Jean L. Kask, teacher of the year, history lover
Sept. 15, 1924—June 26, 2009
Jean Lenore Kask, a retired teacher with a passion for history, died last Friday in Stow, Ohio, after a lengthy illness. She was 84.
A social studies teacher at Orchard Park Middle School for 25 years, Mrs. Kask was praised for making history come alive for her students. She was named a Teacher of the Year, which was awarded to her in Washington, D. C., by the late Jack Kemp when he was congressman.
She was a close friend of Kemp’s from his days with the Buffalo Bills, when she invited him to give inspirational talks to her students. On her educational trips to Washington, D. C., with her students, he visited with them and arranged for her top five students to meet President Ronald Reagan.
She also created an accredited course called World Affairs and advised the World Affairs Club, along with organizing yearly Candlelight Theme Dinners to fund trips to Washington,
D. C., for hundreds of middle school students. She retired in the early 1980s.
A longtime resident of East Aurora, Mrs. Kask was an active member at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, where she taught Sunday school, served on the Altar Guild and coordinated the Font Roll for newborn infants for more than 25 years.
She was a member of the College Club, the Republican National Committee and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She worked as a volunteer for the American Red Cross and was a guide at the Millard Fillmore House in East Aurora.
She was an officer of the Western New York Council for Social Studies and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma National Honor Society.
Born in Buffalo, the former Jean Lenore Rathke was a graduate of West Seneca High School. A talented pianist, she played live on Buffalo radio stations as a teen.
After several years as a homemaker, she earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Buffalo and a master’s degree from Canisius College.
Her husband of 44 years, Arnold D., died in 1988. She moved to Ohio two years ago.
Survivors include a daughter, Deborah Walker.
Services will be held at 10 a. m. today in St. Matthias Episcopal Church, Main and Maple streets, East Aurora.
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