Talk of the Town
October 28, 2010
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Above, students hold hands around a tree planted in the new Bob Brittain Memorial Garden at Columbia City High School Wednesday. Below, the garden is adjacent to the library where Brittain spent much of his time in his latter years. At bottom, a group of students and friends were present for the unveiling of the garden Wednesday. In front, from left, is Dakota Wappes, Austin Andreas and Zach Kincaid. Row two, from left, is Hannah Clark, May Cheng, Linda Hershman and Laura Hershman. Row three includes groundskeeper Denny Mettler, principal Gregg Goewert, teacher Tom Lough, CCHSAA president Andrew Thompson, speech and debate coach Aaron Dicker and head custodian Bob Burman.
Beloved educator Bob Brittain memorialized with garden at CCHS
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
A space for quiet reflection, a fitting tribute has been created at Columbia City High School for a much-loved educator by the students, colleagues and alumni who remember his so dearly.
Bob Brittain spent many of his latter years in an office in the Dale Pence Library at Columbia City High School, so it makes sense that a memory garden was created in his honor just outside the windows from which light shone on his desk. 
On Wednesday afternoon, a group of Columbia City High School Speech and Debate team members remembered their coach as they looked upon the small garden built in his honor.
"It is a memorial area. We felt it was fitting to do this in memory of Bob," said Columbia City High School Alumni Association president Andrew Thompson. Brittain had been the president of the organization, in addition to coaching the CCHS Speech and Debate team, until his unexpected death this past spring. A retired CCHS English teacher, Brittain taught at the high school for 36 years and continued on as a coach well after his retirement from the classroom in 2004. A fixture at the high school known for arriving very, very early and staying until late in the evening as he worked on high school activities, Brittain was adored by his students, colleagues and fellow alumni association members. Brittain, himself, graduated from the high school in 1964.
A memorial bench in the garden was purchased with memorial gifts from fellow members of the Columbia City High School Alumni Association. A Norway Maple tree was planted in the garden thanks to donations from Indiana Speech and Debate coaches.
"Bob Burman and his crew have reworked this area and it will continue to be added to in the spring," said Thompson. Thompson said there will eventually be a plaque installed in the garden as well.
"Here in front of the library is fitting," Thompson said. "The library is where Bob spent the majority of his time."
"He touched many of us coaching and teaching," said Thompson. "He was also an integral part of the Columbia City High School Alumni Association."
The Post & Mail
October 29, 2010
By Becky Hand
Remembering Bob Brittain
Post & Mail photo/Becky Hand — Colleagues of Bob Brittain pose at the Bob Brittain Memorial next to the CCHS library Wednesday. The tree in the foreground was donated by speech and debate coaches from northern Indiana, in Brittain’s honor; the bench, purchased by the CCHS Alumni Association. In front, Tom Lough and Barb Pentangelo and in back Andrew Thompson, Kristin Rentschler and Gregg Goewert.
“I’ve missed him a lot this year,” said Columbia City High School English teacher Tom Lough of a colleague who died unexpectedly in April — Bob Brittain.
Brittain was an icon in the speech and debate department at CCHS for years. And he was known not only in Indiana, but throughout the U.S. and beyond.
His former competitors, debate coaches from northern Indiana including Plymouth, Chesterton, Fort Wayne schools and South Bend schools, passed the hat and purchased a tree in Brittain’s memory which has been planted near the library at the high school.
“It’s a good choice, by the library,” Lough said. “Someone will say ‘who is this Bob guy?’ And someone will know.”
Beside the tree is a bench purchased by the Alumni Association in Brittain’s honor. Eventually a plaque will be placed there with his name.
Brittain graduated from Columbia City High School in 1964, earned his Bachelor’s Degree in English from Indiana University in 1968 and returned to his high school as a teacher and speech and debate coach that year.
Retiring in 2004, he remained very much a part of the program in an advisory role.
Brittain’s memberships included the National Forensic League, state and national chapters; the National Council of Teachers of English; and the Teacher’s Association, local state and national. He served on the board of directors of the Whitley County Literacy Council, the Bowen Center for Human Services, the Peabody Public Library, the Columbia City Kiwanis Club and was the president of the CCHS Alumni Association at the time of his death.
“He was an integral part of our Alumni Association,” said his successor, Andrew Thompson. “He did a tremendous job.”
Brittain had developed the Alumni Association scholarship fund, from which the first two scholarships were given in May of this year.
He would have been the presenter but for his untimely death in April.
Many of his former students and colleagues posted about their relationship to Brittain shortly after his death, speaking often of his accepting no less than the best from his charges.
While they spoke of disliking the work, they also admitted their lives were made much easier after his influence, because of that very work ethic.
Cassandra Petrie, this year’s Whitley County Junior Miss gave credit to Brittain for her skills in the interview portion of the program.
Aaron Dicker, who has been hired as Speech and Debate Coach this year at CCHS, remembered his predecessor from his days in high school debate at South Side High School in Fort Wayne.
“He was a very personable person,” Dicker said, telling how Brittain would give money for lunches if his students hadn’t brought enough.
He also spoke of Brittain’s reputation being nationwide and even worldwide for excellence in speech and debate.
