Mark Hershnik (1960-2008)

Mark was steadfast in his determination to connect with kids and bring out their best. His energy and sense of humor were an inspiration to his colleagues as well. The halls of Polson Middle School will feel empty without him.

Mr. Hershnik was my 8th grade English teacher in 1992. My brother currently attends Polson and my sister is now a freshman at Daniel Hand. Neither had the great benefit of having Mr. Hershnik as a teacher but both spoke of him as a tremendous presence in school. I heard about his passing from an email that was forwarded by my parents and must share my shock and sadness at this loss for the Madison school system. I have had many teachers through out my lifetime, including college and graduate school, but few stick in my mind as much as Mr. Hershnik. In fact- I still remember much of the curriculum from that year; Evangeline, Dr. Zhivago, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, John Steinbeck, etc... That was 17 years ago! What a remarkable educator and a true leader. My heart goes out to his current classes and the rest of the community. He expected excellence in his students and I am certain that his memory and legacy lives on in each and every one of us.

Mr Hershnik was recently recognized by the BOE for his excellent teaching skills and contributions to his profession......these contributions were made tangible when revewing the CMT scores and correlating improvement in writing directly with the instruction he provided his students. The impact of his loss cannot be overestimated.

Mark Hershnik is by far one of the most influential teachers any student will ever have. Influential with not only academics but also with helping young people develop self esteem, and become better people.

I was one of Mark's students many moons ago. He has been like a brother to me for over 25 years. As Christina and Meredith say on Grey's Anatomy..... "You are my person" Mark was my person. Mark has been in my life longer than he has not.

Let us all hold his memory close so it may live on for a very, very long time.

Mr. Hershnik was unarguably the most dedicated teacher I have ever known. He made English interesting with the twist with jokes, humor and history. I regret that my class was the last to complete his course and to see his full personality. He is one of the teachers that a student will remember for the rest of their lives and apply the lessons learned in his class. Although he may seem scary at first, his image changed as you got to know him better..
May he rest in peace. His legacy will remain in all his students.

I had the pleasure of talking to Mark just last week at CVS. I had sent him an email last year, mid-year because I wanted to thank him for whatever "magic" he brought daily to his classroom. My daughter was so captivated by his stories, his love of language, his enthusiasm not to mention his singing and the way he teased the kids. He offered tough love and helped them to be the best they could be. I have never seen her changed so much by a single teacher. She and her peers are devastated by this sudden loss. We all are. Mark was a treasure for the Madison Schools and the wider community.

Not only did Mr. Hershnik teach me to be a better writer, but he also influenced hundreds of other students without his knowledge. See, I now am a middle school teacher myself, and have enforced many of his most passionate rules of writing. To anyone who tells me that pre-teens can't write properly, I think back to Mr. Hershnik. To him, there was no other answer. Of course we can be taught to think critically and write properly! Every year I teach I intend on sending Mr. H. and e-mail thanking him. I never did it. This is a lesson for me and hopefully for others. Don't put something off to another day, today is the only day that matters.

God Bless Mr. Hershnik, may you be having a dinner time conversation with Thomas Moore and Mother Teresa.

Mr. Hershnik was my greatest mentor as I am sure he was to countless others. He will always be in our hearts. Rest in peace.

Mr. Hershnik was the best teacher I've ever had - he didn't just teach us about the rules of writing, correct grammar, etc. He taught us about history, the important things in life, virtues and vices, and heroes. It has only been four years, but I remember reading Evangeline and A Man For All Seasons. He always made our entire class laugh and I know we all became the writers we are today because of him. He genuinely cared about every one of his students and he was so passionate about his teaching. He was one teacher that I can say this about: "Mr. Hershnik did not teach to live; Mr. Hershnik lived to teach."

I will miss the startling “Hey, how are ya!” that he would sneak up behind me and yell when I least expected it. He was certainly an entertaining colleague. He made his students and his colleagues laugh on a regular basis and brought smiles to all of our faces. Emerson wrote that part of success is “to laugh often and much”. We certainly did, thanks to Mark.

