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Scholars' Academy
Dr. Peine's Pen - Special Edition
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Visitation
for Eddie Rabel:
Tuesday, January 5
4:00pm - 6:00pm
University Hills
Baptist Church
1500 Suther Rd.
Burial:
Wednesday at 10:00am.
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We
are deeply saddened to report the loss of two members of our school
community in the past week: Eddie Rabel, father of Alyssa, Eric and Kevin Rabel and Ms.
Turano's father, John Lannon.
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Dr. Peine's Pen - A Special Edition In Memoriam:
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When
you walk in the darkened halls of our school after a holiday break,
without the voices of children in the hall, there is a special feeling
of expectation for what you know will be coming tomorrow. In
appreciation of efforts of people who are dedicated to our school and
its vision for tomorrow, both direct and indirect, we recognize two
important school families:
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In Memoriam - Eddie Rabel
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The Scholars' Academy lost one of its most steadfast supporters this holiday season with the passing of Eddie Rabel, just after New Year's Day. Eddie died of complications from injuries suffered in an automobile accident involving a tractor-trailer late in the fall.
Eddie and his family, Maicel, Alyssa, Eric, and Kevin have been a part of the Scholars' Academy since 1999. With the announcement of a new charter school for highly gifted students in Charlotte, the Rabels were some of the first in line to enroll their children; Alyssa was number 7 and Eric was number 8 in the original class of 60 students who came to the school in the fall of 2000. Alyssa was in the original 2/3 class and Eric was enrolled in the K/1 group. When I came to the school in the spring of 2001, the Rabels were always there to give a hand on the clean-up days, open houses, PTO events such as our original art fairs, and the other numerous volunteer assignments that needed to be done in our start-up school. Kevin joined the school in 2001 in the Kindergarten class.
In June of 2003 Eddie was elected to serve on the Board of Directors. The following year he organized an effort through Wachovia, called Reading First, that brought books and volunteer readers to the school to share texts in Spanish and English with our kindergarten and first grade students. In 2004, when the Board of Directors became serious about a move for the school, Eddie was a leading proponent of the idea, even though the new location was not in his own backyard. He had the vision to recognize that if the school was to grow and continue to fulfill the mission, a larger facility was necessary. To provide additional support, he served as chair of our first transportation committee, helping to fashion many of the policies that provide the guidance for transportation to the school even in 2009-2010. When the school moved in the summer of 2005 the Rabel van and many volunteer hours helped to get all of our stuff situated in the Endhaven Lane location.
At the end of his three year term on the board, Eddie determined that he would contribute to the school in a different way - direct interaction with students. His children were members of the Academic Games League of America team that was one of the school's extra-curricular competitive groups. He assumed the mantle of leader in training for this group and by the 2008-2009 school year, he was the Coach of our AGLOA team. The team was successful at many levels, and the students brought home first place rankings from the 2009 competition.
Alyssa is at the North Carolina School for Science and Math; Eric is a sophomore at Mallard Creek High School; Kevin will graduate from our school this year. We salute Eddie Rabel and his dedication to the mission and vision of our school. We will miss his involvement with our growth.
Visitation for Eddie will be on Tuesday, January 5, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm at University Hills Baptist Church, 1500 Suther Rd. in the University City area of Charlotte. Burial will be Wednesday at 10:00am.
In lieu of other recognition, Maicel requests that memorial contributions be made to the Scholars' Academy annual fund drive in Eddie's name.
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In Memoriam - John Lannon
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For those of us who are parents and grandparents, we hope to have a positive impact on our world and set a good example for our children. Mr. Lannon was that person. John, the father of our upper level science teacher Heather Turano, lost an 18 month battle with cancer at the end of the year.
John had a degree in English from Northeastern University in Illinois and was headed toward teaching when he began working in construction. He was retired and lived in a small town near Phoenix, Arizona with 10 cats and 4 dogs. It was this love of animals and other things in the natural world that we see manifested in Ms. Turano. She recommends that donations be made in his name to the local humane society.
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Please keep these families in your thoughts during the coming year.
Marie
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