Warren Caire has been serving De La Salle in New Orleans for 51 years

Earl HodgesBy Earl Hodges
on October 23, 2012 at 1:12 PM, updated October 23, 2012 at 1:29 PM Print | Original nola.com Article

Leon Cannizzaro, district attorney for Orleans Parish, will never forget his first day at De La Salle High School in the late 1960s. “I was in the school’s first eighth grade class, and it was a very intimidating,” said Cannizzaro, who attended the New Orleans school from 1966 to 1971. “One of the first people I met was Mr. Warren Caire who was a teacher and also moderator for the wrestling team. He made me feel very comfortable and like this was my home away from home. Mr. Caire made all of us eighth graders feel like we were part of the De La Salle family, and he assured us that everything would be allright.”

Warren Caire

Caire, 78, has been encouraging and teaching De La Salle students for more than five decades. Caire, a native of Edgard and the youngest of 12 children, is in his 51st year at De La Salle where he teaches Latin. He has also taught French, social studies and served as moderator for the wrestling team.

“I have a great love for the subjects that I teach, and I want to pass that love on to my students,” Caire said. “ I love working with young people and that has helped keep me young.”

Caire attended high school at St. Joseph Seminary, and he even thought about becoming a priest.

“But it was the will of God for me to be a teacher,” Caire said.

“Mr. Caire is one of those folks you always remember. … Mr. Caire was like a rock for us … ” U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

Caire did his undergraduate work at Loyola University in New Orleans, and he has a doctorate of education degree from Vanderbilt University’s George Peabody School.

“Dr. Caire has been the role model not only for De La Salle students but for the faculty and staff,” said Peggy St. John, De La Salle principal for more than three decades. “Dr. Caire is an incredible example of a Lasallian teacher, and he has taught minds, touched hearts and transformed lives thoughout his many years at De La Salle. Dr. Caire is God’s gift to De La Salle.”

Jim Letten, U. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana attended De La Salle from 1967 through 1971. “Mr. Caire is one of those folks you always remember,” Letten said. “Everybody knew him, and he was always such a kind and gentle man. Mr. Caire was like a rock for us, and he is the embodiment of the traditions at De La Salle.”

Warren Caire

Ryan Romano graduated from De La Salle in 2004 and now teaches at the school.

“Dr. Caire is the best man I know,” Romano said. “Dr. Caire is a friend and mentor, and he’s the reason I’m a teacher.”

De La Salle senior Maggie Frazier said, “Dr. Caire is a great Latin teacher and an inspiration to everyone.”

Caire has passed on his passion for Latin to a new generation of De La Salle students.

“Dr. Caire is the reason I love Latin,” said senior Tiger Arukwe. “Dr. Caire always makes me smile because his presence is something I will cherish forever.”

Senior Peter Fuchs said, “Dr. Caire teaches with the utmost efficiency. It has been a great honor to have such a wonderful man as my Latin teacher.”

Kathleen Calder, who has been a member of the De La Salle faculty for 32 years where she teaches English and journalism and serves as the yearbook advisor, says Caire is patient and understanding with all the students.

“Doc does not lose his temper with the kids, and he has never used unkind or demeaning language with them,” Calder said. “He is a true example of St. La Salle’s ideal teacher – a big brother guiding the younger children entrusted to his care.”

Martine Gravel, who has taught French and art at De La Salle for 15 years, said Caire has been a mentor to him.

“From the very beginning of my career at De La Salle, he has always been there to patiently answer my questions,” Gravel said. “Dr. Caire has touched everyone’s heart in so many different ways.”

Even though he has taught several generations of students, Caire said he has noticed one similarity about each generation.

“They are all looking to the future, and they are also grateful for all the school does for them,” Caire said. “And at De La Salle we’ve tried to give them a foundation that includes academics and moral and religious principles. We plant the seed and watch it grow.”

For his part, Caire says he has no plans to retire.

“God has blessed me with good health and as long as the school wants me I think I will stay around,” Caire said.

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