Childhood should be carefree but sometimes isn't and that was the case for Eric when he was in fifth grade. His parents were having issues that would lead to a divorce two years later, and that was sad and stressful and unsettling, and although Eric didn't know a lot of it he sensed  he might not be seeing his father as much pretty soon. But at least he had school to briefly take his mind off things, so each day would head off to Kingsbury Elementary where he was greeted by, and grateful for, Mrs. Jarrell. “She helped so much,” he says now, remembering how she was able to provide what he most needed – things like support, and patience, and security. That was 35 years ago and Eric is a teacher now himself but also a tireless philanthropist. His Friends of Feeney have over the past 10 years raised $165,000 to support more than 40 local families needing assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. And while his former fifth-grade teacher has been gone now for more than a decade, her legacy endures. “I keep her near and dear to my heart,” Eric says, adding that through his work “I try to be someone’s Mrs. Jarrell.”

Kingsbury Elementary is in Waterbury and Eric’s first teaching job was at the very school he once attended – but in between he graduated from Wilby High (class of ‘96), joined the Army National Guard and then through the GI Bill attended Southern Connecticut State University (earning a sociology degree and meeting now-wife Nicole) and the University of Bridgeport (masters in elementary education). He student-taught at Kingsbury and then was hired there and even briefly worked for Mrs. Jarrell, who had become the principal. But soon after they were reunited, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Lorraine Jarrell died in 2012. “Other than my mother, she was the most important woman in my childhood,” said Eric.

Eric and wife Nicole have twin daughters (Neila and Brigid), who were born in 2008, just after the family moved to West Hartford, buying a home right across the street from Wolcott Elementary School, which proved to be convenient. After teaching third grade for nine years in Waterbury, he was hired in We-Ha and had a 30-second commute to his new job. In his first year at Wolcott he taught grade 5 and, as had been the case at Kingsbury, grew close to his students, among them Gabby Sohn. In March 2014, Gabby’s father Sam died of a heart attack. It was sudden and tragic. Gabby had a little brother Brayden and even younger twin sisters Cecilia and Emerson, and Eric thought right away about how they would grow up without their dad. He knew what that felt like. He was extra-touched because he, too, had twins. He remembered how Mrs. Jarrell had made a difference for him, and wanted to do the same for Gabby and her family.

That’s how Friends of Feeney began, with a Go-Fund-Me to help Nancy Wallace-Sohn and her children. The next year, with Eric now teaching grade 3, another of his students lost a dad, leading to another fund-raiser …. and so it has gone.  Tragedies and trauma are inevitable in ife and Eric says he is blessed to be part of a community full of supportive people who are consistently generous in times of need, and he is privileged to play his part. Friends of Feeney is ubiquitous – at parades and other events, on social media, hash-tagged on bumper stickers, T-shirts and other such merch. Eric even does a podcast, inviting and introducing guests, highlighting the best of West Hartford while also raising awareness for his non-profit. And, yes, he’s still a teacher, in his 11th year now at Wolcott Elementary. “I like being busy,” said Eric, who oh-by-the-way also found time to earn a Sixth Year Degree in Administration and Supervision from UB. “I’m just doing my best to make a difference.”

To check out Eric’s podcasts, click here.