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Toni Reszka

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School Connection:
Pupil – St. Bede’s (1965 – 1966)
Pupil – Princethorpe College (1966 – 1970)

OP Committee Focus:
Careers, Networking and Volunteering

What are some of your favourite memories of your time at school?
Walking around the Mile Walk and Little Switzerland (it was accessible in those days – I even swam in it once!)

Were there any teachers or staff who had a significant impact on you?
Fr Boyle (English Literature): I’ve been a fan of William Shakespeare ever since.
Mrs De Vries (Geography): She made learning Geography not only interesting, but enjoyable.
Fr Dan O’Connor (Maths) Now where did that take me?
Fr Clarkson (Headmaster): Someone we all looked up to.

How did your time at the school influence your life and career?
I greatly enjoyed studying Euclidean Geometry as part of Maths. I found it fascinating trying to solve ever more complex theorems. This enthusiasm became a very valuable skill because, after a 5-year apprenticeship at GEC in Rugby, I succeeded in entering the world of CAD/CAM (very much an emerging technology at the time, to replace drawing boards and manual programming of machine tools). I worked for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, an American company. My passion for Geometry at school became the bedrock of my entire career in Industrial Automation. My time at Princethorpe was truly ‘a foundation for life’.

What is your current occupation?
I just recently retired. I keep a part-time interest in professional consultancy work related to my career.

Are there any special achievements or milestones you’d like to share?
I became a highly regarded, professionally recognised expert of 3D CAD, which led to some amazing work assignments in countries all around the world. I have visited over 40 countries in total and 20 US states.

What hobbies or interests do you have outside of your professional life?
Golf, Walking Rugby, building Lego Technik models, travelling.

What motivated you to join the alumni committee?
I benefited hugely from my time at the College, and I therefore feel motivated to ‘give something back’ by helping pupils think about their future careers.

What are your future goals, personal or professional?
After a career spanning 54 years, I plan to take life a little easier but remain active in pursuits that I enjoy, which are both physically and mentally challenging. I am involved in a couple of part-time projects, helping start-up companies establish a market presence.

How do you hope to contribute to the school community through the alumni committee?
I will be an active participant with a focus on Careers, Networking and Volunteering.