This selection of quotes is part of the 100th anniversary issue of the Torch. We are grateful to the many former staff members who shared their memories of working on the staff to be included.
“I was a Co-Editor on Sept. 11, 2001; we watched live coverage of the Twin Towers coming down that morning in class. Reports were coming out about other potential terrorist attacks, and flights everywhere were grounded. At the time, even though it seemed unlikely that there would be any attacks in Columbus, we just didn’t know. My fellow Co-Editors Tal Bendor and Brian Carlo and I ducked out of school to drive to the airport and other locations and we reported on how law enforcement was deploying in the face of fear and uncertainty.”
– Nachy Kanfer ’02, Co-Editor
“My very first story for the Torch was a movie review that I took way too seriously. I went to the movie with another Torch staff member. The movie was rated R, so we put together a press credential and said they could call Julie Horger if there were any issues. The Easton movie theater staff did not care and sold us tickets.”
– Natalie Lesser ’03, News Editor
“My favorite editorial was one I titled ‘I cried because I had no shoes until I saw the boy who had no feet.’ It was focused on how privileged we were compared to most people.”
– Sally Neustadt ’57, Editor-In-Chief
“I wrote a story for backpage where I went to Thurman Burger in German Village and tried to complete the Thurmanator Challenge. When I ordered the burger, the waiter looked at me crazy and I was very overconfident about trying to finish it. I don’t think I even came close. It wasn’t the most journalistically amazing story but I think it was something I would’ve never done if it weren’t for that article. Somewhere there’s a photo with me and the huge burger next to my face with the worst look on my face.”
– Drew De La Cruz ’23, Co-Editor
“We would come in on Saturday mornings to work on the paper. Of course, we typed copy on the typewriters in the typing room. No computers!”
– Beverly Bigelow Clark ’64, Co-Head Typist
“What I loved about the assembly process was how important everyone at the paper was to the final product. Editors make executive decisions and should be given a lot of credit for doing so. However, there was no part of the process that was more important than the others. It really takes a team effort, and a belief that the other people on the staff are in it for the same reasons you are.”
– Zach Fries ’09, Sports Editor
“When we ordered Torch hoodies and got to choose whatever color we wanted, I went with electric ‘safety’ green. There were just a lot of random laughs, crazy inside jokes, and good times. And Horger never, ever treated us like the weirdos that we definitely were and probably still are.”
– Shelby Nathans ’04, Co-Editor
“Back then we had to physically paste the paper together on boards ourselves and then send it to the printer. It was messy. It was painstaking.”
– Seth Borenstein ’79, Editor-In-Chief
“There is a movie, ‘Mr. 3000,’ with Bernie Mac in it, and I remember writing a very strong opinion about that movie. I remember going back and forth with Mrs. Horger and the other editors on how to approach it. It was a really great learning process in terms of my writing skills and how to develop an article.”
– Sam Marcellino ’05, Staff Reporter
“The Torch is an essential part of what makes BHS so special. To not just allow but to encourage students to find their voices, refine their thoughts, and share them says a lot about the trust of the administration in the critical education it is giving its student body. The Torch is a forum for students to learn about each other, the lives of people in Bexley, and understand how to communicate. And it’s just fun.”
– Sarah Binau ’15, Co-Editor
“It was definitely a lot of work, especially working as Co-Editor. I remember re-reading the pages until my eyes literally couldn’t look at them anymore. Usually, by the time the issue came out, I was excited to show it to my family but I rarely re-read the stories. I had seen them enough.”
– Gabrielle Cabanes ’22, Co-Editor
“I did a whole backpage trying to destroy the ‘indestructible Nalgene bottle.’ We ran it over with a car, threw it off the back of the stadium and a bunch of other things. Those things are strong!”
– Betsy Eckel ’04, Backpage Editor
“We had to paste up because we didn’t have computers. Deciding what was important and what could be cut. It was always a struggle to fit everything in without chopping it up too much.”
– Kathy Goldberg ’62, Third Page Editor
“The Torch and Bexley High School are inextricably linked. It teaches students how to think critically, communicate clearly, and tell meaningful stories with impact. It’s all about creativity and collaboration while showing the importance of objectivity and ethics. It also gives students a voice—empowering them to engage with their community and shape the culture of their school. The Torch rules, period.”
– Amy Shifflette ’98, In-Depth Editor
Published and digitized May 2026.
