Teacher Steve Houser Honored at Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund Event

Despite another night of torrential downpour, hundreds gathered at Crabtree’s Kittle House to honor Greeley teacher, track and cross country coach, Steve Houser.

The Ed Habermann award was bestowed upon Houser at the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund’s annual fundraiser on Thursday. The award was established in memory of Habermann, who was a volunteer in the community. The mandate of the fund is to “make up the difference,” for graduates of Greeley who require additional financing to achieve their goal of attending college.

Yale sophomore Noah Sheinbaum explained Houser’s popularity. “There is a cult of Mr. Houser. Students idolize him,” Sheinbaum said. Students clamor for admittance into his Geography of Nationalism and European History AP courses. He is known for holding debates with himself. Sheinbaum recalled listening to Houser as he took on the personas of Freud and Nietzsche.

Assemblyman Bob Castelli was on hand to present another honor. “On behalf of the New York State Assembly, we present a proclamation honoring you and your service to the students and the school,” he said.

Houser was humbled by the gratitude expressed by the community. “There has never been a moment when I have not been proud to be a teacher at Horace Greeley,” he declared. Houser noted that while his adobe is Carmel, he feels like a “de facto” resident of Chappaqua. During his 32 years at Greeley he has mentored and befriended many students in his capacity as teacher and coach. He mentioned that he has attended several weddings of Greeley graduates.

Brett Rosenberg came back from Harvard to laud her former teacher and coach. “Mr. Houser is the single most influential teacher I’ve ever had,” she said. Rosenberg first became acquainted with Houser when she ran on the cross country team, her freshman year. “Six and a half years later, I am a history major and am training to run the Boston marathon next month,” she continued.

Barbara Pickel’s three children have studied with Houser. “He’s very inspiring,” she noted. During Houser’s talk at open house in the fall, Pickel noted that his legendary style of teaching was in evidence. “He engaged us immediately,” she recalled.

Julie Passman enjoyed attending the fundraiser. She praised the work of the Fund. “I think it serves a real need in the community,” she observed.

Fund President Elaine Krim was pleased that Houser had been selected to received the award. “We felt that Steve embodied the spirit of Ed [Habermann] with his devotion to children,” she said.

Krim announced that the Fund had given $157,000 to 29 recipients last year. The event included a raffle, silent auction, and jazz tunes by The King Street Quartet.

Editor's Note: In the interest of full disclosure, the author has a son who has run on Houser's team.