Change Mr. Corcoran's Life
Donazione protetta
This is an appeal for a man we wish to pay tribute to. Not an ordinary man, but a great man and a teacher. And not just any teacher, but an educator who has inspired generations of students at West Bloomfield High School to shoot for the moon and land among the stars. And indeed, many of them have. We are asking for money for this man to have a decent and dignified retirement as well as the opportunity to invest in the beloved family farm, in the family for more than 7 generations.
We are asking for help from anyone whose life has been changed by a teacher, and especially those among you, like us, who know this teacher. The family farm, built by an ancestor in the 1860s, and a well-earned retirement is only part of what he deserves. This is a teacher that gave so much of himself to us. He changed our lives, and asked nothing but a curious mind in return. Let’s change his life for all he, and other educators like him, gave to us.

Pride prevents this hard-working and humble human being from asking for help, but our pride in him demands it. He has taught us dignity without arrogance, perfection without neurosis, and that lives could be changed one book at a time. Now it’s our turn to help him change his. Please give what you can.
****While we are asking that you share this campaign of love with everyone on your friends and alumni lists, we are also asking that you keep this secret from the man himself, Mr. James Corcoran. We’re hoping to surprise him with this gift as a token of appreciation from his many co-workers, friends, and former students.****
Anyone who attended West Bloomfield High knows Mr. Corcoran. He has been a vital part of the English department there since 1978. He has taught more than 25 different classes over the years from Basic Composition to AP English. Mr. Corcoran was involved in the creation of the Prentice Hall World Masterpieces literature textbook that has been used since 1990 at WBHS, and on 5 continents around the world! He won Teacher of the Year Award for Oakland County in 2002 and was one of two teachers in Michigan to win a grant from the Fulbright Memorial Foundation in 2004. The grant sent him trekking through Japan on an educational tour, spending extended time in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hiroshima. 2016 was his 39th year of changing lives here in Michigan.
Besides being an outstanding educator, Mr. Corcoran has been married for more than 40 years to his high school sweetheart and raised 3 amazing human beings, a son and two daughters. Much of his life now revolves around a new generation of Corcorans, his two-year-old granddaughter, Imogen.

He has studied, composed and performed many different styles of music, from classical to bluegrass, much of which he shared with his students. He still teaches fulltime at WBHS, but we're sure he dreams of a retirement not filled with strife. I’m hoping we can make that happen.
Between failed millages and budget cuts in the West Bloomfield district, rising medical costs and the recent mortgage crisis, this husband, grandfather and educator deserves recongition in retirement.

Josh Malerman, a 1993 graduate of WBHS, is a former student of Mr. Corcoran’s and a local success story for his published novels, short-stories and articles. In 2015 Josh was the recipient of the Michigan Notable Book Award for his novel, “Birdbox” which was also nominated for the James Herbert Award and the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. Universal Pictures has purchased the movie rights for the award winning publication. Josh is also the lead singer and guitarist of the successful rock band, “The High Strung” whose other members are also WBHS graduates. One of their most notable songs is featured as the theme for the Showtime series Shameless.
Josh credits Mr. Corcoran for being one of his most influential teachers when he was in high school. With Mr. Corcoran’s instruction and encouragement Josh became both a musician and a lover of the written word just like James Corcoran. You can read more about Josh’s successes and his memories of West Bloomfield High School at WBSD.org.
Another notable former student, WBHS 1996 graduate Justin Bartha, is quoted as crediting his success as a writer and actor to Mr. Corcoran and another instructor at West Bloomfield High School in a 2008 interview with Altervista.org. “I based the character on two teachers I had in high school – Rob Leider, who headed up the theatre program, and James Corcoran, who was my English instructor. They both had quite an influence on me because they really cared about the kids.” Justin Bartha is known for his starring performances in both the Hangover and National Treasure franchises, and well as major roles in Failure to Launch, Holy Rollers, and the critically acclaimed comedy series, The New Normal, as well as many others.
These are just two of the success stories we found that can be attributed to Mr. Corcoran and his influential teaching style. There are hundreds more. Read the many testimonials featured here, where countless numbers of Mr. Corcoran’s former students rave about the profound influence he had on their lives.
So, we appeal to everyone out there that owes Mr. Corcoran a debt of gratitude for all he taught, and all he selflessly gave us. By caring about us and our future he changed countless lives. This is our opportunity to change his.
He gave to all of us, now please give back a little to him.

“Yeah, we’ll be fine with love on our side.”
-Mr. James Corcoran, a lyric from his song TEMPEST
*****UPDATE: 12/29*****
Wow!!!
