Joe Eberhardt likes challenges, whether it's teaching Pre-Calculus and Geometry to Frontier High School students or jumping out of airplanes in a lifelong love of skydiving.
Eberhardt retired in June after a 30-year teaching career in the Frontier Central School District.
Regarding teaching, Eberhardt said: “Every day, it is a challenge to present the material in an interesting and meaningful way. I love that challenge! I also enjoy the personal connections I get to make with my students. I am only trying to help people. I love that about my job!”
“I still do tandem jumps, still take up first-timers. I love that. That’s a thrill. Giving a first-timer that experience is just so rewarding,” Eberhardt said. “They love you for it, you had fun, and I get paid to do it. Man, that’s a win-win-win.”
Eberhardt has made several jumps at Frontier, often around Homecoming events when he will parachute in with the game ball or carrying the American flag.
Eberhardt, who has made 5,800 jumps in his career, is often accompanied by family members experienced in the sport who also have a connection to Frontier. His sister, Carol Gath, who has made well over 3,000 jumps, is a retired Middle School Technology Teacher. Carol’s husband, Ed, a teacher assistant at Blasdell Elementary School, has an unknown number of jumps, but it is well in the thousands and has been jumping for over 40 years! Joe’s wife, Laura, now retired after a 30-year career as a Science Teacher in the Frontier District, has also made hundreds of jumps. His sister, Patti Durni (who doesn’t jump), is a retired Social Worker in the District.
Joe and Laura’s daughter, Elizabeth Eberhardt, got hired this past school year at Blasdell Elementary, teaching fifth grade.
“It’s come full circle,” Joe said.
Their son, Joseph, is an EMT working to become a firefighter.
Eberhardt has also made some high-profile jumps in his career. He’s made six jumps at Highmark Stadium for Buffalo Bills’ games, often carrying the game ball, banners or flags.
The most recent was last season against the Tennessee Titans.
“That was a particular thrill for me. That was my sixth time jumping in there, but this time my kids were old enough to be on the field and be my ground crew,” Eberhardt said.
One of his best jumps ever came during a Bisons’ game at Sahlen’s Field. He got challenged at the last minute by a fellow skydiver to hit a precise spot on the field.
“The other skydivers on the jump were landing in the outfield. I was the last to land, and the way I was set up on my final approach, I knew that I could land in the infield. All of a sudden, our chief ground crew wiped off the pitcher’s mound and over the PA challenged me to land on it in front of 19,000 people. I nailed it! What a thrill!”
He knows he will miss most aspects of the job – except one.
“I won’t have to wake up to an alarm. That’s exciting,” he said.
For Eberhardt, a 1981 graduate of Frontier High School, it’s been an honor getting to do what he loves in a District that he loves.
“Thank you, Frontier, for my education, and my career,” Eberhardt said.