starlene williams-mars: april 25, 1947 – august 30, 2010
rockford high school’s own mrs. williams-mars, aka star-mars, passed away on monday.
star-mars was my very first high school teacher and one of my absolute favorites. her class was the first to really challenge me and she always pushed me to do better work, especially when i got lazy and wanted to coast. i remember all the competing for the coveted “plus ones” she’d dole out for particularly insightful comments or questions. i remember leading the charge to resurrect the colorado trip with a bizzare gift of a coconut and her disappointment when i wasn’t picked to go. i remember her letting us hide out in her classroom during assemblies. i remember sean sarniak and i coordinating a barrage of circus peanuts on the last day of class. and i remember coming back to rhs during my freshman year at michigan to chat about the good ol’ days.
us nerds will miss you, star-mars.
-srd
I just happened upon her obituary and am saddened to find out she died. She was an early and important scientific influence in my life. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be involved in science today if it weren’t for her earth science class (and credit should go to Chris Kanai’s biology class). To this day I spot terminal moraines and alluvial fans in my travels.