GEORGE SCHAACK VAN DEUSENAge: 68.Hometown: Chattanoooga.Family: Wife Beth, daughters Sarah and Elizabeth.Vocation: Teacher/coach.FAVORITEMovie: Godfather I and 2.Book: “Anna Korenina”Play: “‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ or anything by Shakespeare.”Song: “Almost anything by The Beatles.”Actor: Laurence Olivier.Quotation: “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.” — Shakespeare’s “Henry the Fifth”
George Schaack Van Deusen will retire as a teacher and coach from Baylor School at the end of this academic year. He was hired at the school in 1977 to teach English and theater and “accidentally” got into coaching wrestling, where he became one of the most respected coaches in the state.
His other passion is the theater. He will direct his 70th major production this spring at the school — his fourth staging of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Q: What hooked you on theater?
A: I guess there is a ham in me somewhere. First of all, my first play was with Shakespeare, and I just loved the language. [University of Chattanooga drama professor Dorothy Hackett Ward] taught me how to manipulate the language and create a character. I found that very exciting.