Community Corner

It Is Never Too Late To Start

Jim Henry, Who Published Popular Book at 98, to Speak to Students

Jim Henry was in his 90s when he learned to read. Just last year, at 98, the retired Stonington lobsterman published his first book, “In a Fisherman’s Language.”

Today he will visit students at to talk to them about reading, writing and, most important, never giving up.

He will visit Carol Ambrosch’s third-grade class. Each member of the class wrote to Henry before Christmas, congratulating him and asking him questions.

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“He was very touched by their interest and good wishes, and decided he wanted to come and visit the class,” said Ambrosch, who has been reading excerpts from Henry’s book to her students.

Henry, who came to this country from Portugal as a child, was compelled to quit school when he was in the third grade and go to work. He learned to read and write using primary readers, a pencil and paper, and with the help of retired English teacher Mark Hogan, who tutors with Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Connecticut.

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His book is a collection of short tales and vignettes, some from his boyhood days, others from his adult life. The book’s first printing sold out and it attracted interest from German television, the Greek press and even a documentary filmmaker. The book is now in its second printing.

Earlier this month, Ambrosch met with Henry, who lives at Academy Point in Mystic, to plan the visit. He told her that he would like to visit many students in their classrooms, but at his age this is difficult. 

So he is relying on her students to spread the message to all children to “keep on reading.”

“He is hoping the class will be good ambassadors of this message to the rest of the school,” Ambrosch said. And for good measure, he is hoping to get some help from the local media, which also have been invited.

“I’m incredibly excited, as is the whole class, that we are being given this opportunity to help spread an important message about reading, but more importantly, about the spirit of determination to follow one’s dream… no matter what age,” Ambrosch said.


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