When a major or minor celebrity dies it\’s on every major and not so
major website on the internet, you\’ll hear about it for months… Did
those celebrities really change your life?

The other day on ClearysNoteBook the announcement read………Breaking News……

It has been confirmed that Tom Gurchick, a retired Gloucester City High
Teacher was fatally injured on Friday afternoon when he lost control of
his car and hit a tree near the corner of Morris Street and Johnson
Blvd. Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they become
available.

This man has never acted in a single movie. Instead, he was just a
simple science teacher from a small town of Gloucester City, NJ. He
taught practically my whole family including members in two different
generations.

They say the best way to cope is to write or read a story.

It\’s not a big secret that I was a lower then average student. Was I
extremely smart? Definitely. Just lazy, not interested. I easily failed
the first marking period with the lack of homework, test scores, and
participation.

He had the habit of letting us grade each others papers. Only rule is
you pass to the left so you didn\’t get to chose your trade partner. I
was lucky enough to have Ron Sellers next to me. Not exactly a nice
guy, but in the same situation as me. So naturally, we \”helped\” each
other out, and we started pulling good test and quiz grades. Gurchick
was impressed. It almost felt good to get his approval with these
grades.

So with test/quizzes being only 30% of our grade I started doing my
homework every night. Then when projects came up, I actually did them.
Did very well too. The whole time I was proud because \”I\’m cheating the
system\”. I\’m pulling a 97 in this class and cheating to do it! When
announcing grades he made it a point to point out how we went from an F
to an A in a single marking period. Not many people have ever done
that. This lasted for the last two marking periods. I finished with a
98% for the year, including mid-terms and final exams that couldn\’t
really be cheated on.

The last day of class he called me over to his desk and told me he knew
the whole time.

Actually he said \”You classclowns have been cheating
since October 12th\”. Confused, I asked him why… He told me it was the
only way I could get you to learn the material. As time went on, he
said he saw less and less cheating on our tests and quizzes and more
correct answers the first time.

Wow. Well played, Mr. Gurchick. Well played…

signed, Mike

Related: Breaking News

MCNAMEE, ROBERT P.
On February 15, 2008, of Brooklawn, formerly of Bellmawr. Age 47.
Beloved son of Bernard and Elaine (nee Guarini). Dear brother of Christine McNamee and Michelle McPoyle (Jack). Loving uncle of Bridgette Heisler, Shawn McPoyle and Matthew McPoyle. Also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mr. McNamee worked for Pedroni Fuels and was a retired volunteer fireman with Bellmawr Park Volunteer Fire Co.
Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing from 7 to 9 pm Wednesday eve and 8:15 to 9:15 am Thursday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass 10 am Thursday at Annunciation BVM Church, Bellmawr. Interment New St. Mary\’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. Expressions of sympathy may be e-mailed to:
[email protected].

MANGAN, DEBORAH
(nee Watt) On Feb. 15, 2008 after a long battle with breast cancer, age 61, a lifelong Haddonfield resident and beloved wife of Thomas J.
Also survived by her sister, Susan W. Gowen (Ernest L.) of Olympia Fields, IL, her sisters-in-law, Mary K. Cahill of Lake George, NY and Ann M. Engle (Stephen) of Binghamton, NY, 2 nieces, Maureen A. & Kathryn L. Cahill, 4 nephews, Thomas R. & Daniel S. Engle and Daniel W. (Susanne) & Timothy R. Gowen and 1 great-nephew, Matthew C. Gowen. She was predeceased by her parents George N. & Harriet (nee Widerman) Watt.
Mrs. Mangan graduated from Haddonfield Memorial HS in 1965 and Moravian College in Bethlehem in 1969. She was Vice President of Compliance at Colonial Penn Insurance Co. in Philadelphia for many years. Then she became Vice President/Comp-troller of LEAD Technologies in Haddonfield.
Mrs. Mangan\’s family will receive friends, Tuesday Evening, 6-9 PM, at KAIN-MURPHY FUNERAL SERVICES, 15 West End Ave., Haddon-field, NJ. Her Service will follow on Wed., 11 AM, at the First Presbyterian Church, 20 E. Kings Hwy., Haddon-field, NJ. Interment, Baptist Cem., Haddon-field.
Memorial donations may be given in Mrs. Mangan\’s name to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.

KENNEDY, ANNE M.

(nee McGee) of National Park on Feb. 13, 2008. Anne was a loving woman, devoted entirely to her family and brought happiness and strength to all.
Anne lived in the Cramer Hill Section of Camden for many years before moving to National Park 35 years ago. As a young girl, Anne worked for Campbell Soup and personally supported WWII efforts at the NY Shipyard, Camden. Helping her father build their family home years ago was a testament to both her physical and emotional strength she possessed. Her family will miss her quick wit, tender loving care and how much joy she brought into everyone\’s life.
She is the beloved wife of the late James G., Sr.; devoted mother of James G., Jr. (Nancy L.) and Anne K. Borreggine; loving grandmother of Nicholas (Michele) and Deanna Borreggine and great grandmother of Micaela.
Relatives & friends are invited to attend her viewing Mon. 6:30-9PM and Tues. 8:30-9:15 AM in the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME, 34 Hunter St., Woodbury. Funeral Mass Tues., 10 AM, St. Matthew RC Church, National Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Convent of Divine Love (Pink Sisters) 2212 Green St., Phila., PA 19130 or to Children\’s Hosp. Found., PO Box 827790, Phila., PA 19182.
Tributes and memories may be shared at: www.mcgfuneral.com
McGUINNESS
FUNERAL HOME
\’The Lifetime Tribute
Funeral Home\’

FINNEGAN, ETHEL MAE
nee Leeds, age 84, on February 15, of Hummingbird Rd., Audubon Park.
Dearly beloved wife of the late John O. and loving mother of Jacqueline (James) Sickels, NC and Kathleen Finnegan and her fiancee Ramon Ramos of Valleybrook. She is also survived by four grandchildren Louis (Melissa) Gaetjens, Cindi (Joe) Pelletier, Stan Schoenewald, Trish Schoenewald and her fiancee Doug Somers and four great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate a Christian Burial Service Tuesday, February 19, at 11:00 at THE FUNERAL MANOR, 1585 Hider Lane, Gloucester Twp. The viewing will be after 9:00am at THE FUNERAL MANOR. Donations are requested to be given in Ethel\’s name to the American Diabetes Assoc., PO BOX 2680, North Canton, OH 44720, www.diabetes.org
Interment Lakeview Memorial Park, Cinnaminson. The arrangements are under the direction of Addison G. Bradley.