When asked how he would fill Brittain’s shoes, Dicker replied simply, “It’s impossible.”
The fourth annual CCHS Alumni Association Legacy Golf Outing was held on Saturday, September 25, at Eagle Glen Golf Course in Columbia City. The results were:
| 1st Place - Team Score 57: | Natosha Wood, Class of "08" |
| Ryan Wood, Class of "80" | |
| Jeff Wright, Class of "80" | |
| Mike Collier |
| 2nd Place - Team Score 58: | Ryan Modglin, Class of "03" |
| Brad Lowe, Class of "04" | |
| Randy Smith, Class of "03" | |
| Steve Smith, Class of "76" |
| 3rd Place - Team Score 58: | Neil Cooper, Class of "57" |
| Russel Erne, Class of "57" | |
| Randall Carpenter, Class of "57" | |
| Rex Carpenter, Class of "57" |
Other winners were:
Long drive (women): Natosha Wood
Long drive (men): Randall Carpenter
Closest to the pin # 2: Phil Zent
Closest to the pin # 17: Josh Lickey
Greg Norman autographed flag: Dave Leininger, Class of "87"
A special thanks to our hole sponsors and Eagle Glen for hosting our Tournament.
Next year's alumni outing will be on Saturday, September 17, 2011.
Thanks also to the golf committe, Barb Knuth, and Sheryl Schuman for their help.
The “Teddy L. Gruver” Founder’s Trophy is currently on display in the main office at Columbia City High School, 600 North Whitley Street, Columbia City, IN. Winners of this fourth annual event will have their names added to the trophy and a photo of the winning team will be displayed in the CCHS main office.
The fourth annual CCHS Alumni Association Legacy Golf Outing will be held on Saturday, September 25, at Eagle Glen Golf Course in Columbia City. It is open to all who love the game, not just CCHS alumni.
The event is more about fun, sportsmanship, and fundraising to benefit current CCHS students and the community than about superior golf skills or winning the golf tournament.
All monies raised from sponsorships, donations by patrons & golfers of monetary gifts or prizes will be placed in the Whitley County Community Foundation and used for scholarships and awards or grants to supplement CCHS curricular or extra curricular activities (student activities, Renaissance program, Eagles In Flight).
This event made possible by hole sponsors with special help from Bobick's Golf, Eagle Glen Golf Course and Espich Printing.
The tournament will be 18 holes, with a 4-person Florida Scramble format. Shotgun starts begin at approximately 1:15 p.m. Check in 12:00 Noon and the range will be available to warm up and get ready for a fun event.
Please join us on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Click here for entry & sponsorship forms and promotional flyer. If you have questions, please call Eagle Glen Golf Course (248-4653) or Barb Knuth at the CCHS main office (244-6136 ext. 3207), or email Andrew Thompson at
The “Teddy L. Gruver” Founder’s Trophy is currently on display in the main office at Columbia City High School, 600 North Whitley Street, Columbia City, IN. Winners of this fourth annual event will have their names added to the trophy and a photo of the winning team will be displayed in the CCHS main office.
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Click here for 2010 CCHSAA Legacy Golf Outing Signup/Sponsor Form
Click here for 2010 CCHSAA Legacy Golf Outing Flyer
Robert E. Brittain
1945 ~ 2010
Robert E. Brittain, 64, of Columbia City passed away at 3:44 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at his residence. Born on September 27, 1945, in Columbia City, he was the son of Ernest and Velma E. (Paulus) Brittain.
He has spent his entire lifetime in the Columbia City area graduating from Columbia City High School with the Class of 1964. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Indiana University with the Class of 1968 and a Masters Degree from Indiana University in 1971.
Mr. Brittain has spent his career teaching English and as a Speech and Debate coach at Columbia City High School since 1968, retiring in 2004; however, he continued a very close professional relationship with the high school, fellow teachers and his beloved students.
Mr. Brittain's memberships included, Blue River Community Church, where he faithfully served on the Board of Elders at the church, National Council of Teachers of English, Past President of Columbia City Kiwanis Club, a member of local, state and national Teachers Association and Indiana University Alumni, National Forensic League both the State and National Chapters, Peabody Library Board of Directors, Whitley County Literacy Council Board of Directors, Bowen Center for Human Services Board of Directors, Columbia City High School Alumni Association Board President and others too numerous to mention over the years.
Survivors include his brother, Richard D. (Anna) Brittain of Powell, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his parents and an aunt, Edna Vance.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 23, 2010 from 4-8 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the funeral home with Pastor Brett Sauders of the Blue River Community Church officiating.
Mr. Brittain will be sadly laid to rest beside his beloved parents at Blue River Cemetery, Columbia City.
At the request of the family and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in memory of Mr. Brittain to Blue River Community Church, Whitley County Community Foundation, Columbia City High School Speech and Debate Department or the Columbia City High School Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. (Send to Whitley County Community Foundation; click here for instructions on how to make donations)
Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book. Additionally, several pages have been created on Facebook and can be accessed by clicking here (http://www.facebook.com/pages/IN-LOVING-MEMORY-OF-BOB-BRITTAIN/103968289647158?ref=ts)
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