Professional experience
High school English teacher
Essex County public schools, 1990 to 2021
Self-reported
All professionals
Personal storytelling in Montclair
Ruth Okafor
Personal storytelling: Childhood, school days and first jobs
Retired English teacher who asks the questions your family never thought to ask
- 5.0 from 11 reviews
- Lives in Montclair
- All five checks passed
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Credentials
Training or degree
Master's degree in English education
Montclair State University, 1994
Self-reported
About me
I taught English at a public high school in Essex County for thirty one years. Every spring my juniors interviewed a grandparent for a writing project, and every spring the recordings were the best thing anyone turned in. When I retired, I decided to do the interviewing myself.
On a visit we sit somewhere comfortable, usually the kitchen or dining table, with a few photos close by. I ask about the house you grew up in, the teacher you remember, the first paycheck and what you spent it on. I keep the questions open and let the stories wander where they want to go. My phone records the whole conversation, and afterward I write a one page summary with names, places and the best lines in your own words.
I live near Edgemont Park in Montclair and I am usually at the library on Saturdays. Families tell me the recordings get played at birthdays and holidays. That is the whole point.
Lately a few families have asked for more than audio, so I can also bring a small video camera and a light, and record a short film of the best stories for the grandkids.
What a first visit looks like
- 1
Minute 0 to 10
Say hello, look at a few photos you set out and choose where to start.
- 2
Minute 10 to 20
Set up the phone recorder and talk through what you are comfortable sharing.
- 3
Minute 20 to 50
Guided conversation about childhood, school days and the people who shaped you.
- 4
Minute 50 to 55
Read back a few names and dates so the summary gets them right.
- 5
Minute 55 to 60
Pick a theme for next week, like first jobs or how you met.
What to have ready
Nothing to buy before the first visit
- Old photo albums
- A quiet room with a table
- Names and dates you want to remember
Where Ruth goes
- MontclairLives here
- Bloomfield
- Glen Ridge
- North Caldwell
- Verona
- West Caldwell
Where in the home
Dining tableLiving roomKitchen
Usual week
Mon
10am
to 2pmTue
Off
Wed
1pm
to 5pmThu
Off
Fri
9am
to 12pmSat
Off
Sun
Off
What families say
“Very respectful of my father's routines.”
Naomi F.
“Showed up with everything and left the kitchen cleaner than she found it.”
Greg R.
“I live in Ohio and this gave me real peace of mind. Mom loves it.”
Mark M.
“Dad asked me twice when the next one was. That never happens.”
Denise R.
“Good energy without being too much. Mom liked that.”
Beth D.
“Mom was nervous the first time. By the end she was laughing.”
Paul R.
“The short film made my sister cry, in the good way.”
Sofia D.
“Dad told his brother about it on the phone. That is a five star review from him.”
Michael D.
“The kids listen to the audio on car rides.”
Diane J.
“Patient and kind. Dad looked forward to it all week and the written summary was a treasure.”
Robert K.
“Mom told stories I had never heard. We played the recording at Thanksgiving and everyone cried, in the good way.”
Linda M.
Checked and vetted
- Online search
- A real conversation with our team
- Signed provider agreement
- Criminal background check
- National sex offender registry check
$95 per hour
Plus a $2.50 booking fee and 10% service fee.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before.