|
11th grade class photo (1971)
It is with a great deal of sadness and a heavy heart that we share with you the passing of Teri Glover Iriart
Teri's loving sister Connie Glover Watt requested that we share this very sad occasion with Teri's friends and classmates.
Teri died suddenly in her sleep Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Teri was a much loved teacher as evidenced by this touching tribute by the Orange County Register:
Popular Trabuco Canyon elementary school teacher dies
By ERIKA I. RITCHIE / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
TRABUCO CANYON – Teachers at Robinson Elementary will start the first day of school Thursday on an unexpected and sad note.
On Tuesday, they learned that longtime teacher Teri Iriart died suddenly in her sleep. She was 57.
"We've been reeling," said Jon Kaplan, principal at Robinson. "We're coming together here as a big family. Today isn't a regular workday, but I've already met with all but three teachers here at the school."
Iriart of Trabuco Canyon had been preparing her fifth-grade classroom, and she and Kaplan had just spoken Friday, he said.
"This was going to be her last year teaching," he said. "She was always so positive and upbeat. You could hear her laugh for a long ways out. The kids loved her and her fifth-grade team loved her. I'll miss her triple 'thank yous.'"
Kaplan said Iriart had been at Robinson Elementary since the school opened in 1994.
Don Snyder, principal at Del Lago Elementary School in Mission Viejo, worked with Iriart for six years when he was Robinson principal.
"She was a very energetic, fun-loving lady who cared deeply about people," Snyder said. "She was one of those people to whom laughter came easily. She found great joy in the kids. She took her responsibility seriously but didn't take herself seriously."
"I'm floored by the whole thing," he added. "It points out how fragile life is and how we should enjoy every minute. I'm sure that's what Teri would have said."
Robinson colleague Julie Stowers, who worked with Iriart for 15 years, was among teachers gathered at the school on Tuesday.
"Everybody had just seen her in the last few days," Stowers said. "It will be very different starting school now."
Kaplan said counselors will be at the school Wednesday to help teachers adjust and to help them notify parents and students. He said counseling for students is still being discussed.
"We have to be right with ourselves before we can be right with students," he said.
Contact the writer: 949-454-7307, eritchie@ocregister.com or twitter.com/lagunaini
Obituary
Published in Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on September 11, 2012
Iriart, Theresa (Teri)
November 18, 1954 - September 4, 2012
A loving Wife, Mother, Teacher, Sister, and Child, Teri passed away peacefully in her sleep. While we lost her earlier than any- one could have imagined, she lived a very rich and joyful 57 years. She was fun-loving with a bright and beautiful smile. Her positive energy could always be felt, and her laughter brought great happiness to those around her. She cared very much about her family, and she was considered a close friend to so many people.
Teri is survived by her husband Ken of 36 years, son Greg, daughter Katie, sisters Patsy, Judy, Denise, Connie, and brother Tim. She had many wonderful nieces and nephews who all knew that "Aunt Teri" cared very much about them. She was a wonderful life companion to her husband Ken, and she has given him so much to remember.
As a long-time teacher, she loved her students as much as her family and friends. She cared about their development and believed in teaching the importance of rules and manners as well as educational content. She made learning fun for her students, and she took great pride when observing their development and later life achievements. She was described by one of her past principals as "…a very energetic, fun-loving lady who cared deeply about people. She found great joy in the kids." Her current principal noted, "The kids loved her and her fifth grade team loved her. I will miss her…"
Of her many passions, she had a spirit of adventure and loved to travel. She enjoyed music, dancing, dining out with friends, golf, and simple pleasures such as finding sea glass along the beach.
|
Mike Olivieri (1975)
Sad to see Teri has passed I worked with her at Marie Callenders in the mid '70's. a fun gril with lots of spunk. RIP Teri