First, many, MANY thanks to all the friends and former students of our beloved teacher and family friend, James Corcoran, who have shared this page and contributed to our efforts on his behalf. He will be overwhelmed by your generosity!! :)
We have received quite a few inquiries concerning the identity of the page’s authors. However, we are asking to remain anonymous at this time out of respect for Mr. Corcoran’s dignity. Those of you who know him know that he would be horrified to learn that we have created this campaign on his behalf. :)
We are comfortable saying that we are close family friends of the Corcorans' for over 25 years and have spent countless hours at his home and the family farm they cherish. Throughout those years we have observed his dedication to the art of teaching and the welfare of his students first hand. We have spent dozens of hours learning, laughing and making music with James Corcoran and his family.
We learned of the family’s financial situation not from Mr. Corcoran, but from his children who swore us to secrecy. However, we could not let this great man’s pride stop us. We felt that those of us who’s life’s have been forever changed by Mr. Corcoran’s wisdom and wit deserve the opportunity to give back. Thank you again for your contributions and messages of love for Mr. Corcoran. We look forward to delivering them to him.
Once our campaign has reached its goal (and it’s too late for Mr. Corcoran to do anything about it) we ensure that all funds and messages received will be presented to Mr. Corcoran and his family. Members of his family are aware of our efforts and updates will be forthcoming. Please continue to share this campaign of love.
<3
****UPDATE: 12/30****
Another WOW!! :)
A BIG thank you to everyone for sharing and giving!!
Members of the Corcoran family and the authors of this page (myself and my mother Dee), have received numerous inquiries concerning the validity of the campaign.
So mom and I decided to come clean, to no longer be anonymous, so that you continue to believe in the cause. :)
Thank you for your on-going support and please keep sharing!! :)
#WeLoveTeachers
****UPDATE 12/31****
An update/comment from Logan Corcoran:
"Hello Corcoran friends, fans and former students!!
My name is Logan Corcoran and I wanted to make a small donation here so I could leave a comment for you all to read.
First, let me just say how BLOWN AWAY I am with this entire project. The fact that so many people are coming out of the woodwork to honor my father, is just overwhelming.
A HUGE thanks to our dear family friends, Callie & Dee Agius for creating a forum for people to be able to give back to a man that has been selflessly giving for his whole life. As Callie mentioned before, he is a humble man who would never ask for help on his own, and will most likely struggle with the fact that so many of you are being so generous. But if anyone in the world deserves this, it's my dad.
For the last 33 years, every time I have met someone from West Bloomfield & asked if they knew my daddy, their response was always something along these lines: "YOU'RE CORCORAN'S DAUGHTER?!? Oh my god, he's the BEST teacher I ever had!" Then they tell me which lecture or book or conversation with my dad inspired them the most. I live for those moments and I couldn't be more proud to be his kid. ❤
Thank you again to everyone involved in this incredibly life changing campaign. You'll never truly understand how much it means to my father & our family. Imagining a world in which my parents could retire in peace, without the crushing weight of financial problems, gives me a sense of peace I never thought I would know. I just can't express how much this all means to all of us.
The Agius family has mentioned that there have been several inquiries from concerned contributors who wanted to make sure the donations will actually go to my dad and I assure you, they will.
If ANYONE has any questions concerning the validity of this fundraiser, please feel free to contact me directly at [email modificata]. We appreciate your concern and I'd be happy to speak with anyone to ease their mind.
With endless thanks,
Corcoran's Middle Daughter
Logan C. Corcoran "
:)
Thank you so very much, everyone!! Please keep the love coming!
Let's ring in the new year by making his! <3
***UPDATE: JUNE 14, 2017***
Dear Friends,
The good wishes, compliments, and beautiful comments on this site have been surprising and completely overwhelming. It is with a most grateful heart, mind, and spirit that I thank all of you for these moving tributes, these extraordinary gifts, which have stunned
me beyond words.
People have mentioned that in some way, I have touched their lives--I have to say that is the ultimate compliment for any teacher.
At the same time I also have to say that all of my students, in every year, have touched my life profoundly--in eight thousand inexplicable ways. All for the better.
It has been a stretch that extends from 1979 to this last graduating class of 2017, literally five decades, and to call that experience "fulfilling" barely scratches the surface. It has been my life.
The only thing more important has been my family.
When I started teaching, it was anything but easy. I wondered how long I would last, whether or not I had made the right career choice. New beginnings are always uncertain and a little nerve-wracking, so I wasn't sure where it all might lead. But the students and staff of West Bloomfield High School almost immediately made me feel accepted, respected, and completely at home.
It has, in fact, been a second home and they have been an extended family for me ever since.
For these reasons and many others, it is clear that I have been a very lucky man.
I wish I could thank each and every one of you personally. I will do my best to keep in touch and express my gratitude to you all.
Thanks to my administrators for leadership and my colleagues for professional collaboration and friendship.
