72 Years Later, a 90-Year-Old Gets His Degree

The Haddonfield Memorial High School graduating Class of 2011 was introduced to its newest alumnus Tuesday: 90-year-old Elmer Rothman of Maple Shade, NJ.

Rothman was invited to the senior luncheon to receive the diploma he passed up more than 70 years ago.

"The Class of 2011, school administration and Board of Education were honored to present Mr. Elmer Rothman an honorary HMHS diploma," Mike Wilson, the high school principal, said. "His life is one of service to his country, family and community. He is an inspiration. Our students congratulated and welcomed Mr. Rothman into the Class of 2011 with a standing ovation.

"One student asked Mr. Rothman if he planned on coming to future reunions. He said, 'Of course.  When’s the first one? … Next year I hope.' ”

When Rothman’s father died suddenly—on Father’s Day—his youngest son had just completed his junior year of high school. It was 1940, and the two oldest boys in the family in were in the military fighting World War II.  Rothman’s young sister and immigrant mother, who spoke no English, were left to operate the family’s small grocery store in the Blackwood section of Gloucester Township.

Rothman had to drop out of school despite the attempted intercession of high school faculty. Later, he returned from his own three-year tour with the Navy to discover his mother had lost the property.

“I spent a little over three years in the Pacific, was married in 1947, and started working,” Rothman said. “There was no alternative.”

Throughout his 53-year marriage to his late wife, Ruth, Rothman had always dreamed of completing his degree, but the demands of raising four children kept him working in the food industry until age 79.

As his children grew and eventually earned their diplomas, Rothman especially prized their achievements, “knowing that my kids had got the education that I never could get because of the war, and that I never made enough effort to get back into school.”

Rothman had nearly written off any thoughts of someday earning his diploma. But every time he passed Haddonfield Memorial High School with Gloria Hecht, his partner since 2001, Rothman would say, “That’s my school.”

It was Hecht who wrote to the high school asking whether the district might work with her to help Rothman earn his diploma.

“On a whim, I found the high school and wrote to the principal and his secretary. I felt that if it was at all possible to receive an honorary degree, he had earned it,” Hecht said.

The high school did her one better, inviting Rothman and his family to attend the senior luncheon as a guest of the school. Hecht helped coordinate the arrangements as a surprise gift for their 10-year anniversary.

“At 90 years old, what present can you give someone?” she said. “I love him very much.”

The event, which included a special presentation about Rothman’s unique circumstances, “was executed to perfection,” Hecht added. When he received an unplanned standing ovation from the Class of 2011, Rothman welled up.

“The whole program, all the children that were honored, the respect that they had for each other, and most importantly, the dedication of the teachers and the principal—this was a unique situation,” Hecht said.

“They have a very special gift of love and dedication not only for learning but for the children they teach.”