For 28 years, retired Monroe Public Schools home economics teacher Anita Burslem taught the youth of Monroe how to cook. Last week, four of her former students ' all affiliated with the Monroe Fire Department ' honored her efforts with a mouthwatering meal.
The dinner was conceptualized by Monroe Fire Chief Jamie Silva, after speaking with Anita and her husband, Norm, at dairy farmer Tim Frohning's celebration of life at Cascade Church in May. He teamed up with Monroe District 3 Fire Commissioner and former volunteer Randy Woolery, Assistant Chief Steve Guptill and firefighter Rusty Hunt, all 1984 Monroe High School graduates who had Burslem as their home economics teacher.
The four invited Anita and Norm, a former officer with the Washington State Patrol and member of the Monroe Public Schools custodial staff, to the fire station for a home-cooked dinner on Tuesday, July 12. Also in attendance were the Burslems' daughter and son-in-law, Julie Burslem-Himple and Jeff Himple, who brought along their grandson, Chance.
The four served Asian chicken salad prepared by Hunt, macaroni and cheese made by Guptill and tender beef brisket prepared by Silva. Woolery, who had just returned from his honeymoon, helped serve. For dessert, they offered blueberry-rhubarb pie.
The four enjoyed themselves and were glad for the opportunity to serve the Burslem family.
"She was one of my favorite teachers,GÇ¥ Silva said.
Anita, now 83, was hired by Monroe Public Schools in 1957 as a home economics teacher and cafeteria manager. She briefly resigned from the school district in 1961, returning in 1964 and working there until 1988. She came to Monroe with a major in home economics from the University of Washington, after teaching for a year in Wenatchee. Married for 59 years, she and Norm initially settled in Monroe so he could be close to Everett for his job with the Washington State Patrol.
The Burslems were active in the Monroe community. Anita served as a Camp Fire leader, while Norm held Episcopalian Study Groups, was a member of the Monroe Rod and Gun Club and served as the president of the Monroe Jaycees.
Anita volunteered with the American Cancer Society in the 1960s, helping to educate the public about cancer's seven danger signals and advocating for patient care in Snohomish County.
During the 70s and 80s she taught home economics and family living, including a class exclusively for boys. The elective class was extremely popular among male students, with 35 to 40 junior and senior boys signing up each semester to learn about meal preparation, family living, family relationships, bachelor living and other life skills. She even taught them about sewing, and had them craft their own aprons to wear during the food preparation sections. In a 1972 issue of the Monroe Monitor, Burslem said the most popular part of her food preparation course was "meat cookery.GÇ¥
In 1983, she taught a class called Child Growth and Development, which allowed 28 high school students to essentially operate a daycare. A total of 17 kids age 2-5 spent an hour at the school every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to attend the daycare, which was free for participating families. Throughout the 18-week course, students were given the opportunity to navigate all aspects of childcare, including planning and supervising activities and making and serving snacks.
Anita had countless students over the years. Once they graduated, she taught their children, and was around long enough to also teach their grandchildren. She doesn't necessarily remember every single student, she said, but there are a few who left an indelible mark. Rusty Hunt was one of those students, perhaps due to his persistent proclivity for finding trouble.
Hunt was a burden cheerfully shared by both Anita and Norm, because of their positions with the school district. As custodian, Norm was often tasked with managing "problem kids,GÇ¥ who would be assigned to help him perform chores around the school.
It was because of this that Norm and Hunt became well-acquainted.
"Norm used to get Rusty whenever there was a problem,GÇ¥ Anita said. "He was trouble.GÇ¥
"He didn't always come to class,GÇ¥ she added.
One of Anita's favorite memories of Hunt was during a mock wedding in her family living class. The wedding scenario came on the heels of instruction on dating protocols, after which her students decided they wanted to take the lesson even farther.
Rusty had a key role in the pretend nuptials.
"They wanted to have a wedding, so we planned a wedding and he was our groom,GÇ¥ Anita said, laughing. "I said, "Well, he probably won't show up but we'll go ahead.'GÇ¥
Reminiscing on his time spent with Hunt, including a stint in summer school, Norm was impressed as he observed who Hunt has become; a career firefighter, father to three daughters and supporter of his wife Cami's entrepreneurial efforts. He always knew Hunt was smart, he said.
"I'm awful proud of him,GÇ¥ Norm said.
Another student that left a lasting impression on Anita was Tim Frohning, a 1975 Monroe High School graduate who passed away in May from congestive heart failure.
"I have some very lovely memories of Tim,GÇ¥ Anita said. "He liked to play jokes on people, and the more the merrier.GÇ¥
Frohning got Anita with one of the oldest home economics pranks in the book, covertly tying a rubber band around the handle of the spray nozzle at the sink. Anita said she was in the process of demonstrating something to her students, and was driving home the importance of hand-washing in the kitchen. She turned on the water and was immediately soaked by the spray nozzle.
He really got her with that one, she said.
"I looked at him, and the more I looked at him, the more I knew, and so it's been a standing joke forever with him. In fact, every time I would see him that's what I would remember about him,GÇ¥ Anita said. "He swore he didn't do it, but he did and he knew he did, and he knew I knew he did.GÇ¥
And while she may seem like the quintessential, docile home economics teacher now, back then Anita could give as good as she got. She carried on dramatically about her hair being messed up and her dress being ruined, but it was all in jest, she said.
"He started really squirming, but I made it all up,GÇ¥ Anita said.
There was a clear consensus from all who attended the dinner that the food was delicious. Silva, a Rotarian, is well-known for his beef brisket, having served it during the Monroe Rotary Club annual barn dance fundraiser for the past several years. Guptill's macaroni and cheese was delicately enhanced with buttery bread crumbs, and Hunt's Asian chicken salad was a huge hit.
"The salad is delicious,GÇ¥ Anita said. "And the meat is also excellent.GÇ¥
After their meal, Norm, Anita, Julie, Jeff and Chance were given a tour of the fire station, including a ride in a fire engine.Photos by Chris Hendrickson Monroe Fire Chief Jamie Silva, Commissioner Randy Woolery and firefighter Rusty Hunt hard at work in the kitchen at Monroe's Station 31.Photos by Chris Hendrickson Monroe Fire Chief Jamie Silva, Commissioner Randy Woolery and firefighter Rusty Hunt hard at work in the kitchen at Monroe's Station 31.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment