looked like an old man. He was with a group of people and I was with people who didn’t know him, so I didn’t say hello. I guess I kind of regret that now.

Funeral services are today, May 3, 2010 at 11:30 AM at Parkside Funeral Home, 2576 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. Mrs. Bruckner will be sitting Shiva Tuesday and Wednesday at 2171 East 65th Street, Brooklyn.

At the request of Mrs. Bruckner, any donations made will be added to the Saul Bruckner Scholarship Fund. You can send that to the attention of Ellen Goldman, at Edward R. Murrow High School, 1600 Avenue L, Brooklyn, NY  11230.

I’ll leave you with some quotes I snatched from Facebook friends:

“In many ways, Saul Bruckner’s vision allowed for all of us to be part of a very special anomaly – one that I think we all have recognized and have come to cherish. And over the years, I think many of us will agree that we have carried that spirit with us.”

“Gee, I remember that early morning AP American History class. And he gave me a 99 on the final paper because there was a minor typo (and my mom typed the paper…remember those Selectrics!).”

“A standout among the academic figures with whom I studied (and that includes college, grad school and law school professors), and more than any other, a personification of the institution he frequented.”

“Sad, that a great man who helped shape my unparalleled education passed away yesterday.”

“OMG. I’m so sad. Truly a man who took education seriously. The man never forgot a name. He taught me the importance of knowing someone’s name. I didn’t even realize that till this very moment. RIP Saul. R.I.P.”