The Legacy of Bob Slie Lives On

On September 10, 2026, former Amity Middle School Orange Principal and member of the Amity Hall of Honor, Mr. Bob Slie passed away at the age of 77. By students and colleagues, he is remembered as someone who embodied all that is good at Amity.

 

After earning his Bachelor's degree from Southern Connecticut State University while paying his way working at a grocery store, he received his Master’s and Sixth Year degrees in education. He devoted his entire 40-year career to Amity beginning as a teacher in 1970 at Amity Junior High School in Orange. Mr. Slie was named Amity Teacher of the Year in 1985 and then went on to work as an assistant principal in all three schools in the district, before finishing his career serving as the Principal of Amity Middle School Orange. Mr. Slie led the school through transition as Amity Junior High School in Orange became Amity Middle School in Orange, when the ninth grade moved to the high school. In October of 2024, he was inducted into the “teacher wing” of the Amity Hall of Honor.

 

Mr. Slie’s character and leadership left a lasting impression on students and colleagues. Mr. Karl Wilson, a current math teacher at Amity High School, was hired by Mr. Bob Slie at the middle school and they quickly became friends, playing on the same softball team for many years even after departing as colleagues. Mr. Wilson admired the ability of Slie to be a sincere and trustworthy leader. Wilson commented, “He was a genuine and honest person at all times and in every way. Always calm, thoughtful and never irrational.”

 

Ms. Elizabeth Lafo, an Administrative Assistant, was a student at Amity Junior High in Orange when Mr. Slie worked as the principal. “Mr. Slie created a positive school culture within the building, he also made sure teachers, staff and students were supported to the best of his ability. Students were always put first and he always tried his best to help them thrive.”

 

Lafo explains how his leadership was admirable as “Mr. Slie’s door was always open to his students, teachers and all families. He was great at what he did and it really showed everyday during his tenure at Amity.” He wanted the best for everyone in the building and worked to achieve that. Lafo supports this saying “Students were always put first and he always tried his best to help them thrive.” Furthermore, Mr. Rick Bourdeau, a current psychology teacher at Amity, was also a student of Mr. Slie’s when Mr. Slie was a social studies teacher. Bourdeau described Slie as a “teacher with just the right balance of playfulness and seriousness. A perfect fit for us 13-year olds.” He went further to say “Slie is Amity royalty.”

 

In addition to Mr. Karl Wilson, many other current Amity teachers also got to experience Mr. Slie as a colleague. Mrs. Emily Clark, a current English teacher at Amity, was hired by Mr. Slie at Amity Middle School Orange. She credits her Amity career to him and is grateful that he had the faith that she could contribute to the faculty at Amity. Clark stated “Mr. Slie was a calm and kind man of such integrity. Anyone could go in with any question and he would help them. He truly was one of the faculty there because he started as a teacher there and kfrnew the faculty as colleagues before he became a principal.” His ability to make everyone feel safe while balancing a leadership position stuck with many. Clark remembers specifically how well he handled the events of 9/11/2001. “On 9/11 the world was in total chaos and confusion and I remember him over the PA during period 6, and I can still picture the exact classroom I was in, and in such a calm and reassuring voice, he told us that we were all safe, and if anyone’s parents had called he would allow them to come pick up their students. He also said that if any faculty needed a place to work through this, there would be counselors available for us.” His ability to be a strong calm presence during times of chaos stuck with many.

 

A current Amity English teacher, Tasia Kimball admired his leadership style as a principal. She describes him as a calm and good natured man who never became visibly angry. “He led with humor, but not a funny stand up kinda guy, he was just very kind hearted and nothing really rattled him, even if there was a kerfuffle.” She explained how “Mr. Slie always had the backs of students and the backs of teachers both which is a hard path to take. But truly, both students and teachers knew that he was on their side.”

 

Mr. Slie’s daughter, Special Education teacher, Wendy Carrafiello, has many wonderful stories of her father. She shared one in particular that she believes represents her fathers character best. “When he was principal, he started a fishing club for students that was open to anyone, but he invited some students who needed some guidance or weren't making the best decisions and he gave them a space to relax, learn a new skill and feel included.”

 

The legacy of Mr. Slie will forever live on in memories and stories of the numerous people he impacted and inspired throughout his life. His kind heart, thoughtfulness and love of the school will be remembered by those who knew him. A former colleague and friend Karl Wilson stated “when I think about Amity, he would be one of the pictures that you would put on the Mount Rushmore of Amity.”