Since our family wrote this obit, and it says it the best, I am using it to hopefully give you a little bit of a feel for what a wonderful person Gary was. Over 500 students, staff, community members, and family attended his memorial service. As a family member, I cannot express what it meant to all of us to feel that support from so many in Brattleboro. To all those whose lives were touched by Gary, thank you for telling us your stories and writing down your memories. We miss him enormously.
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From his family:
Gary Leigh Hegberg Blomgren of Dummerston, Vt., died at home on Wednesday November 28, 2012, at the age of 60. He passed peacefully in the presence of his family after a brief battle with cancer.
Gary was born in Normal, Illinois, on January 17, 1952, to father, Dean (deceased), surviving mother, Roberta (Fickling) and brother, William. His education from grade school to his Master's of Science at Illinois State University was completed in his hometown of Normal. In 1994 he was awarded the honorary degree of Master's of Art by Marlboro College of Vermont.
Gary began his distinguished teaching career in 1975 at the elementary level. In 1984 the Blomgren family moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he started his position at Brattleboro Union High School. At BUHS, he served as department head for many years and was an exemplary school leader. He always valued students as people first, not merely members of a class. Gary's love of students was manifested in his everyday practice of teaching and in his ability to form warm, genuine and inspired relationships.
In all his endeavors, Gary's work ethic was evident ranging from facilitating the Asian American Cultural Exchange to the development of the BUHS-TV production program. He worked enthusiastically with Brattleboro's vibrant arts community to involve students in downtown installations, Student Art Month shows and specialized community events such as The Strolling of the Heifers. In the BUHS community, Gary guided his department and students in creating arts celebrations, shows, and other events. He also established the annual student art purchases prize, featuring the best of each year's art graduates in a growing art gallery. Gary's innate humor, warmth, and kindness to each person made him one of the school community's most beloved members, a gifted teacher, mentor, and friend. Gary will be greatly missed at BUHS, but his legacy of compassion, humor, and love will resonate for generations.
Family was first and foremost in Gary's life. He married his true love Patricia Ann Brown of Bloomington, Illinois, on September 2, 1977. Together they had four children, Jennifer, Joshua, Jesse and Benjamin, and five grandchildren, Riley, Noah, Katherine, Isabella, and Jaxon. Gary is remembered for his unconditional love and as a supportive father who always made time for his family. One of his favorite pastimes was family gatherings where his epic command of the grill and recreation of his Aunt Nancy's Christmas Casserole were beloved. He was a devoted husband and dedicated father and grandfather.
Gary has left the world the incredible gifts of his kindness, creativity, generosity, brilliance and an unwavering devotion to share the beauty and happiness he found all around him. His contributions to the communities of Brattleboro, Normal and the many locations to which his world journeys brought him are enduring and invaluable.
...Special thanks are made to the staff at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Bayada Hospice, and Rescue, Inc. for exemplary care. Thanks to Brattleboro Union High School for steadfast employment and education of all Gary's children, and to the many generous individuals and families for their thoughts, prayers and gifts to the Blomgren family.
_________________________________
From his family:
Gary Leigh Hegberg Blomgren of Dummerston, Vt., died at home on Wednesday November 28, 2012, at the age of 60. He passed peacefully in the presence of his family after a brief battle with cancer.
Gary was born in Normal, Illinois, on January 17, 1952, to father, Dean (deceased), surviving mother, Roberta (Fickling) and brother, William. His education from grade school to his Master's of Science at Illinois State University was completed in his hometown of Normal. In 1994 he was awarded the honorary degree of Master's of Art by Marlboro College of Vermont.
Gary began his distinguished teaching career in 1975 at the elementary level. In 1984 the Blomgren family moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he started his position at Brattleboro Union High School. At BUHS, he served as department head for many years and was an exemplary school leader. He always valued students as people first, not merely members of a class. Gary's love of students was manifested in his everyday practice of teaching and in his ability to form warm, genuine and inspired relationships.
In all his endeavors, Gary's work ethic was evident ranging from facilitating the Asian American Cultural Exchange to the development of the BUHS-TV production program. He worked enthusiastically with Brattleboro's vibrant arts community to involve students in downtown installations, Student Art Month shows and specialized community events such as The Strolling of the Heifers. In the BUHS community, Gary guided his department and students in creating arts celebrations, shows, and other events. He also established the annual student art purchases prize, featuring the best of each year's art graduates in a growing art gallery. Gary's innate humor, warmth, and kindness to each person made him one of the school community's most beloved members, a gifted teacher, mentor, and friend. Gary will be greatly missed at BUHS, but his legacy of compassion, humor, and love will resonate for generations.
Family was first and foremost in Gary's life. He married his true love Patricia Ann Brown of Bloomington, Illinois, on September 2, 1977. Together they had four children, Jennifer, Joshua, Jesse and Benjamin, and five grandchildren, Riley, Noah, Katherine, Isabella, and Jaxon. Gary is remembered for his unconditional love and as a supportive father who always made time for his family. One of his favorite pastimes was family gatherings where his epic command of the grill and recreation of his Aunt Nancy's Christmas Casserole were beloved. He was a devoted husband and dedicated father and grandfather.
Gary has left the world the incredible gifts of his kindness, creativity, generosity, brilliance and an unwavering devotion to share the beauty and happiness he found all around him. His contributions to the communities of Brattleboro, Normal and the many locations to which his world journeys brought him are enduring and invaluable.
...Special thanks are made to the staff at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Bayada Hospice, and Rescue, Inc. for exemplary care. Thanks to Brattleboro Union High School for steadfast employment and education of all Gary's children, and to the many generous individuals and families for their thoughts, prayers and gifts to the Blomgren family.
