The world is a little dimmer for me today because I lost a friend. Russell Dart left this world in body but left a legacy that deserves to be celebrated. You could simply say that he was a good man, a husband, father of two sons, grandfather, a teacher, singer, collector, and friend. But that would be reducing him to bullet points. Please let me tell you about the man I knew.
I first knew Russell as a teacher at North Daviess High School. We had moved to the area and enrolled our daughter, Lauren, for her 8th grade year. Shortly thereafter I became a substitute teacher and got to know him. He was a great spirit. He loved teaching, loved the collegial environment, was always positive and joyful and ready with a kind word, a joke, a song or funny story. He had a great sense of humor and a wicked, contagious laugh. He was a person that was “all in.” He enthusiastically taught physics, government and social studies. He was the proud sponsor for the ND American Red Cross blood drive, made sure his students helped man the voting polls each election and headed up the list for students to say the Pledge of Allegiance each morning over the school PA system. He always tried to go to every senior dinner to honor those graduating. As a member of the Top 10 of his class for four years our youngest son, Sam, chose Mr. Dart as the teacher that influenced him the most and he was his honored guest at a special luncheon. Our eldest son, Lucas, did his student teaching under him and was greatly impacted by his love for teaching. He had a real teachers heart.
He was a big supporter of the students entering the science fairs. Lauren’s sophomore year she entered the science fair, mainly because she needed extra credit for her grade in chemistry so she could maintain the grades that we insisted on (A’s and B’s) so she could play sports. She not only won the tri-state regional but qualified to go to the international science fair! She was the first girl in our schools history to accomplish that! Lauren did not stay for the awards assembly after the day of competition, she came home on the bus because she had softball practice early the next morning. The first thing the next morning our phone rang. It was Russell, bursting with excitement! He was overjoyed to report the news and wanted to tell Lauren. She was already at the ball diamond. He drove over there on a Saturday morning just to deliver the news himself. That was the kind of man he was.
He was the announcer for all of the high school football games. He loved football. He enjoyed the students but he was a stickler for the rules. He was an old-school teacher. He had impeccable penmanship. Beautiful handwriting with the perfect amount of flourish. And he did his darndest to teach his students to do the same. He carried a little date book in which made notes and referred to it often. He loved history. He was an avid collector of historical books, documents, maps and calendars. When I worked in the library at the school he would delight in sharing some rare find that he had landed. He knew I loved England and would bring things in to show me that tickled his fancy. He loved the library and books. He loved words and the correct way to spell and use them.
He was a man who not only talked the talk but walked the walk. He loved his church and was the music leader for years. He was compassionate and would visit friends in the hospital, often driving great distances to do so, just to give them a smile, say a prayer of comfort and to let them know they weren’t alone. He and his wife, Sue, made food and brought them to those that were sick or in need with a servant’s heart.
He loved music. Especially Barber-Shop Quartets. He was an active participant in one for decades. He had a lovely voice and loved to sing.
He loved Indiana and was still very active in the business of his little hometown Up North. He was a proud alumnus of Wabash College and tried every year to encourage the young men of ND to go there. Once he was hired as a young teacher at ND he put down roots. He fell in love with a young elementary school teacher and they married, had two sons and made a life together in Odon, IN. He loved the community and was on the board of directors for the local library for many years and served on the town council. He and Sue have a beautiful, historic home right on Main Street and they always decorate for the different holidays and have beautiful, perennial flowers in their yard. He was very proud of his sons but was overjoyed when he was given grandchildren, proudly showing videos and photos of them on his cell phone.
I was sad when he retired almost two years ago. On our last long chat in the library I thanked him, not only for being such a great teacher, but for bringing light to my days. I think it embarrassed him a bit but he thanked me with a smile. I am so glad that I thanked him in person.
Thank you for sharing this little bit of homage to a great man. Russell, your life mattered a great deal, you made a difference in the lives of so many, and you will be missed.
Until next time,
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