Often spotted with an umbrella in one hand and a rolling briefcase in the other, there is no teacher more idiosyncratic than B2’s inhabitant, the wonderful Mr. Hershow. Though we are aware of his love for literature and his Stuyvesant past, much mystery still surrounds him. How exactly did he get to where he is today? What does he do in his free time? Did he really work on Wall Street?

I interviewed Mr. Hershow over the course of two days. On the first day, we were in Mr. Salisbury’s classroom, Mr. Hershow seated at a table surrounded by tinfoil which I assumed was his lunch. On the second day I ran into him in the hallway as he unlocked the door to the drafting classroom, seemingly in a panic.

“Addison, you won’t believe what’s going on! The freshmen were eating the DOE muffins, and there seemed to be mold in them. I assume the mold came from the milk in the muffins, because the entire classroom smelled like spoiled milk! It was mayhem!”

We settled down after the startle of the stale milk scent and began to have our discussion.

This interview has been edited for concision and clarity.

AS: What is your fondest childhood memory?

SH: I was very close with my family in Italy, and we went there every July and August because my father was an educator. I was very fond of my grandfather and grandmother, and they had a cat named Miciolino. We would go to Milan and the Alps, and I went to camp in Switzerland. I also learned to speak Italian.

Do you still speak it?

Yes, I do. My father says I spoke Yiddish as well but I have no clear recollection of that. 

Do you have any pets?

Really only my grandparents’ cat (Miciolino). My grandfather used to tease the cat, and then its claws would come out. But I only got scratched here and there. 

What does your morning routine look like?

My morning routine is kind of freaky, I feel like I’m getting up in the middle of the night. I try to have some cereal, get dressed, and not forget anything. I’m always worried about the subway, you know, if they’re working correctly. A slight delay in the trains and a teacher is late! So a lot of it feels very rushed, I just aim to get up, get dressed, have something to eat.

Do you have a skincare routine? Many students compliment your skin.

You guys are funny! You know, I just try to take care of myself. I try to because I know there’s no second life. I avoid the sun, which is probably the biggest thing. I have my sun umbrella.

What was the biggest pivotal moment in your life?

Well, I guess the biggest thing was when I stopped playing piano. I was in high school at Stuyvesant, and I just couldn’t keep up with the schoolwork and piano. I feel as though I was on track to becoming a professional pianist. My brother went on to become a professional violinist, and my father was an amateur violinist. So I come from a very musical family. It’s hard to make it as a pianist, and I was worried it wouldn’t lead to anything. I loved it very very much, and I was talented, I went to Julliard. But there’s just so many pianists out there. I hope to go back to playing the piano one day.

What do you do in your spare time?

God, I don’t know if there is any spare time. I try to exercise and go to the gym; I just do basic exercises. And I love reading the newspaper, any newspaper I can get my hands on. I follow everything: economics, finance, arts, music, movies, international affairs. I just love all newspapers. Funnily enough, I’m not so crazy about TV journalism, but I love print.

You occasionally talk about how you used to work on Wall Street. Can you tell me about that?

I wouldn’t want to work on Wall Street now, I’m just not the right type of person. I think you need to be super aggressive and competitive, and I’m just not like that. And even if you are, it is still very difficult. I have an MBA in finance.

Why did you decide to get an MBA?

I think it was just recommended, I don’t know. We don’t always understand the things we do and decisions we make.

What was the most difficult thing you’ve ever done?

There have been many challenges in life. I don’t know if there was a most difficult one, everything is challenging in its own way. Learning to grow up was a major challenge. Going to Cornell for graduate school was also incredibly difficult and academically intense.

That’s where you got your MBA?

Yes. I never really liked it though, when I took advanced accounting I found it godawful.

Who is the person you look up to the most?

