Former CHS Teacher, Coach Tom McHugh to be Honored Sunday

graduate Stacey Blacker used to meet former teacher Tom McHugh at Cinnaminson/Florence football games several years ago.

Blacker, who owned a business in Florence, was a student of McHugh’s—a man she called “always one of someone’s favorite teachers.” McHugh’s son was coaching Cinnaminson at the time.

Cinnaminson would be losing by 40 points, yet McHugh would look at Blacker and say “Stace…I think we could still pull this off.”

“I would just laugh,” Blacker, a 1989 graduate, said. “He’s the ultimate optimistic dude.”

Blacker organized an open house this Sunday in Riverton and is encouraging anyone who knows—and subsequently loves—the longtime teacher to stop in.

“He’s just the sweetest guy,” Blacker said. “Everybody loves him. I think he’s just an extraordinary guy.”

Blacker—a self-proclaimed "Ms. Cinnaminson"—works hard to keep alumni in touch, and organizes her class’ own reunions for each milestone. She recently started a . 

Blacker was talking to another former CHS teacher when McHugh’s name came up.

“We need to have a party for this man,” Blacker remembered saying.

Blacker enlisted the help of other alums as well as other former teachers to plan the event and invite as many former CHS’ers as possible. On the Facebook event page, party-goer Debbie Hull Davenport posted she bought a plane ticket to come to the event.

“I’m hoping people will get together with people from their classes,” Blacker said.

McHugh taught physical education, driver’s education, sexual education and was a football coach.

“He was so happy,” Blacker said when she told McHugh about the party in his honor. “He was so thrilled by it and so humbled.”

The party will be held at the from 1 to 4 p.m. this Sunday. Tickets are $10 and include light food and drinks. Manhattans—McHugh’s favorite drink—will be available.

And, for $1 per line, you can sign a memory book and add in your favorite anecdote. The book will be bound and presented to McHugh.

Blacker even hopes to make a video archive of the event.

This is the first event for a former teacher Blacker has organized, but hopes to hold more if this is successful.

“Nobody’s done anything like this,” she said. “We’re all so wrapped up in our day-to-day lives. Hopefully if it works out, we’ll do it for other teachers.”

Any questions contact Blacker at 609-841-7875 or email Stacey@redwhitebrew.net.

Visit the Facebook page here.

Did you have Mr. McHugh as a teacher or coach? Leave your memories of him in the comments!