Forever In Our Hearts<3
He will never be forgotten, and he made a difference to everyone he ever met.
English will never be the same.
We miss you Mr. H

Mark has been such a treasure to all of us. He taught the students, but also the parents. He taught English, but also he modeled caring and giving. He had a wicked sense of humor - those of us who saw him at Kaye Griffin's retirement party can attest to that. No graduation at Polson will ever be the same without him. I'm sad that my younger daughter will never be able to be his student. Mark, you showed us all a better way to live our lives. I hope we will honor your memory by following your example of bringing the best of ourselves to every moment and dedicating ourselves to bettering this town called Madison. Rest in peace. We will always love you.

Mark, we will always love and miss you. I mourn that you won't be teaching our 5th Grader Grace A Man for All Seasons and Evangeline. She won't be singing the Preposition Song, which Sarah composed to memorize all 50 prepositions. She will miss out on your unique blend of high expectations, compassion and humor. And we, as a family, will miss hearing "Hershnik stories" at the dinner table. Where to go now for a copy of Hershnik's Rules of Writing? Polson's "Stepping Forth" will never be the same, and how I regret that I wasn't at the last one.

I don't know if I've ever laughed so hard as at Kaye's retirement party, where yours wicked humor ran amok and had everyone gasping for air. We can say without doubt that you made a very big difference in this world.

Even though I became one of his newest co-workers at Polson this year, he will always be known to me as Mr. Hershnik. I was his student ten years ago at Brown Middle School.
When he was recognized as the Teacher of the Year during the opening festivities in August, and walked up to give his acceptance speech, chills ran down my spine. It hit me, and I realized how blessed I was and always will be to have had Mr. Hershnik as my teacher. His class was more challenging than any other, even compared with my college courses, and to this day I am so extremely grateful for it. He pushed all of the students to our limits and beyond, and brought out the best writers in all of us. Even more than that, he helped us to laugh through it all and learn so much about life itself.
The memories I have of Mr. Hershnik will live on forever. He was a very special man, and everyone who was lucky enough to know him has been truly blessed.

I did not have Mr. Hershnik as an English teacher. Rather, I had the pleasure of having him as a friend. From early on Monday mornings to Saturday Evening Masses, Mr. Hershnik always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He brought something unique to Polson, something that no one else can bring. Mr. Hershnik was like that grand-father figure that one goes to when they need a laugh, or need to escape from the real world just for a moment. He will forever be in my heart, mind, and prayers. God Bless.

Both of my "kids" (27 and 25) were fortunate enough to have had Mark Hershnik in middle school, just 1 year apart from each other. We had 2 years of, for example, Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces" to muddle through. Pure torture at times! I remember writing Mr Hershnik a note telling him that their father and I couldn't even understand the Campbell piece, how could an 8th grader? There must have been a reply, but it escapes me, and they survived and thrived. There are precious few people who have the kind of presence to inspire one to do their best, to reach. Mark went above and beyond with his students, instilling in them his care for the English language, and for the written word. We have him to thank for laying a foundation that has served them well. And, both of my DHHS graduates really appreciated seeing him on graduation day, when he personally congratulated them as they filed out to the green and on to a new life. Thank you, Mark!

I was fortunate to be one of Mr. Hershnik's students when I was at Brown Middle School. He was and forever will be one of the biggest assets not only to my education, but that of many others. He helped to challenge the skills of his students with his infamous "Rules for Writing," all the while maintaining laugher among the seriousness of his teachings with his uncharacterized sense of humor. Although he did not have children of his own, anyone who sat at one of his desks became a member of his family.

Henry David Thoreau once said, "A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting." I think the same can be said for Mr. Hershnik's classes. The lessons I learned then still resonate with me today and will continue to do so long into the future.

Rest in peace Mr. H.

Even now....10 years after having him as a teacher and on a different continent...I keep a copy of "Hershnik's Rules of Writing" with my 'work stuff'. He was an amazing teacher academically and incredibly fun and dynamic in the classroom.

