TESS STRAUCH
The impact that you have had on every aspect of my life is near impossible to put into words. From a daughter developing her character, to a student mastering her academics, to a young adult discovering her passions, to a wife learning to love and respect her partner, to a mother attempting to inspire her own daughter, you have been the guiding light. You challenge me to be the best person I can be for myself, my family, my students and society as a whole.
We both know that I have difficulty expressing myself (am I crying already?), especially through writing, so to illustrate the profound impact you have had on me as an individual, daughter, wife and mother, I have gathered a few photos highlighting our wonderful life.
All of these memories and gifts that I cherish ran parallel to your life at work. Now that I am a working mom, I can only begin to grasp the amount of time and energy spent on doing both things so well. The relationships that have stemmed from your career highlight the immense impact you had as an educator. The responses we have received for this book illustrate your strong connection to so many current and former students and colleagues. The fact that you were able to provide so much support in and out of the classroom, in addition to raising three pretty awesome kids, is incredible.
Thank you for being the best father and role model. I love you!
Every morning, you braided my hair before school. And my hair was not short, as you probably remember clearly! This seems like a trivial thing but it is a core memory of my childhood. I cherished the time spent with you, even when the brush pulled one too many tangles.
My love for sports stemmed from the support you consistently showed me throughout my childhood. I vividly remember your attendance at almost all of my soccer and basketball games. This seems silly, but I loved it when you were able to make away games and we got to go through the McDonald’s drive-through on the way home! You showing up (sometimes rather vocally when the referees were particularly poor) after a long day of work highlighted your consistent commitment.
Our love for music can clearly be traced to you—rows and rows of CDs and records lining the hallway. Tunes (and NPR) blasting for the duration of our 24 hour drives to Florida. Encouraging us to try various instruments (and even gifting said instrument for Christmas one year!)
We have Nana to thank for this tradition and while it may not be the most enjoyable moment on our birthdays, it is still a favorite of mine. We have lots of ear pulling to look forward to in the future with our growing family!
Through you, I formed so many core memories. Birthday parties with the parachute, bike rides, using the old Subaru to learn about cars, learning to change tires in the high school parking lot, etc. The skills you taught and the support you provided built a foundation that I appreciate so deeply.
My love of animals was influenced by you and mom alike. You care just as deeply for your animals as you do friends and family. They are your family. My animals have taught me a lot and have brought me so much happiness.
You love friends as if they are family. You have had many chapters of your life and have made strong relationships throughout each. You show up and care deeply for each individual no matter what chapter you are currently living. From Rick to Ed to Jorge to Tim, your care for others has translated into my strong relationships over the years. Thank you for this.
The importance of academics was always emphasized in our family. You put pressure on me to do well in school to allow myself the freedom to explore my interests in the future. You care about what we care about. You encourage us to pursue what we love. From preschool graduation through college graduation, your persistent support and encouragement allowed me to persevere through the challenges of academics and discover what I love to do, which I get to do every day in the classroom.
Your role as Umpy. When your name is said aloud, all three girls perk up their ears and eagerly look for you. They love you as much as you love them. As a parent, I could not ask for more. I cannot wait to watch your relationship with them continue to blossom.
And finally, our family. You have taught me to love family deeply and unconditionally. We are our strongest support system. Congratulations on your retirement, Dad. I’m so proud of you and love you deeply.