Wednesday, January 22, 2020
I knew and deeply respected Gene as a genuine "colleague" at Superior High School. When I arrived to begin the Autism Spectrum Disorders program at SHS in 2004, Gene stood out as a staff member/counselor/friend-of- students-and -staff who soon became my conversation partner, along with Principal Kent Bergum, in deciding "what do we do" with a burgeoning, unfamiliar ASD population among a general student population of 350 and a staff of 100 professionals. Gene was my go-to guy for important conversations on a wider scale or in consideration of the individually diagnosed students who were depending upon us.
Calm, thoughtful, empathetic, and with a sense of hum-or (as in "hum-an") that made our formal and informal conversations productive, I often sought Gene out for astute observations or a simple" we'll see" as we collaborated to take next steps in behalf of the ASD challenges in such a setting.
Farewell, Gene. Godspeed. You have touched your subjects with your love and wisdom.
J.R.S.
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