1964 English teacher
SARA KATZENSTEIN Sara Katzenstein was a remarkable woman and a gifted teacher who always maintained a no-nonsense, yet caring atmosphere in her classrooms. We called her "Old Lady Katzenstein," (behind her back, of course!), but those of us who were once her students, either at Bretton Woods Elementary or Waverly Junior High, are infinitely better off for having been taught by one of the finest. Sara died peacefully in her sleep at age 102.
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Even at 102, Sara Katzenstein would walk to the dining hall for meals, get her hair done at the beauty shoppe, attend church, and participate in social activities... all within her retirement community. What a grand lady! I visited her in October 2002 at her retirement community in Hialeah, Florida.
Sara taught school for 35 years... nine at Bretton Woods Elementary (it's now the Delta Waverly Library). She later taught at Waverly Junior High (it's now the Intermediate School). You may have had her for 7th grade English back in 1964. She had many fond memories of her years teaching in the Waverly Schools, and told me things about many of my classmates with incredible clarity... even at 102!
My memories of Sara Katzenstein go back to 3rd grade (1960) at Bretton Woods Elementary School (part of Waverly Schools then, but closed long ago). My brother Tom was three years older, and would come home with terrorizing stories about "Old Lady Katzenstein." He would tell me what a mean, terrible person she was... and how I'd better pray I didn't get her when I got to 6th grade. By the time I reached 6th grade, Mrs. Katzenstein had moved on to the Junior High. It was a year later (1964) before I finally met the infamous "Old Lady Katzenstein," now my 7th grade English teacher. It wasn't until then that I learned how totally wrong (or intentionally misleading) my brother had been. She was very strict but very caring, always challenging her students to reach for more. If I have any communication skills at all, it's because Sara Katzenstein put me on that path. I owe much to her. Several years ago, I wrote to Sara and told her my "Old Lady Katzenstein" story. When I visited after that, she'd ask, "Are you here to see that Old Lady Katzenstein again?!" Then she'd laugh.
The US Census Bureau tells us that only one out of every 10,000 Americans lives to see the age of 100, making them a Centenarian. That may be true statistically, but Sara Katzenstein was "one in a million." She was spry, witty, and a joy to be around. A remarkable, lovely lady, especially at 102.
Here are some photos of Sara, along with her niece and nephew Harriet and John Mertz who lovingly attended to all of Sara's needs for so many years.
...Bob Nelson |