Since our family wrote this obit, and it says it the best, I am using it to hopefully give you a little bit of a feel for what a wonderful person Gary was. Over 500 students, staff, community members, and family attended his memorial service. As a family member, I cannot express what it meant to all of us to feel that support from so many in Brattleboro. To all those whose lives were touched by Gary, thank you for telling us your stories and writing down your memories. We miss him enormously.
_________________________________
From his family:
Gary Leigh Hegberg Blomgren of Dummerston, Vt., died at home on Wednesday November 28, 2012, at the age of 60. He passed peacefully in the presence of his family after a brief battle with cancer.
Gary was born in Normal, Illinois, on January 17, 1952, to father, Dean (deceased), surviving mother, Roberta (Fickling) and brother, William. His education from grade school to his Master's of Science at Illinois State University was completed in his hometown of Normal. In 1994 he was awarded the honorary degree of Master's of Art by Marlboro College of Vermont.
Gary began his distinguished teaching career in 1975 at the elementary level. In 1984 the Blomgren family moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he started his position at Brattleboro Union High School. At BUHS, he served as department head for many years and was an exemplary school leader. He always valued students as people first, not merely members of a class. Gary's love of students was manifested in his everyday practice of teaching and in his ability to form warm, genuine and inspired relationships.
In all his endeavors, Gary's work ethic was evident ranging from facilitating the Asian American Cultural Exchange to the development of the BUHS-TV production program. He worked enthusiastically with Brattleboro's vibrant arts community to involve students in downtown installations, Student Art Month shows and specialized community events such as The Strolling of the Heifers. In the BUHS community, Gary guided his department and students in creating arts celebrations, shows, and other events. He also established the annual student art purchases prize, featuring the best of each year's art graduates in a growing art gallery. Gary's innate humor, warmth, and kindness to each person made him one of the school community's most beloved members, a gifted teacher, mentor, and friend. Gary will be greatly missed at BUHS, but his legacy of compassion, humor, and love will resonate for generations.
Family was first and foremost in Gary's life. He married his true love Patricia Ann Brown of Bloomington, Illinois, on September 2, 1977. Together they had four children, Jennifer, Joshua, Jesse and Benjamin, and five grandchildren, Riley, Noah, Katherine, Isabella, and Jaxon. Gary is remembered for his unconditional love and as a supportive father who always made time for his family. One of his favorite pastimes was family gatherings where his epic command of the grill and recreation of his Aunt Nancy's Christmas Casserole were beloved. He was a devoted husband and dedicated father and grandfather.
Gary has left the world the incredible gifts of his kindness, creativity, generosity, brilliance and an unwavering devotion to share the beauty and happiness he found all around him. His contributions to the communities of Brattleboro, Normal and the many locations to which his world journeys brought him are enduring and invaluable.
...Special thanks are made to the staff at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Bayada Hospice, and Rescue, Inc. for exemplary care. Thanks to Brattleboro Union High School for steadfast employment and education of all Gary's children, and to the many generous individuals and families for their thoughts, prayers and gifts to the Blomgren family.
_________________________________
From his family:
Gary Leigh Hegberg Blomgren of Dummerston, Vt., died at home on Wednesday November 28, 2012, at the age of 60. He passed peacefully in the presence of his family after a brief battle with cancer.
Gary was born in Normal, Illinois, on January 17, 1952, to father, Dean (deceased), surviving mother, Roberta (Fickling) and brother, William. His education from grade school to his Master's of Science at Illinois State University was completed in his hometown of Normal. In 1994 he was awarded the honorary degree of Master's of Art by Marlboro College of Vermont.
Gary began his distinguished teaching career in 1975 at the elementary level. In 1984 the Blomgren family moved to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he started his position at Brattleboro Union High School. At BUHS, he served as department head for many years and was an exemplary school leader. He always valued students as people first, not merely members of a class. Gary's love of students was manifested in his everyday practice of teaching and in his ability to form warm, genuine and inspired relationships.
In all his endeavors, Gary's work ethic was evident ranging from facilitating the Asian American Cultural Exchange to the development of the BUHS-TV production program. He worked enthusiastically with Brattleboro's vibrant arts community to involve students in downtown installations, Student Art Month shows and specialized community events such as The Strolling of the Heifers. In the BUHS community, Gary guided his department and students in creating arts celebrations, shows, and other events. He also established the annual student art purchases prize, featuring the best of each year's art graduates in a growing art gallery. Gary's innate humor, warmth, and kindness to each person made him one of the school community's most beloved members, a gifted teacher, mentor, and friend. Gary will be greatly missed at BUHS, but his legacy of compassion, humor, and love will resonate for generations.
Family was first and foremost in Gary's life. He married his true love Patricia Ann Brown of Bloomington, Illinois, on September 2, 1977. Together they had four children, Jennifer, Joshua, Jesse and Benjamin, and five grandchildren, Riley, Noah, Katherine, Isabella, and Jaxon. Gary is remembered for his unconditional love and as a supportive father who always made time for his family. One of his favorite pastimes was family gatherings where his epic command of the grill and recreation of his Aunt Nancy's Christmas Casserole were beloved. He was a devoted husband and dedicated father and grandfather.
Gary has left the world the incredible gifts of his kindness, creativity, generosity, brilliance and an unwavering devotion to share the beauty and happiness he found all around him. His contributions to the communities of Brattleboro, Normal and the many locations to which his world journeys brought him are enduring and invaluable.
...Special thanks are made to the staff at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Bayada Hospice, and Rescue, Inc. for exemplary care. Thanks to Brattleboro Union High School for steadfast employment and education of all Gary's children, and to the many generous individuals and families for their thoughts, prayers and gifts to the Blomgren family.
