The Life of Erik Wiessmann
Ogdensburg, New Jersey
Sparta, New Jersey
Troy, New York
Chicago, Illinois
Los Angeles, California
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nursery School
Kindergarden
1st Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
5th Grade
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
Freshman
Sophmore
Junior
Senior
College Freshman
College Sophmore
College Junior
College Senior
Stand Alone, Owner / Programmer
Vaux Teacher, Philadelphia School District
PHBT Teacher, Philadelphia School District
Palumbo Teacher, Philadelphia School District
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Beyond...
I was born on January 17, 1973 in Newton New Jersey. I was premature by three months.
My birthday should have been in April.
I started nursery school in Ogdensburg NJ. It was the year 1978. I cried and did not want my mom to leave me.
I took karate and did pottery when I was very young. I made my dad an ashtray which he used for years.
I did not know smoking was stupid, both my parents smoked packs of cigarettes per day.
I was the smallest kid in the entire school in kindergarden. The school wanted me to repeat the grade. I did not.
I was Santa Clause in the schools Christmas play.
I collected bottlecaps when I was young. They were found littered on the ground when I would walk home from school with friends. Our walk was about 1/3 of a mile.
I moved from Ogdensburg New Jersey to Sparta New Jersey. My world felt turned upsidedown. The move was about 3 miles away, but with a new school it felt like it was another world.
I was placed in remedial classes. I was the smallest student in the grade and was dyslexic. I remained in remedial math until High School.
I had lots of friends in elementary school. I was the smallest kid, but could do more pull ups than anyone in my grade. I was also really good at soccer. I played defense and loved running.
My parents got divorced.
I was now too small to have friends... and too geeky. I met two of my three best friends. I stopped playing soccer because I was way too small.
I started running with my Uncle Fritz. We would run about three miles, I could not keep up.
I started High School in Sparta NJ. I was in remedial classes still. I joined the cross country team. I loved to ski.
My mother remarried to my stepdad, Jim.
I played tons of ping pong and worked at Action Park in Vernon Valley NJ. I had very few friends.
My father remarried to my stepmom, Colleen.
I took the PSATs and scored well. I was moved into Honors Math and Physics. I still was bad at English and History.
I saw my first punk rock concert. The Dead Milkmen. I get their logo as a tattoo later in life. My conservative life shifted to progressive.
I went to college (
RPI) that did not require English or History! It was heavy on math. I was a Computer Science Major. I did not run in college.
I started a band and was very into the radio station in college.
Apple killed the Newton Messagepad so we started writing software for the Palm Pilot.
I ran a 2:54 marathon.
I moved to LA to escape Chicago winter. I was a running leader with Club Run LA.
I became a pescetarian.
I moved "home" to Philadelphia. I decided to become a math teacher.
I loved teaching and was devistated when
Vaux became a promise academy and I was forced to leave to another school.
I became a teacher at Philadelphia High School for Business and Technology. I love it there for two years and the school was then closed.
I got a job at
Palumbo. I taught Pre-Calc and replaced a loved teacher. The students did not like me much.
I got married!
Trip to Vietnam
I attempted to run my first 100 mile race. I dropped out at mile 71, but loved it!
The following year I completed my first 100 mile race. Four students from Palumbo ran the last 20 miles with me through NYC in the middle of the night.
