Originally written by Carl White.
Judy Kendall and the Wayward Bus
I was introduced to Judy Kendall when I worked at Perrot Library in the late 1970s. I found her to be warm and friendly. She always seemed to have a funny story to share. She explained that she drove a school bus, and was writing a column for the Greenwich Time titled “Tales From A Wayward Bus.” Driving around town seemed to give her a unique view of Greenwich, which she enjoyed sharing with readers. Recently, I came across an Oral History Project interview with Judy from December 1992. I thought this might provide some interesting information.
Before The Wayward Bus
Judy grew up in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey – also known as the Pinelands. It’s an enormous tract of land in southeast New Jersey, covering 1.1 million acres, or 22% of the state. The wooded tract includes old, abandoned towns, sandy roads, and cedar swamps. People go there for cycling, canoeing, fishing, hiking, boating, and horseback riding. Her family lived on a historic farm community. The farm and Pine Barrens were probably where she first got her love for the outdoors.
Judy met her husband in college. He was from Old Greenwich. The couple had 3 girls and 2 boys. Although Judy dreamed of moving to Alaska, the family was split about where they should live. They decided to move to Old Greenwich on Tomac Avenue near the cemetery at the end of the Korean War (1955). It had a small-town feel. Residents tended to stay within their small communities (Riverside, Old Greenwich, Cos Cob, etc.). They got involved with their churches and schools. The residents were a wonderful mix of people with different backgrounds and professions.
Volunteerism In Old Greenwich
She was very much involved as a community volunteer. Judy taught Sunday school at the First Congregational Church. She was a Girl Scout leader for 20 years and became a writer for the National Girl Scouts. She wrote many handbooks on badges and loved to teach girls about home repairs, animals, and camping. This made the girls more self-reliant. And, of course, this kept Judy close to Nature.
Tutoring was also a volunteer job she enjoyed. Judy tutored the homebound as well as at-risk children – some in institutions. People seemed to respect her for the efforts she was making on their behalf. Since she was a strong disciplinarian, no one gave her any trouble.
In the mid-1970s, Judy volunteered as an EMT. She was one of 30 or 40 volunteers who worked out of Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Station. The Town provided books (from the State), which taught them how to administer first aid. They trained at the Eastern Greenwich Community Center and received a training certificate at the end. They also learned how to drive an ambulance.
The Sound Beach EMT crew covered Old Greenwich, Riverside, and North Mianus. Volunteers carried beepers, which alerted them to an emergency. They also had radios for their homes. Despite all the preparation, Judy explained that she still had to learn “on the job.” She would run into unusual situations – some she wasn’t prepared for. Eventually, the Town decided it wanted full-time, paid EMTs, and GEMS (Greenwich Emergency Medical Service) was born. The ambulances were moved out of the firehouses, and stationed around town. The paid staff took over the EMT duties.
Driving The Wayward Bus
One thing Judy loved to do was drive. She had driven to Alaska and Canada. To earn supplementary income while her children were in college, Judy got her Federal License, CDL, and state license so she could drive a school bus in Greenwich. Although this places a heavy liability on the driver (who was driving children), there were some benefits to driving a bus. For one, there were only children on the bus for half the time. On occasion, drivers would get to see sporting events, artistic exhibits, Broadway shows, concerts – all kinds of field trips. Judy also got to drive through many parts of Town. Driving the bus gave her a kind of freedom that she normally wouldn’t have. She got to know many school staff members, children, and parents.
On the other hand, there were many challenges. Driving on some of the backcountry roads – such as Cognewaugh and Cat Rock Roads – was demanding. There were many twists and turns with blind corners, and during the winter it was very icy. The temperatures were 10- to 12- degrees cooler away from the coast. During snowstorms, parents preferred sending their children on buses because they trusted the drivers. On occasion, other drivers were less than courteous. Some refused to yield the right-of-way, and since buses are not allowed to back up, this led to several standoffs.
Judy The Disciplinarian
Although there were some children who misbehaved, Judy applied her disciplinary skills to “calm the storm.” Fortunately, the school administration backed her up. She even went so far as to deny students access and returned some back to school so the parents could pick them up. Judy provided some safety training to protect the children. They had to know how to safely exit the bus in case of an emergency. There were many stories in the news about stalking and child abductions.
