Frank E. Nolde, Beloved Westfield History Teacher, Dies at 87
Frank E. Nolde, well-known Westfield history teacher, died of heart failure peacefully at home on December 23. 2025.
Born on January 14, 1938 to Emma Mayer and Kurt Herbert Nolde, Frank spent his early life in Jeffersonville, NY, a rural community, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Carol Jean Stephenson, his wife of 65 years, whom he leaves behind along with their son Jonathan Nolde and his wife Kathleen Keers-Nolde, daughter Clarissa Nolde and her husband Gonzalo Gonzalez Vazquez and their children Sofia, Mateo, and Isabela Gonzalez-Nolde.
Frank taught history in Westfield from 1960-1998. He received the Optimist award in 1998 as an outstanding intermediate school teacher. Frank is best remembered for his classes in ancient and medieval history at Roosevelt Intermediate School. Through slide presentations, he emphasized a civilization’s accomplishments revealed in its art and architecture. Over the years, many of his students wrote to say he inspired them to continue their study of history and art and that their success in their chosen field was in no small part due to his influence.
A graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia University, Frank was a true Renaissance man whose life and work reflected his passionate interest and knowledge of music, art, and architecture. In his youth, he won state awards in debate and speech and in music as a pianist. In 2019, the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission recognized the 1850 house that Frank and his wife restored as a Westfield Historic Landmark.
In retirement, Frank and Carol traveled widely in Europe and explored historic sites in Morocco, Turkey, India, and China. He also pursued his interest in gardening. Inspired by the English, he created a flower garden at the family’s summer home that passers-by would ask to photograph. Whatever Frank did was done with a passion for excellence that he asked of his students, his family, and himself.
Life changed with the diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2011. Frank enrolled in a special program, Delay the Disease, taught at the Westfield YMCA, which provided guided exercise and, as a side benefit, encouraged camaraderie. He and Carol also became part of a Parkinson’s support group under the auspices of the Westfield Presbyterian Church. Monthly meetings featuring experts on the disease and information about programs around the state strengthened their resolve to do all they could to live life fully. Frank and Carol felt fortunate to have such important help and support.
Throughout his teaching career, Frank was an active member of the Westfield Education Association (WEA) and, for many years, served as speaker of the delegate assembly. If you wish to honor his memory, consider a contribution to the Westfield Education Association (WEA) Scholarship, given annually to a graduating senior who exhibits academic achievement and who contributes positively to the life of the school and to the Westfield community.
Memorial messages may be sent to Simple Cremation of New Jersey.
