Lynn family steps up to replace teacher’s stolen guitar

LYNN – With money tight and supplies limited, many Lynn Public Schools teachers have taken to bringing in some supplies from home for their daily lessons.Ingalls Elementary School music teacher Ed Hudson is no different, using personal instruments, specifically a guitar that he brought in from home, to help with his lessons and entertain his students.But when burglars victimized a portable classroom at the Collins Street Terrace school last November, Hudson payed the price for his teaching passion, as the thieves ran off with arm loads of musical equipment, including his favorite guitar.”There was probably $700-$800 of equipment stolen from the portable classroom,” said Ingalls Principal Kimberlee Powers. “But he was devastated because one of the guitars stolen was his own, given to him by his son, so it had a lot of sentimental value.”Lynn Police responded to the school that Monday morning when the break was discovered, lifting fingerprints and scouring the area for clues. Months later, the crime remains unsolved, but thanks to the generosity of one local family, at least one of the instruments has been replaced.Two of Hudson’s students, siblings Anthony and Angelique Elswick, were both troubled and saddened by the robbery and told their family about Hudson’s stolen guitar.A few months later, without warning, Anthony and Angelique’s grandfather and family arrived at the school to present Hudson with a new guitar, paid in full.”(Donating the guitar) meant a great deal to (Hudson),” Powers wrote in a thank-you letter to the family. “The break-in was unfortunate and certainly saddened us, but your generosity speaks to the good within our community. There are so many wonderful families here at Ingalls and (the Elswicks) are certainly one of them.”Powers presented a copy of her letter to the School Committee last week, prompting the board to accept the letter and formally thank the family.