Instructions From

‘The Voice Of God’

To the Editor:

Most people knew Bob Sheppard as the public address announcer at Yankee Stadium from 1951 to 2007 and that he was called “The Voice of God” because of his commanding voice and perfect elocution. Some may even know that he was an adjunct professor of speech at St John’s University on Long Island, the school he attended when it was St John’s College. However, few know that he taught a public speaking class at John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Queens, N.Y., for 25 years and became the head of its speech department.

I was one of the students privileged to be assigned to his class, though, at the time, I didn’t realize how lucky I was. Until then I had never met as unique a teacher as he turned out to be. He was a really handsome gentleman with distinguished graying hair and ramrod straight posture who dressed impeccably and was never seen without a tie and jacket. This was during the 1950s and we were all about 16 years old.

I don’t think anyone ever missed his class because he conducted it without ever raising his voice, never scolding, and with a sense of humor. Hearing the story of Demosthenes, supposedly the greatest orator who ever lived, and his struggle to overcome stuttering by filling his mouth with pebbles at the edge of the sea, and speaking aloud until his words were audible and precise was one I doubt anyone has forgotten.

Mr Sheppard reminded us often that when we speak we must be “clear concise and correct, not colorful, cute, or comic” and that he never changed his pattern of speaking. “I speak at Yankee Stadium the same way I do in a classroom, a saloon or reading the gospel at mass at St Christopher’s.”

And so, we students, with knees shaking and brows perspiring, had to stand in front of the class and speak about something about which we felt passionate. I can’t recall the subject matter of the speeches, including mine, but I do remember when one female student, who was intelligent but a bit of a class clown, gave her speech, some giggled and Mr Sheppard explained to us that although her piece was quite serious, her reputation preceded her — a revelation to me.

Teaching was Bob Sheppard’s greatest love and, even though it is sad that he’s gone after 99 years, we are incredibly fortunate that he lived during our time on earth. 

Judith Q. Caracciolo

Schoolhouse Hill Road, Newtown                                August 1, 2010