A piece of landscape art dedicated to a former NHS English teacher is now missing from the Pickard lobby.

“I have tried locating the painting, but to no avail,” Linda Walter, an NHS administrative assistant reports after receiving a note on the missing painting. After performing her own investigation, Walter sent an e-mail to the entire NHS staff hoping to receive information on this obscurity.

The piece was originally known to be missing when the daughter of the former NHS teacher, Nancy Bredendick visited the Pickard fourier to find the dedication to her mother, Ruth Bredendick, was no longer in its rightful place.

With knowledge of this missing painting Walter ventured to custodial staff, seeking details on this mystery.

“I don’t remember seeing a painting like that,” Steve Laboeuf, NHS head of operations and maintenance, said. Reaching a dead end, Laboeuf offers up the name Aaron Hoffman, theater technician in Pickard.

This lead seemingly died out as quickly as it arose. Hoffman recalls the painting and removing it for an art show held in Pickard Lobby.  The painting was stored in a closet.  After the art show, Hoffman recalls receiving an e-mail specific to the painting and in response he rehung the painting.  His memory is that he has not viewed the painting within the past 7 years. 

Unfortunately, few have recognition of this missing painting. Typically past artwork is stored in the basement of Pickard, but no painting matches the picturesque, golden landscape depicted in the dedication.  Hoffman confirmed that he has scoured Pickard for the painting and no photograph of the painting exists.

Although the majority of today’s staff have no memory of this painting, former colleagues have wonderous memories of the painting and the woman behind it.

“Always a lady,” NHS teacher of 33 years, Roger Ernst recalls fond memories of Bredendick. Bredendick was a kind to everyone and displayed a tolerance for students unlike any other.

“I have a love affair with teaching,” Bredendick’s words are memorialized in the ‘74 Rocket yearbook.

Bredendick’s love for teaching was seen through the time invested in her past students and the various activities she participated in throughout the school, such as a forensics adviser and chair of the English department.

Not only was Bredendick active throughout NHS, but she also was a prominent member in the community, as a public librarian. Her involvement throughout the community was not forgotten.

After her passing in 1974, former student Todd Oppermann painted the dedication to Ruth Bredendick. Dearly missed by family and friends, Bredendick’s dedication was a memento of her wonderful soul.

Currently the dedication remains missing. The daughter of Mrs. Bredendick, Nancy Bredendick remains in contact with the school, hoping to discover answers to her mother’s missing painting.