And finally, thanks to my students. I learned more from you than you'll ever know.
I love you guys.
Cheers,
Jim Corcoran
We are asking for help from anyone whose life has been changed by a teacher, and especially those among you, like us, who know this teacher. The family farm, built by an ancestor in the 1860s, and a well-earned retirement is only part of what he deserves. This is a teacher that gave so much of himself to us. He changed our lives, and asked nothing but a curious mind in return. Let’s change his life for all he, and other educators like him, gave to us.
Pride prevents this hard-working and humble human being from asking for help, but our pride in him demands it. He has taught us dignity without arrogance, perfection without neurosis, and that lives could be changed one book at a time. Now it’s our turn to help him change his. Please give what you can.
****While we are asking that you share this campaign of love with everyone on your friends and alumni lists, we are also asking that you keep this secret from the man himself, Mr. James Corcoran. We’re hoping to surprise him with this gift as a token of appreciation from his many co-workers, friends, and former students.****
Anyone who attended West Bloomfield High knows Mr. Corcoran. He has been a vital part of the English department there since 1978. He has taught more than 25 different classes over the years from Basic Composition to AP English. Mr. Corcoran was involved in the creation of the Prentice Hall World Masterpieces literature textbook that has been used since 1990 at WBHS, and on 5 continents around the world! He won Teacher of the Year Award for Oakland County in 2002 and was one of two teachers in Michigan to win a grant from the Fulbright Memorial Foundation in 2004. The grant sent him trekking through Japan on an educational tour, spending extended time in Tokyo, Kamakura, and Hiroshima. 2016 was his 39th year of changing lives here in Michigan.
Besides being an outstanding educator, Mr. Corcoran has been married for more than 40 years to his high school sweetheart and raised 3 amazing human beings, a son and two daughters. Much of his life now revolves around a new generation of Corcorans, his two-year-old granddaughter, Imogen.
He has studied, composed and performed many different styles of music, from classical to bluegrass, much of which he shared with his students. He still teaches fulltime at WBHS, but we're sure he dreams of a retirement not filled with strife. I’m hoping we can make that happen.
Between failed millages and budget cuts in the West Bloomfield district, rising medical costs and the recent mortgage crisis, this husband, grandfather and educator deserves recongition in retirement.
Josh Malerman, a 1993 graduate of WBHS, is a former student of Mr. Corcoran’s and a local success story for his published novels, short-stories and articles. In 2015 Josh was the recipient of the Michigan Notable Book Award for his novel, “Birdbox” which was also nominated for the James Herbert Award and the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel. Universal Pictures has purchased the movie rights for the award winning publication. Josh is also the lead singer and guitarist of the successful rock band, “The High Strung” whose other members are also WBHS graduates. One of their most notable songs is featured as the theme for the Showtime series Shameless.
Josh credits Mr. Corcoran for being one of his most influential teachers when he was in high school. With Mr. Corcoran’s instruction and encouragement Josh became both a musician and a lover of the written word just like James Corcoran. You can read more about Josh’s successes and his memories of West Bloomfield High School at WBSD.org.
Another notable former student, WBHS 1996 graduate Justin Bartha, is quoted as crediting his success as a writer and actor to Mr. Corcoran and another instructor at West Bloomfield High School in a 2008 interview with Altervista.org. “I based the character on two teachers I had in high school – Rob Leider, who headed up the theatre program, and James Corcoran, who was my English instructor. They both had quite an influence on me because they really cared about the kids.” Justin Bartha is known for his starring performances in both the Hangover and National Treasure franchises, and well as major roles in Failure to Launch, Holy Rollers, and the critically acclaimed comedy series, The New Normal, as well as many others.
These are just two of the success stories we found that can be attributed to Mr. Corcoran and his influential teaching style. There are hundreds more. Read the many testimonials featured here, where countless numbers of Mr. Corcoran’s former students rave about the profound influence he had on their lives.
So, we appeal to everyone out there that owes Mr. Corcoran a debt of gratitude for all he taught, and all he selflessly gave us. By caring about us and our future he changed countless lives. This is our opportunity to change his.
He gave to all of us, now please give back a little to him.
“Yeah, we’ll be fine with love on our side.”
-Mr. James Corcoran, a lyric from his song TEMPEST
*****UPDATE: 12/29*****
Wow!!!
First, many, MANY thanks to all the friends and former students of our beloved teacher and family friend, James Corcoran, who have shared this page and contributed to our efforts on his behalf. He will be overwhelmed by your generosity!! :)
We have received quite a few inquiries concerning the identity of the page’s authors. However, we are asking to remain anonymous at this time out of respect for Mr. Corcoran’s dignity. Those of you who know him know that he would be horrified to learn that we have created this campaign on his behalf. :)
We are comfortable saying that we are close family friends of the Corcorans' for over 25 years and have spent countless hours at his home and the family farm they cherish. Throughout those years we have observed his dedication to the art of teaching and the welfare of his students first hand. We have spent dozens of hours learning, laughing and making music with James Corcoran and his family.
