Longtime Nordonia High School science teacher remembered as innovative

Pioneering. Innovative. Those were just two of the words used to describe John O'Brien, a longtime science teacher at Nordonia High School.

Superintendent Joe Clark said O'Brien, 68, who had been with the high school for nearly 25 years, died Nov. 26 after an 8-year battle with lung cancer.

"We are saddened by the loss to our school community, and send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Ellen, and the entire O’Brien family," Clark said. "Even while undergoing multiple treatments for cancer, Mr. O’Brien showed up for Nordonia students every day. Teaching was his passion for almost 25 years. He was also a beekeeper, cyclist, gourmet chef, accomplished woodworker, mechanical engineer, father, husband, and cherished friend. His life experiences and stories often made their way into his classroom and many of his students valued his grounded perspective and kind heart."

In honor of O'Brien, who would have celebrated his 69th birthday Dec. 2 and who lived in Aurora, staff and students were encouraged to wear green on Dec. 2 and sold paper shamrocks that students and staff could write messages to his family, Clark said. Proceeds from the shamrock sales, which were around $1,500, were donated to the American Lung Association in O'Brien's memory.

Barb McMichael, the science department chair at the high school, said O'Brien was a mechanical engineer before he decided to become a teacher.

"After 20 years in engineering, he felt he wasn't making a difference in people's lives, so he left engineering and started a teaching career," McMichael said. "He had a very special gift for reaching at-risk and difficult students. He also wrote an engineering and design class which included bridge building and launching pressurized rockets and investigating environmental issues."

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O'Brien, who was voted Teacher of the Year in 2019 for the district, came up with several innovative ideas to make science and engineering accessible and even fun for his students, McMichael said.

"He helped to pioneer the tradition of Physics Day, where we take students to Cedar Point," she said. "They go around applying physics principles to the rides." McMichael added that he started this in 1998. "He believed in a hands-on approach to learning science, so he incorporated a lot of activities in his class to make science relevant to students' lives."

Louise Teringo, the principal at the high school, said the family has had private services and plan to have a Celebration of Life sometime in the spring.

Students who are struggling with this loss are encouraged to reach out to Zach Miley, crisis team coordinator, at zachary.miley@nordoniaschools.org or 330-908-6171.

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Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Longtime Nordonia High School teacher remembered for compassion