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Field school gathers to remember teacher
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• View the webisode montage from the dedication and reception at www.northbrook.suntimes.com.
• Visit www.dist31.k12.il.us
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Updated: December 23, 2012 6:09AM
NORTHBROOK — West Northfield School District 31 on Monday remembered Dan Razes, a much-loved assistant principal and biology/health instructor (from 1970-2011), who died suddenly of a heart attack in July.
Razes, of Buffalo Grove, was 63.
Students, parents, staff and family of Mr. Razes gathered Nov. 12 in the Field Middle School auditorium for music and tributes by Field graduates.
The 3 p.m. dedication concluded with a reception in the commons area, which was renamed in Razes’ honor.
Razes died while shopping for items related to his interest in biology, said his daughter, Cally Razes, 22, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana.
“He was actually at an estate sale, and he loved finding little knick knacks for a good price,” said Cally, who lives with her mother Anna in Lake Zurich.
“He found something that would capture slugs and he was really excited (about it),” Cally said with a laugh.
Cally, who has one brother, Robert, 24, has a biology degree and shares her father’s passion for science. She became tearful in the auditorium.
“It’s amazing coming here now and just seeing all this,” she said. “There was no parking outside, there were so many people ... Just seeing and hearing from the kids themselves. That’s amazing in middle school, you’re so impressionable. It’s very touching, that’s my dad, you know ...”
Alexandra Nicholson, District 31 superintendent, held the door to the auditorium as students streamed back to class, or to the reception where a portion of the teacher’s tie collection was displayed.
“Well, when I think about Mr. Razes, I think about what the kids just said – the smile on his face, extremely supportive, hardworking, “ Nicholson said. “He just touched many lives, we’ll miss him greatly.”
