Teacher honored with prayer service

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
May 27, 2004

REMSEN - St. Mary's High School in Remsen honored a teacher who recently died by having a prayer service, planting a tree in his memory and helping to send his daughter to a Bible camp. He was a well respected and faith filled man according to many who knew him.

Doug Martin taught English and psychology at St. Mary's for six years before he died on May 7 of an infection caused by surgery. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma.

"It was like losing a family member because St. Mary's High School is a family," said Ken Hajek, principal at St. Mary's. "We are close knit. Everybody was affected because he was a positive asset to our school."

At the prayer service on May 18, Martin's family was present including his wife, Angela; daughter, Michaela; his brother and sister-in-law and his father. The service was about 15 minutes long.

"Doug was a man who truly lived his faith," said Mary Arens, religion teacher and spiritual life director at St. Mary's. "He didn't just talk it. He walked it. I always had total admiration for his faith and his teaching."

They dedicated an apple tree to be planted in the Memory Garden located on the west side of St. Mary's in remembrance of Martin. The Memory Garden is to remember St. Mary's students, alumni and staff who have died.

At the beginning of the service, each person received a balloon. The balloons were released at the end of the service during the song, "Come to Jesus." This was a symbol of Martin going to heaven.

The students, faculty and staff donated a $335 check for Michaela to attend a Bible camp during the summer.

Throughout the prayer service, songs were played and poems and Scripture were read that reminded the crowd of Martin. Each class also had the chance to present their gifts to Angela and Michaela.

"He was very knowledgeable in the English area," said Hajek. "He challenged the students. He did indeed prepare our students for college in that area."

Martin was the individual speech coach and had several students who attended state. He was also nominated and selected for Whose Who Among School Teachers in 2004.

"He was really respected by his colleagues and the students," said Kevin Kahler, a teacher at St. Mary's. "He would go that extra mile to help out the kids. He really prepared our kids well for doing college papers."

Kahler added that Martin was knowledgeable about worldly things so they had interesting discussions at lunch on different issues.

"He was always willing to talk about God in class," said Hajek. "He also portrayed the Catholic faith because we are a Catholic institution. Even though he was not of Catholic denomination, all of his verbal expressions were always in the Catholic viewpoint. The kids felt comfortable with that."

When the St. Mary's family found out Martin was ill, they made a big banner and took it to him. Arens wrote on the banner "hurry back because I miss learning through the walls." She explained that her office was next to Martin's classroom, and he was animated when he talked. She could hear him teaching through the wall.

"He was filled with so much zest and vigor," said Arens. "I would hear him many times speaking. I would often think, 'he is right on target with teaching the students - anything from Shakespeare to psychology.'"

Arens continued that many students have said that Martin was the best teacher that they have ever had. She explained that he taught them not only in the classroom but also through his daily actions. He could be on the students' level or an authority figure, whatever the situation called for.

Some students added comments about the impact that Martin had on their lives. Stacy Nacke, Lisa Kelley and Kendra Haverkamp noted that Martin was a smart, enthusiastic, inspirational and funny teacher whom they will never forget.

"Words cannot describe how great of a person Mr. Martin was," said Kendra Klein, a St. Mary's student. "He was the most unselfish person I knew, always giving up for those in need. He was a very special teacher who will be in my heart forever."