My father. He’s not alive anymore, but I look up to him. My father died last April and I realized all of these things about him that I took for granted. He was a very good father. What’s interesting about him is that he gave me lots of practical insight and wisdom. A lot of the stuff he recommended I do was spot on, he really had a sense of how to make it in the world. The advice he gave me was very practical and useful and something you can really take with you. He was practical, my father. He came from great poverty and was able to rise up. There is a lot to be said for that. We miss him. He was 95, so obviously he was at that point of life.

Why English?

I don’t know. I really don’t know. I’ve always liked books. I would’ve been happy as a social studies teacher too, they’re virtually the same. I also could’ve become a LOTE [Languages Other Than English] teacher, I learned a bit of French. I like when there’s verbs and text to make sense of.

What would you be if you weren’t a teacher?

I was thinking I might like to be a trial lawyer, you know, the kind of lawyer who stands in front of a judge and argues a case. I have a lot of energy and I think teaching is kind of similar to being a trial lawyer and speaking in front of a jury, but less intense.

Describe yourself in three words.

Gee! I would say I’m kind of kooky, goofy, unpredictable, and maybe a little all over the place. I bounce around a lot. I’m definitely not a government bureaucrat. Definitely kooky I think. Or quirky… quirky is the word.

What’s one piece of advice you would give to HSMSE students?

Persevere, don’t give up no matter what. I’ve learned to persevere, even when things are tough. When you give up, that’s when life ends.

Tell me about your famous umbrella.

It’s just a sun umbrella, really.

What’s your biggest fear?

Death.

What’s your worst regret?

Not continuing to study piano throughout my life. My hands lost their dexterity. 

Do you still have a piano?

I have the same piano at my parents’ house that I had growing up, a Baldwin.

How do you cope with the current state of the US?

I read a lot. I don’t want to say that I’m worried, but I try to understand it the best I can. 

The next day…

I’m concerned, Elon Musk is really weird. What’s even weirder is that nobody elected him yet he’s doing things in the government that help his business. And he’s carrying that kid around? This is the wealthiest person in the world, who, frankly, is kind of a lunatic, and he’s calling the shots. I don’t think we’re headed in the right direction, something is going to go wrong. All these loony people that he’s hiring! They keep getting crazier and crazier!

What do you keep in your briefcase?

A toothbrush, toothpaste, some kleenex, and my lunch.

What’s Ms. Walker’s Thanksgiving like?

Ms. Walker is an amazing cook, and her husband is a good cook, and her daughter, Claudia, is a great cook as well. They get a lot of fresh food from various sources. Ms. Walker is just a very capable, accomplished chef who can handle complex recipes. Her Thanksgiving is something else, not many people can do it, I don’t know how they pull it off. Everything is state of the art and gourmet. 

It’s a really nice family, too. Her daughter is married and they have a baby, and I know the cousins, too. They’re all unbelievably smart. Ms. Walker’s son-in-law is an engineer, and her mother has a PhD and is a professor. It’s like [each] one is smarter than the next, and everyone’s brilliant!

Do you have a favorite dish?

She’s got a fantastic sweet potato casserole with nuts. She also makes this Lithuanian coffee cake with dates and nuts, and it’s a very dense and interesting kind of Christmas coffee cake. My parents had it one time and they loved it.

Anything else?

I’ve enjoyed my tenure here. I’ve met a lot of interesting students and made many friends. I enjoy being in a place where I can be a little creative; there are some things about teaching that appeal to me intuitively.

The students are friendly, and on the whole, very decent, well-mannered young people, which makes it a more pleasant experience. It is interesting work, you never get bored.

Gestures at Mr. Salisbury, who is sitting across the room.

Unless you talk to Mr. Salisbury, he gets bored.

Mr. Salisbury makes a confused face.

I try my best. Some lessons go well, some don’t, and I just try my best.

The next day…

You know, I’m using ChatGPT to cheat a lot.

Huh?

No, I’m kidding. I’m just interested in how it responds.

I try to brush my teeth before class, so I’ve got to go.

Puts on his coat.

Bye!