January 12, 2007

Evergreen SchoolScene

Beloved Valley Christian Middle School teacher Virgil Lorenz loses battle with ALS

By Athena Burgueno
Special to the Times

When Virgil Lorenz, passed away on Dec. 2 after a brief two-month struggle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, his death stunned the Valley Christian campus. Lorenz, 60, was a popular teacher at the VCS middle school for 38 years and in that entire time he only called in sick six times.

Virgil Lorenz, 60, was a popular teacher at the VCS middle school for 38 years and in that entire time he only called in sick six times.

VHS President and Superinten-dent Clifford Daugherty described Lorenz’ last day of work, which was the day before he died, on the school Web site (www.valleychristian.net).

“Mr Lorenz’ lesson plans called for playing soccer in class with his students that day,” wrote Daugherty. “His wheel chair would have deterred most teachers, but not Mr. Lorenz. He illustrated his lesson in his wheel chair, playing soccer in class.” Daugherty also shared that although Lorenz was unable to walk and had difficulty holding up his head, he insisted on going to a facility strategic planning meeting that day. “I’ve got to go,” he told his colleagues, “because I have something to say. It’s time for Valley Christian to build a new junior high campus.”

Saying goodbye
Students, teachers, alumni, family, and friends came together at Lorenz’s memorial service at the school on Saturday, Dec. 9 and celebrated the life of not only an extraordinary educator, but also a superb human being. The tone of the service was kept light at Valley Christian as everyone wore unique ties representing the hundreds of wacky ties Lorenz was given by students and wore each day throughout the year. Fellow faculty members and students reminisced about Lorenz’s knack for finding the humor in any situation and shared stories about the extraordinary teacher whose compassion was evident in his everyday dealings with everyone he met.

The school Web site contains a memorial site where students, parents and staff can leave their condolences and share their stories about the beloved teacher. One week after his death the site contained 282 messages. And, in
the parking lot students have created a memorial of flowers and notes for the teacher they loved.

Virgil Lorenz started his teaching career in 1969. Throughout the years he influenced thousands of eighth grade students, teaching them the importance of learning the inner workings of the United States government. For the average teacher, teaching year after year about such a subject might be monotonous and dull, but Lorenz was anything but average. He brought history to life for his students with enthusiasm and a sense of humor.

Lorenz’s vibrant energy was like a stamp that engraved itself on everyone he came into contact with. Former students and teachers recall Lorenz jumping and shouting around the classroom in order to prove a point. Eighth grader Amanda Burgueno, 14, remembered specifically the time “Mr. Lorenz skateboarded in class. ...[The whole class] thought he was going to fall!” and yet every time he persistently achieved his goal of helping young minds grasp and comprehend history.

In 2000, Virgil received the honorary Valley Christian Crystal Apple Award as Teacher of the Millennium and in 2005
he received the Teacher of the Year award from San Jose Magazine. These are just a few of his many awards, however, throughout his lifetime he remained humble and focused on the task at hand: educating young minds.

His best friend and colleague Kirk Booth remembered the many times Lorenz’s classroom shook due to Virgil’s passionate teaching methods. “Virgil put living ink before Jefferson’s pen every year,” said Booth who taught next door to Lorenz. “He was the amen voice behind the echo of our first president’s prayers, each year he moved Cornwallis’ hand to yield his sword, he voted 38 times for the Bill of Rights, and he was the thunder in every gavel stroke that shaped our nation.”

Lorenz and his wife Gay enjoyed a simple lifestyle living in a doublewide mobile home on the property of a quaint recreational summer camp. When Lorenz was not teaching, he was managing the property by mowing the lawn or using his skilled craftsmanship to build bunk beds for the children that visited occasionally. As one former student, Kellye Clark, 17, said “Mr. Lorenz was always on his feet ready to help someone else, he always was around to give
a helping hand!”

Lorenz lived a fulfilling life, although not by the norm that society sets for people such as attaining a big house or an expensive car, but by the contentment he received from pursuing his dream. Throughout Lorenz’s 38 years of teaching, it was evident that he loved what he did and he did it very well.

Although he is gone, his memory will live on within the hearts of his wife, Gay Lorenz, his mother, Dorothy Lorenz, his children, Glenn and Wendy Lorenz, his grandchildren, and the 6,000 students he taught over the past three decades.

As former student Alex Rudzinski, 17, concluded, “He was one of a kind, we will never forget his crazy antics nor will we ever forget the true man behind the ties.”

Donations made be made toward the care of Virgil Lorenz’ widow, Gay Lorenz, by sending a check designated "In Loving
Memory of Mr. Lorenz" to Valley Christian Schools, 100 Skyway Drive, San Jose, CA 95111. Mrs. Lorenz has asked that in lieu
of flowers, memorial contributions may also be made to the Valley Christian Schools India Project and/or to the Willowvale Community Church Scholarship fund. Checks may be sent to Willow Vale Community Church 1730 Curtner Avenue, San Jose,
CA 95125.

Athena Burgueno is a senior at Valley Christian High School.