The Observation Deck

In today's obits, there was the following notice:

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Essex, Patricia Ann
View/Sign Guest Book
PATRICIA ANN ESSEX, age 73, loving daughter of the late Ora and Virginia Essex; dear sister of Michael (deceased) (Mary) of Elgin, IL.; loving aunt of Douglas (Lisa) and David (Sandra) both of Elgin, IL., and Diane Bergeron (Marc) of Crystal Lake, IL.; great aunt of five. Born in Bucyrus, OH., she was a 1955 graduate of Bowling Green State University, a teacher in the Lakewood Schools for 39 years; member and officer of Lakewood Teachers Assn. and O.E.A.; active in Kappa Delta Sorority, Pan Hellenic Council and College Club West. Patricia was a Deacon, Elder, Sunday school teacher and Chairman of the library at Lakewood Presbyterian Church. She was active in the Lakewood Historical Society. Patricia was a season-ticket holder with the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Play House and The Broadway Series. She was an avid knitter and was a member of a sewing club, bridge club and an investment club. She enjoyed travel with friends. Passed away Friday, Oct. 12, 2007. Funeral Services in The Lakewood Presbyterian Church (14502 Detroit Ave.) Thursday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. Burial Friday, Old Mission Cemetery, Upper Sandusky, OH. at 11 a.m. Friends may call in the McGORRAY BROS. FUNERAL HOME OF LAKEWOOD, 14133 DETROIT AVE., WEDNESDAY 4-8 P.M. Family suggests memorials to The Lakewood Presbyterian Church, 14502 Detroit Ave., Lakewood; or the Lakewood Historical Society, 14710 Lake Ave., Lakewood, OH. 44107. www.cleveland.com/obits

Published in The Plain Dealer from 10/16/2007 - 10/17/2007.
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Miss Essex was my third grade teacher at McKinley. Her classes were fun and creative. That might have been my favorite year in Lakewood schools. In my adult years, I would see her around town, and she always remembered me by name, 20 or 30 years later. Our joke would be "You were my favorite student ever!" I'm sure she told that to all her kids.

If she is not already there, I would like to nominate her to the Lakewood Teacher's Hall of Fame.

Thank you Miss Essex, and may you rest in peace!

Miss Essex was a great teacher and I agree that third grade was made wonderful through her efforts.

She was engaging, encouraging, and expected great things from her classes. She also had a warm sense of humor.

Every child should have a Miss Essex as a teacher.

I didn't know Pat as a teacher. I knew her as wonderful woman with a terrific sense of humor. She made fundraising activities great fun! She devoted a lot of time to the Lakewood Historical Society and I really appreciate all of the time I spent with her. She was a terrific lady and I will miss her.

Rhonda Loje
President
Lakewood Historical Society

Bill Davis wrote:Miss Essex was my third grade teacher at McKinley. Her classes were fun and creative. That might have been my favorite year in Lakewood schools. In my adult years, I would see her around town, and she always remembered me by name, 20 or 30 years later. Our joke would be "You were my favorite student ever!" I'm sure she told that to all her kids.

If she is not already there, I would like to nominate her to the Lakewood Teacher's Hall of Fame.

Thank you Miss Essex, and may you rest in peace!

A good one gone for sure.

May she rest in peace, I gave her very little while in school.


.

Neither did Bill D.

While she may have passed, her impact and memory will live on. Dedicated teachers, are so important in elementary school. Their contribution to childhood development is usually underappreciated but it is instrumental to maintaining our community and society. And so many years later, we still remember them, even as we become the people that they had a hand in creating.

Jeff (McKinley Elementary, class of '66)

I've said this before, and it bears repeating here.

A teacher generally won't have some cold granite statue, dedicated to them in some park; covered in pigeon droppings.

The only monument of consequence that they will ever have, is their students.

Bye Pat. You really made your life count for something. From a couple of teachers to another, just know that we know....

You kept the lamp of knowledge burning brightly.

Bob and Gary Rice

Miss Essex was one of the highlights of my education experience in Lakewood City Schools. She instilled in our remarkable McKinley Class of '66 inspiration and a lifelong love of learning and questioning.

When my husband first taught full-time in Lakewood (2nd grade in 1983), she took the time to seek him out and share with him our 3rd grade "Story Book" of original compositions by - yep, some of your nearest and dearest writers and Observers including Jim O'Bryan, dl meckes, Bill Davis, Chef Jeff Endress, and yours truly. Nearly 20 years after the fact, the book was in pristine condition and she shared specific commentary about each one of us (we really haven't changed at all...).

A memory I'll always treasure, a wonderful woman I'll never forget.

Hmmm...

Hope those comments didn't include anything about dogs and homework...

Of all the Elementary School teachers I had, there's no question that Miss Essex had the greatest impact and is the one teacher about whom I have the clearest memories.

I'm sorry I never made the effort to seek her out and tell her that and thank her.