RIP Mr. Hershnik

"Silence gives consent". A Man for All Seasons. Sir Thomas Moore. Never use 'you' in a paper. Contractions in a paper mean automatic F. Don't use fluffy words.....I will remember Mr Hershnik as long as I live

The impact that Mark has had on our son, as a teacher, as a role model, and as a friend, is immeasurable. It is so sad to know that those afternoon phone calls saying “I won’t be taking the bus home today. I want to go over to Polson to visit Mr. Hershnik” will be no more. We will be forever grateful that Mark was a part of our son’s life.

When children learn to sing, they rise up strong.
A song will nourish them.
Each tone, each breath they draw for beauty's sake
Will feed the hunger to excel.
and when the world turns cold,
Then music will be bread
To warm their souls

When children join to sing,
They soon belong.
A song will nourish them.
Each note, each rest they read upon the staff
Will shape a blend of harmony
And when one voice is stilled,
Then music will be bread to keep them whole.

When children learn to sing,
They rise up strong.
They rise up singing a song
To keep them whole.

We know you are singing with a choir of angels.

You will be missed.

Mark we shared many tears and laughs over the last 25 years. We began at Brown School together in 1983, and we planned to retire together. I will miss our walks at Hammo and those student volleyball games. May God welcome you . Rest in Peace my friend.

I did not have Mr. H but like many of the people in our community was touched by his presence and felt great sorrow when hearing of his loss. he will always be remembered by us for the things he has taught us. i remember he could create a smile on the faces of even the saddest child. along with his companion the squeaky rubber rat he would stand outside his room yelling at the students to "get out of the halls!" he will be missed by many but will be remembered by the things he did for everyone who knew his and how he influenced many of our lives. We will all miss you Mr. Hershnik.

I did not have the good fortune of having Mark as my teacher, but it is clear from all of the condolences that he truly cared for and influenced countless people throughout his illustrious teaching career. As his cousin, it is wonderful to read how important he was to so many students and families. He had a genuine passion for people and I distinctly remember Mark saying the two most important things in his life were family and the students he had the pleasure of teaching. He will forever be in my memories and in my heart. God bless you Mark!

I knew Mark Hershnik not as a teacher but as a Scranton Library Patron. Working at the library in Madison, Connecticut is rewarding in so many ways, and getting to know Mark Hershnik as a library patron had its own rewards. He'd always stop by on his way in or out and say hello or goodbye.

I'll miss seeing him.
--
Chris
CJP Photos.com

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

Mr.Hershnik was not only the greatest teacher that I have had, but he was one of the greatest people that I have ever met. He changed my life for the better and left a permanent hand print on my heart. He will be deeply missed, and I thank him for helping me create the person I am today, may he rest in peace.

From the sleeping fog in the ancient valley
To the white caps out at sea
From the pearly whites o'er the mountain proud
To the wizened forest tree
A loss, a loss
All know it well
But the key found here
is not to dwell
And remembrance,
will lead us on
Forge our path
Keep Us Strong.

You will be remembered, friend.

When I think of Mark I hear his wonderful laughter, think of his endearing compassion for others, and recall in admiration his love of learning and of teaching. I shall miss him dearly.
"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."
Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

You were too good for this world. Farewell good friend.

My oldest daughter, Bree Jasmine (Hand '96), had Mr. Hershnik as a teacher in 1992, and his impact on her writing, and self-expectations, will last for her lifetime. Our Sophie (Polson '08) experienced Mr. Hershnik as a very attentive coach for her 8th grade graduation speech last year. Although our Sophie and Brendan(Polson '10) did not get to have Mr. Hershnik as a teacher, they heard many "Mr. Hershnik stories" at home- from Bree, their Mom and I. Mr. Hershnik seemed to see, through the sea of year after year of faces, the individual face and spirit of each student. He always seemed to treat teaching for what it is- a sacred trust; and his insights, high expectations and love for his subject matter, will be a beacon of possibilities and potential- in many people, for many years to come. What a wondrous legacy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and dear friends.