We learned of the family’s financial situation not from Mr. Corcoran, but from his children who swore us to secrecy. However, we could not let this great man’s pride stop us. We felt that those of us who’s life’s have been forever changed by Mr. Corcoran’s wisdom and wit deserve the opportunity to give back. Thank you again for your contributions and messages of love for Mr. Corcoran. We look forward to delivering them to him.
Once our campaign has reached its goal (and it’s too late for Mr. Corcoran to do anything about it) we ensure that all funds and messages received will be presented to Mr. Corcoran and his family. Members of his family are aware of our efforts and updates will be forthcoming. Please continue to share this campaign of love.
<3
****UPDATE: 12/30****
Another WOW!! :)
A BIG thank you to everyone for sharing and giving!!
Members of the Corcoran family and the authors of this page (myself and my mother Dee), have received numerous inquiries concerning the validity of the campaign.
So mom and I decided to come clean, to no longer be anonymous, so that you continue to believe in the cause. :)
Thank you for your on-going support and please keep sharing!! :)
#WeLoveTeachers
****UPDATE 12/31****
An update/comment from Logan Corcoran:
"Hello Corcoran friends, fans and former students!!
My name is Logan Corcoran and I wanted to make a small donation here so I could leave a comment for you all to read.
First, let me just say how BLOWN AWAY I am with this entire project. The fact that so many people are coming out of the woodwork to honor my father, is just overwhelming.
A HUGE thanks to our dear family friends, Callie & Dee Agius for creating a forum for people to be able to give back to a man that has been selflessly giving for his whole life. As Callie mentioned before, he is a humble man who would never ask for help on his own, and will most likely struggle with the fact that so many of you are being so generous. But if anyone in the world deserves this, it's my dad.
For the last 33 years, every time I have met someone from West Bloomfield & asked if they knew my daddy, their response was always something along these lines: "YOU'RE CORCORAN'S DAUGHTER?!? Oh my god, he's the BEST teacher I ever had!" Then they tell me which lecture or book or conversation with my dad inspired them the most. I live for those moments and I couldn't be more proud to be his kid. ❤
Thank you again to everyone involved in this incredibly life changing campaign. You'll never truly understand how much it means to my father & our family. Imagining a world in which my parents could retire in peace, without the crushing weight of financial problems, gives me a sense of peace I never thought I would know. I just can't express how much this all means to all of us.
The Agius family has mentioned that there have been several inquiries from concerned contributors who wanted to make sure the donations will actually go to my dad and I assure you, they will.
If ANYONE has any questions concerning the validity of this fundraiser, please feel free to contact me directly at [email modificata]. We appreciate your concern and I'd be happy to speak with anyone to ease their mind.
With endless thanks,
Corcoran's Middle Daughter
Logan C. Corcoran "
:)
Thank you so very much, everyone!! Please keep the love coming!
Let's ring in the new year by making his! <3
***UPDATE: JUNE 14, 2017***
Dear Friends,
The good wishes, compliments, and beautiful comments on this site have been surprising and completely overwhelming. It is with a most grateful heart, mind, and spirit that I thank all of you for these moving tributes, these extraordinary gifts, which have stunned
me beyond words.
People have mentioned that in some way, I have touched their lives--I have to say that is the ultimate compliment for any teacher.
At the same time I also have to say that all of my students, in every year, have touched my life profoundly--in eight thousand inexplicable ways. All for the better.
It has been a stretch that extends from 1979 to this last graduating class of 2017, literally five decades, and to call that experience "fulfilling" barely scratches the surface. It has been my life.
The only thing more important has been my family.
When I started teaching, it was anything but easy. I wondered how long I would last, whether or not I had made the right career choice. New beginnings are always uncertain and a little nerve-wracking, so I wasn't sure where it all might lead. But the students and staff of West Bloomfield High School almost immediately made me feel accepted, respected, and completely at home.
It has, in fact, been a second home and they have been an extended family for me ever since.
For these reasons and many others, it is clear that I have been a very lucky man.
I wish I could thank each and every one of you personally. I will do my best to keep in touch and express my gratitude to you all.
Thanks to my administrators for leadership and my colleagues for professional collaboration and friendship.
And finally, thanks to my students. I learned more from you than you'll ever know.
I love you guys.
Cheers,
Jim Corcoran
Organizzatore e beneficiario
Callie Agius
Organizzatore
Orchard Lake Village, MI
James Corcoran
Beneficiario
