History teachers Brett Mulvey and Stephen Simoes have been working together at for over thirty years. During this time, they have cultivated a close friendship filled with traditions, support, and memories.

They first met back in the old combination high and middle school building when Mulvey began his career in Hopkinton. The former department chair introduced the two as she suspected they would get along well.

“School was about to start and she asked, ‘Have you met Steve yet?’ I hadn’t so she walked me down to introduce us. As we were walking, she said that she thinks we will have a lot in common. We started talking and that was that. My first impression was that he had to be a good person because he liked the Yankees,” Mulvey recalls.

Simoes says that his first impression of Mulvey was that “He was short,” among other things.

Since their first interaction, traditions such as walking around the school in the mornings and having afternoon lunches formed a routine and continue today.

“I walk around partially for the exercise, and he walks around because he is a very social person. It is a good way to start the day when you spend all day in class.” Simoes said.

“Some people jokingly make fun of us and call it our mall walk, like how old people walk around malls early in the morning. So that’s a good thing, we are insulted as the two old mall walkers.” Mulvey said.

Nearly every day since they met many years ago, they have shared their lunches together.

“We do pretty much every day. There are some times when it doesn’t work out, but I joke that I have probably, well definitely, had more lunches with him than I have with my wife over the thirty years.” Simoes said.

Biology teacher Bryan King has taught alongside both since the beginning and watched their friendship grow.

“I met them when I first started here in 1994. I think I saw their relationship solidify when we all coached baseball and softball. They are two old school teachers that have stood the test of time,” King said.

Collectively, both Mulvey and Simoes are known for their sense of humor.

“Humor is needed as a teacher, and to survive anything in life you need humor. I think everybody essentially becomes friends with people who humor them. And I am hilarious,” Simoes said.

“I think humor is really important to teaching and Mr. Simoes makes me laugh all the time. I think in teaching, and definitely in life, if you implement it the right way it can be invaluable,” Mulvey said.

During the last thirty years of their friendship, they have both taught and learned many things from each other such as dedication to work and how to make the best out of any situation.

“I think we reinforce things with each other, like dedication to your job. He hasn’t missed a day of school in over six years. I mean I haven’t missed a day of school since yesterday morning. Also, he is sarcastic. I learned sarcasm from him,” Simoes said.

“I have learned a lot from Mr. Simoes. When we used to coach together he would always say to the girls to go out and make a memory. I learned you don’t have to always take everything so seriously. It’s a game, it’s class, it’s just a day of school. Have fun, but make a memory. I try to remind myself of that not just in my life but in my class too with interaction with students,” Mulvey said.

Through having this long and secure friendship with each other, Mulvey and Simoes have also learned the value of friendship.

They shared some important lessons they have learned as advice for others.

“Years ago, Mr. Simoes and I taught a class together. We combined two history classes, because they couldn’t hire another teacher. I couldn’t have done that with any other teacher in the school because Mr. Simoes was the only one I could have trusted that much to let my guard down in teaching or put my ego aside in teaching.”

“So, if you can find someone with who you can let your guard down, then that is probably someone you could have as a good friend,” Mulvey said.