In Latin, “lux” means “light.”
Lux was also the last name of a much-loved Long Lots science teacher.
Yesterday — nearly 2 decades after his death — Norbert Lux got a shout-out in the New York Times.
Melissa Kirsch — who writes the paper’s “Morning” newsletter every Saturday — wrote about tomorrow’s eclipse.
She said:
The first time I heard of an eclipse, I was in sixth grade. My science teacher, too aptly named Mr. Lux (“light,” in Latin), described the mechanics of the event, but what stayed with me, an anxious child, was not the idea of a world plunged into daytime darkness but the risk of permanent retinal damage posed by looking directly at the eclipse.
I couldn’t believe I was permitted proximity to this much peril, this much responsibility over my safety. One glance skyward and I could damage my eyesight forever. Why was I just learning about this now?
Norbert Lux
Staples High School Class of 1975 graduate Doug Davidoff spotted the Times piece, on SHS ’77 grad Dawn McCabe’s Facebook page.
“I’m glad Mr.Lux made it to the New York Times,” Doug writes. “He would have so enjoyed the eclipse on Monday.”
Doug adds: “As Mr. Lux taught, don’t look directly at the sun. It might cause permanent retinal damage and harm your eyesight forever!”
The weather report for tomorrow is “partly cloudy.” Unfortunately, there may not be all the “lux” we need to appreciate the show of nature Mr. Lux taught so well.
(For Melissa Kirsch’s entire story on the eclipse, click here.)
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BONUS ECLIPSE FEATURE: David Pogue no longer lives in Westport, but the “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent is never far from our hearts.
Here’s his piece today, on what to expect from tomorrow’s eclipse:
(Nothing eclipses “06880” ‘s Westport coverage. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
What years was he at Long Lots?
Norman Lux was at LLJHS when I was there between 1960-62 and the one LLJHS yearbook I was able to get from 1964 has him in it as well –but no Kelley, Woog or Backiel.
He was there when I was there (1965-68), and for a number of years thereafter.
I was in Long Lots from 1959 to 1961 and had Mr. Lord as my Science teacher. I have my 1961 yearbook too.
I had Mr. Lord as well for my 2 years at Long Lots. I still know Morse code thanks to him.
Jack, I thoroughly enjoy your glimpses from the past. Have you ever considered your own blog?
Have a wonderful day.
Isabel, Thank you so much for your complement! I’ll be going to Dan’s Compo Beach Party in July and I’d love to meet you! You just made my day! If you want, ask Dan to give you my e-mail address and I’ll share some interesting pictures from Westport of long ago.
I also had Mr. Marshall (aka) Jingles. I remember he married an English teacher. Anyone remember her name? I know they got divorced. Mr. Marshall used to go to the Stage Door restaurant after school and have a few beers at the bar.
Here’s a story for you. On May 2, 1960, Caryl Chessman was to be executed at 1:00 pm. The students in the school agreed to drop their books on the floor exactly at 1:00 pm! At 1:00 pm there was a booming noise throughout the school and the Principal got on the loud speaker to scold us all for the stunt. Our teacher was really angry!
Mr. Lux came to Long Lots in the 1960-1961 school year. I had him in 8th grade. I had Mr. Tafel in 7th grade and adored him, Mr. Lux not so much. BUT…I do remember when Alan Shepard did his sub-orbital flight, and we all got to watch somehow, he was really upset and said the flight was not significant, that it was a publicity stunt to show America was a serious competitor to Russia in the space race. I remember being upset by his remarks, though in retrospect he might have been right. There were so many problems with the flight. A year later, John Glenn orbited the earth and 7 years later we landed on the moon.
Jane, You just jogged my memory. I also had Mr. Tafel. He was a cool guy! I liked his class. Do you remember me at Long Lots? I think we were in the same grade.
Mr. Lux was a great science teacher – he was tough. He used to give us three strikes if we caused trouble in class. None of us got to strike three- boy, did he fuel my interest in science!
I want to voice another shoutout for Dawn McCabe, Staples Class of 1977, who did the real work here by spotting Melissa Kirsch’s column and posting it to her Facebook page. I merely relayed Dawn’s discovery to Dan Woog.
Dawn paid Westport schools the ultimate compliment. She went into teaching. She retired recently from teaching kindergarten in Worcester, Mass. You gotta hand it to her.
We wouldn’t be who we are without our teachers. They deserve a day in the sun. Especially today, they should not be eclipsed in our memory.