HOW THE RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME WINDOW PROJECT BECOMES REALITY

Sometimes dreams come true. In the case of the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame Window Project it took eighteen years. Through the collaborative efforts of Tim Boucher and his company Bsquared and RHSAHOF Co Chair Jeff Yearing, the Hall of Fame window was installed at RHS on Friday august 30, 2024.

The idea for the window originated almost at the same time that the Hall of Fame became a reality. As the first Hall of Fame class was inducted in 2004 the idea crossed Coach Yearing’s mind that there should be some form of tribute to recognize all RHS athletes past, present and future. Obviously, not all RHS athletes could be recognized for their accomplishments as Hall of Fame inductees, but their contributions to the school and community were just as worthy and needed some form of representation. Thus, the concept for the Hall of Fame window was conceived. It would represent all RHS athletes, at all levels, in every form of athletic offering the school sponsored.

As Coach Yearing wrote in his original proposal for the window "The Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame Window is dedicated to all RHS athlete's past, present and future, “That they may learn to lead and prosper through the discipline and rigors of athletic competition."The window goes further to tie the benefits of participation in athletics at RHS to a meaningful part of a student’s holistic educational experience at the school.

Coach Yearing brought the idea to the administration and was given the go ahead to pursue its creation. Coach Yearing contacted a former classmate at RHS “66” and well recognized stained glass artist Patti Walker who then resided in Toronto. She agreed to design the window and suggested that the project become an educational endeavor for the students at RHS. She would become an artist in residency and would guide the project as students involved themselves to actually create the piece.

The idea was brought to the Board of Education in 2006.The project was approved , but the Board of Education said it needed outside funding .Jeff and Patti pursued many avenues to find grants and to fund raise through various means, but to no avail, so in 2009 the project was put on hold .Patti had to let go of her involvement because of health reasons and sold the rights to the imagery for the window to the Hall of Fame in 2010.Patti passed away on December 26, 2012.

Coach Yearing kept the idea for the window alive along with the other Hall of Fame committee members for the next ten years. The window symbol became one of the iconic representations to identify the Hall of Fame on many of the Hall of Fame materials including the web site created in 1977 by RHS graduate Paul McCubbin.

In 2018, Ridgewood resident and 1988 RHS grad Tim Boucher stepped forward to do some work for the Hall of Fame through his printing and fabricating company Bsquared which he founded and built in New York City. His enthusiasm for all things Ridgewood, his expertise in building materials for the Hall of Fame, plus his knowledge of all things Ridgewood High School lead the HOF committee to offer a position on the committee to Tim. He accepted and little did anyone know at the time that Tim’s addition to the committee would eventually lead to the completion of the Hall of Fame Window Project.

As time passed, the idea of the project was brought up again and in 2022 Tim stepped forward to offer his company BSquared as a source to complete the project. He brought the idea for his process, quite different than the traditional stained glass the Patti proposed back in 2006, to Jeff Nyhuis ,Principal of Ridgewood High School, and got approval to go ahead to develop his ideas.

Stained Glass Window by Pattie Walker, Class of 1966 for a west-facing window in the New Athletic Facility to illuminate the site of the plaques of the Hall of Fame Inductees 

RHS Athletic Hall of Fame Recognition Atrium