No Farewells

"A whisper in the darkness
An epitaph supreme
A life's full compilation
And fulfillment of a dream

There are no farewells for you this day
I've simply gone before
To set a place for all of you
For whom I do adore

There are no words that can describe
The joy that fills my heart
To think about my thankful life
Of which you are apart

For what now seems a parting
Is really but a phase
That finds us again together
In God’s plan, in future days"

Until that day dear friend. . .

Mr. Hershnik, I hope you can hear this. You truly made a positive difference in the lives of your students and friends. You had high expectations for your students, and were able to inspire them, through your own sense of caring and committment, to meet those expectations. Our loss is immeasurable, but you will always be remembered as the great friend and teacher that you were. We feel lucky to have known you, and thank you for your gifts. May God bless you.

After attending your wake yesterday i saw something that amazed me. down the sidewalks of our town stood a line of people all leading to one spot which on that day represented a becon of remembrance. people flooded our small town to pay their last respects to you. though not everyone knew each other they all had one thing in commen. they had all felt the impact you had on their lives and community they all felt a sadness for your loss but as one of your reletives said. "Mark would not have wanted you to grieve his death but revel in the glory and happiness he brought everyone during his life." i will always remember your smile and your impact on our lives. you will be dearly missed as i still am missing you.
May your soul rest in peace and may you watch down on all of us from your spot in the Lords kingdom and guide us through life.
~Tucker MacGregor

Mark, thank you for the opportunity to know you. As a School Psychologist in the Maidison school system for 30 years, I met thousands of adults and children. Yet you were the only one who had that magical qualiity of breaking out into song with a few bars of a popular tune that was the Number 1 hit in my youth!!!!!!!!!!!! But of course, you did that with everyone you met in the course of the day. How wonderful.

“A great teacher has little external history to record. His life goes over into other lives. These men are pillars in the intimate structures of our schools. They are more essential than its stones or beams, and they will continue to be a kindling force and a revealing power in our lives.
It is a teacher’s burden always to hope that with learning, a boy’s character might be changed and so the destiny of a man." - from "The Emporer's Club"

Mark, your life spilled over into all of ours, friends and students alike. We will keep your exuberant spirit and standards of excellence alive. This world is a better place because you were in it. I am fortunate to have called you my friend.

Mr. Hershnik, You were the best teacher a student could ever wish for. you taught kids to suceed in the classroom as well as suceed in life. you showed many students the right paths to follow to lead a good life. you also devoted ur life for us students. u came to every one of our home polson baseball games and cheered us on. although i didnt wrestle, u also showed up to the wrestling meets to show support for kevin and mike. i will always remember the great times we had in class. especially picking on tommy and hayley, and ur impersonation of nixon. i will miss u always and there will always be a spot in my heart for u.

I remember when I worked at Brown and how Mark always made everyone laugh. I will never forget some of the nicknames Mark had for staff at each school and at central office. "All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others." - Danny Thomas
It's what Mark did for others that made him a special man.

"A true family is not always one's own flesh and blood. It's a matter of the heart." Shirley Barksdale
This beautiful phrase was on the front of a card that Mark had recently given to me.

Mark would come to our restaurant with people that were close to him. He always said, "It feels like family when I am in your restaurant." Upon meeting my sister and mom for the first time, Mark brought them each a bouquet of carnations. I felt like Mark became part of our family during the three years that I was lucky to have known him.

After the beautiful funeral mass, I felt a sense of peace. Mark has made so many people feel important, special, and like a part of his family.

I will treasure our many talks and keep his memory alive in my own daily life.

Mark's remarkable presence will be missed, but I know this community will become stronger because of him.

Mark was a Camp Counselor before he became a teacher. My three brothers and I loved him dearly and always remembered our camp days with him. I am so saddened by his untimely death and feel that, the Madison Education System, St. Margaraet's Church, and of course all those who knew him personally are suffering a great loss.
I will always remember his high voltage smile and how great it was when we got him laughing.
Betsy Meehan

hi iam Melanie delpeschio i miss you

Dear Mark,

I just know you are singing baritone in the choir of the angels and the saints ...and have arranged a position, of course, in very close proximity to Ronald Reagan, Thomas More, and Mother Teresa. Elizabeth Taylor sends her regards and asks you to save her a special place.

