Henry Addis | New York City teacher, 92

Henry Addis, 92, of Haverford, a longtime high school history teacher in New York City who helped start the United Federation of Teachers and taught senior citizens after moving to South Jersey, died Sunday, Aug. 29, at his home.

After retiring from full-time teaching in 1979, Mr. Addis continued to read about history and would sometimes host lectures, his family said.

When he and his wife, Bernice, moved to Medford in 1995, he taught various history courses at Burlington County College through its Learning Is For Everyone (LIFE) program.

It was only after his wife died in 2008 that he stopped teaching, his family said.

Mr. Addis was born and raised in Brooklyn. After graduating from high school, he started studying at City College but was interrupted by World War II.

He was drafted into the Army in 1940 and served in North Africa and Italy. While on leave in 1943, he met Bernice Chesney at a Valentine's Day dance. They married three months later.

After the war, Mr. Addis went back to college and graduated from City College with a bachelor's degree in history and subsequently received a master's degree in history from Columbia University.

He was a longtime history teacher at Richmond Hill High School and Bayside High School. In the 1950s, he helped organize one of the first teachers strikes in New York City, which led to the formation of the United Federation of Teachers.

Mr. Addis fought for fair pay and equal opportunities for teachers, his family said.

In 1966, he and his family moved to Otley, England, for a year, while he taught on a Fulbright Scholarship.

Mr. Addis is survived by a son, Paul; daughters Joan Gordon and Deborah Madison; and eight grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Platt Memorial Chapels, 2001 Berlin Rd., Cherry Hill. A funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at Platt.

Interment will be in Locustwood Memorial Park.