John Hersey HS community mourns ‘Mr. Huskie’

Nearly 20 years after Peter Titre retired as associate principal at John Hersey High School, he still wore orange and brown on his sleeve. Even his car proclaimed his devotion, with its distinctive license plate that read: “Mr. Huskie.”

“He was a fixture,” said John Novak, assistant principal for student activities. “Even after all these years, he was still a presence here.”

Mr. Titre, who helped plan construction of the school and hired many of the original staff, passed away on Saturday. He was 78.

Hersey officials honored Titre’s legacy at the school in 2000 when they dedicated the Peter J. Titre Community Room in his honor, complete with a picture and plaque above its entrance.

They also established a senior medallion in his name, awarded to the school’s best student in the area of practical arts.

“Hersey was his passion,” says his son, Mark, of South Elgin. “It always was a special place for him.”

Mr. Titre brought a background in vocational education when he was hired in 1967 to help build the school. Along with hiring the staff and setting up the curriculum, Mr. Titre made sure the school offered electives in drafting, auto shop, electrical circuits and home economics.

Before coming to Hersey, Mr. Titre had taught electronics at Maine East High School in Park Ridge and Maine West High School in Des Plaines, before joining Northwest Suburban High School District 214 and teaching at Forest View High School.

Hersey was his first administrative post. Mr. Titre was appointed assistant principal during its construction, and throughout his 25 years there he continued to oversee its building and grounds, the physical plant and budgeting.

“He was meticulous,” adds Novak, who served an internship under Titre while he completed his advanced degree in administration.

“Everything was always very neatly organized in his credenza. He was very detail oriented and was a great historian of the school.”

During Hersey’s 40th anniversary celebration, Mr. Titre recalled stories of the early days, when they operated without phones for the first few months, and had to use the pay phone at the corner.

He also told of counting student votes to determine the school mascot, the Huskie, and the distinctive orange and brown colors.

“All us kids helped sort all the votes on our living room floor,” his son, Mark adds. “I remember that Huskie was number one, and the Hawks were second. For colors, they just wanted something unique.”

Besides his son, Mr. Titre is survived by his wife of 55 years, Maxine, as well as his children, Michael (Robin), Mary (Eduardo) and Cathy, all of Arlington Heights; and four grandchildren.

Visitation, where Mr. Titre will be dressed in his orange Hersey blazer, will be held 3-9 p.m. Wednesday at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlignton Heights.

The 9:30 a.m. Thursday funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Wayside Church, 440 S. Mitchell Ave., Arlington Heights.