Many thanks for your devotion to school and community and the memories you created in the English department that always amused and amazed us.

God bless.

Janet Rylander
Former Coordinator
Language Arts, Brown School

I am always struck by how much we can change eath other. My friends and family often hear me talk about those who have made a difference in my life, and perhaps the greatest of these was Mr. Hershnik. As a 13 year old I was average in every way-- a mediocre student, shy, and deathly afraid to speak up in class. But Mr. Hershnik saw through all that. It was in his class that for the first time I felt seen. He saw me for who I was on the inside and recognized that it was my heart that set me appart and not an arbitrary number or letter on a report card. I can honestly say that Mr. Hershnik is a big part of the reason why I value myself today. There are not too many people I remember from High School, let alone Middle School, but I will NEVER forget Mr. Hershnik. Despite his intelligence, it was his heart that set him apart.

I saw Mr. Hershnik just a week before his passing at Hammonasset. He was walking to the beach while I was driving away. I thought about getting out of the car to let him know what he had done for me. But I kept driving, thinking I would have another chance to let him know. How I wish I had stopped and connected that day, because if there is one thing I learned from Mr. Hershnik, it's that there is no time like the present to extol kindness and grace.

Mr. Hershnik,

I only wish I had taken the time to express my gratitude for your stellar teaching, constant dedication and sincere love for your students. Your presence in my life was a blessing and I miss you.

May your spirit and inspiration live on in everyone that had the good fortune of being one of your students and one of your friends. You have touched many minds and many hearts in this community. You will never be forgotten.

Youy were the only teacher who impacted my life and influenced me to work harder. I am sure everyone feels the same way. I just wish i could have gotten to know you a little more. May you rest in peace

MAtt nolan

You touched the lives of many people, including myself. I only knew you for a couple months, but in that time you made me feel like we had known each other forever. I, as many others do, miss your sense of humor and superior teaching abilities. Rest in peace.
your student and friend,
Matt Griffin (the matter)

Missing you during the Thanksgiving holiday. It will not be the same without you around....

Thought and prayers go out to your family and friends during this holiday season.

I didn't have Mr. Hershnik, but I remember him always telling me to get to class. (And I'm always late) I do miss him being in his room. I remember one time when I was in Science when he yelled down the hallway and said, "I KNOW YOU CAN RUN FASTER! MY GRANDMA CAN RUN FASTER THAN YOU AND SHES DEAD!!!!" He was a funny man, and touched many hearts. He shall be remembered forever and always.

R.I.P Mr. Mark Hershnik <3

May God enjoy your presence as much as we have.

Could use a hug....

For a teacher and mentor who know me better than anyone, there are no words to express what is lost from this world. Mr. Hershnik, we will always remember you, one of the largest personalities and a heart too big for his body. Thank you, for teaching me so much more than English

Happy, happy birthday to my wonderful friend!!!
March 4th will never be the same.
Love you!

Mr. Hershnik was not only just a teacher, he was an inspiration to every life he touched. He really helped his students improve their writing, but more importantly, improve their lives. We will all miss him so much. We will never forget the wonderful things that he did.
~ Emily DeRome, a Hershnikan

Mr. Hershnik was an inspiration to all around him. He will always have a place in my heart. I imagine him in heavan now, seated beside his favorite people Thomas Moore and Mother Teresa. He will never be forgotten

The Hershnik Garden at Polson Middle School is a beautiful remembrance of a terrific person!

Rosalita and Cucaracha are remembering you, your laughter, your sense of humor and most of all your friendship.
We miss you.
Slainte
Oct 13,2009

Missing you man. Got a lot of strength and inspiration for you. Thanks for caring so much. You are easily the most impactful teacher I have ever had in my life. I know you are in a better place.

Much love

DK

Miss you !!!