One thing that bothered her was the discrimination and prejudice aimed at minorities. Spanish and Chinese students were the main targets. In a Town that was supposed to be “enlightened,” this was bewildering. There were many immigrants in Town from the Caribbean, South America, and Japan. Judy was compelled to write about some of the situations she encountered while driving the school bus. This is what compelled her to write her column – “Tales From a Wayward Bus.” It was named after John Steinbeck’s book “The Wayward Bus.”
Various Neighborhoods of Greenwich
Judy Kendall was able to develop an objective opinion about the various “villages” in Town. She felt backcountry Greenwich was “boring.” People lived in large mansions, set far away from the road, and in many cases hidden behind stone walls. Yet, she sensed a sort of romance about the many immigrants, who had left their countries to come to work in Greenwich. Why had these people immigrated to the United States? What special skills did they possess? How did they impact Greenwich?
During the holidays, Judy enjoyed the Christmas lights and decorations. The fall provided an opportunity to view the beautiful foliage. Snowstorms left a gentle mantle of snow in the trees and on the estates in the winter. Beautiful trees (dogwoods, maples, oaks) came to life in the spring. Each season provided a different view of the country. This was indicative of the New England region.
Favorite Parts of Town
Judy’s favorite section of Town was Cos Cob. It was perhaps the most active village. When a resident challenged the display of a cross on the firehouse, residents took up the cause and made sure many private homes displayed crosses. Threats to close the Cos Cob Library were met with resistance to the extent that a new, better library was built. Plans to close Cos Cob School were scuttled when residents mobilized.
Riverside is considered “new” as it was one of the last neighborhoods to develop. Old Greenwich – which was once the colonial CBC (Central Business District) of the Town – has in a sense merged with Riverside. North Mianus is not as important a business center as it was in colonial times. The river still divides the east and west parts of Town. Each section seems to have its own personality and identity. It seems to emphasize that not everyone in Greenwich is rich, and many are blue-collar workers. Judy drove her bus through all these sections and saw the “true” town.
The Road Less Traveled
It’s no wonder Judy developed a keen interest in the history of the town. In her travels, she spotted many small family burial plots. She noticed small bypass roads with names such as Post Road #2. When she spotted the Post Road mileage markers (X miles to Fairfield), she took it upon herself to research their history. The Soroptimist gave them to Greenwich as a Bicentennial gift circa 1976. Churches also interested her, and she visited many. These early meeting houses were the site of Town meetings. Student field trips exposed her to many historical locations. She even went so far as to give short historical talks on her bus and created a slide show to present to the public at Perrot Library. The local libraries were also important to research centers for her.
During the American Bicentennial, she approached the Editor of the Village Gazette – Wake Hartley – to offer her writings as a record of local history. He responded by offering her a weekly column to write. She was flattered and took it on like a real professional. As she was traveling, she would stop at bars, restaurants, and any place she could find to type up her column. (Judy had an old typewriter that she took along with her.) People took an interest in where she was traveling – Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. Her horizons were expanding as she continued to travel.
Judy Kendall: One of a Kind
I left Perrot Library in 1996 when I came to Greenwich Library. This caused me to lose track of her. So I used the Internet to see if I could locate her. I believe she’s living in Delaware with one of her daughters and her grandchildren. And if my hunch is right, she’s probably still writing and traveling, though probably not as much. Fortunately, for me – and all of us – The Oral History Project had the foresight to interview Judy. As with many of my blogs, I’m able to refer back to the Oral History transcripts to learn about local history and the people who’ve played a significant role in Greenwich. Judy Kendall is one of those people.
The thing that impresses me most about Judy is that she loves life and finds joy in things that most people overlook. We need more people like Judy in this world. Her enthusiasm and love of life are contagious. And her contributions have been amazing.
God Bless You, Judy Kendall and your Wayward Bus – wherever you may be!
SOURCE
Kendall, J.; Observations of a School Bus Driver; Greenwich Library, Oral History Project; Greenwich CT, 1992.
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