David Sidney Mesirow

I was a student of David's at Adams High School during the mid 70's. I spent all 4 years in the MEZ SWS. He was kind, intelligent and actually respected his students. My mother taught with him at Marshall HS in the early 60's and had immense respect for him. I will always remember my favorite teacher with great fondness. My condolences to David's family.

I had the privilege and pleasure of making a film with one of David's classes at The Night School. He was a true artist in the classroom, seeing positive qualities in the students that they themselves may not have known they possessed. He made those around him better, and he did it in a gentle, humble,smart and quiet way that was consistent, powerful and the essence of love. Think of how many Portland students earned their high school diplomas because of David's vision and persistence in...

Mr. Mesirow was my history teacher at John Marshall High School during the 1964-1965 academic year. He was a wonderful instructor, role model, and advisor. His guidance positively influenced the course of my life and I will be forever grateful.

Great man, great teacher. Forward thinker for sure! RIP!

An extraordinary individual, mentor, advisor, friend, educator...so many more superlatives too varied to leave here.
He challenged, but also nurtured. Probably the first teacher I ever heard use a curse word, not out of anger, but to get his point across.
Dave helped me get my first real job, and also aided in applying for a scholarship, which, without him, I never would have known had existed.
You changed my life Dave, and that's a debt I can only continue to pay forward. Thank...

Although we'd been in touch over the past few years with occasional letters and phone calls, and he told me to call him Dave, Mr. Mesirow will always be Mr. Mesirow to me. He taught two of my classes during my senior year of high school at Marshall in 1963-64. He was an outstanding teacher, kind and charismatic, and his students wanted to learn from him. (Also, I got As in history, so I loved him!).

He knew what was important in life and he lived his life to the fullest. Last June, I...

Thank you Dave and his family who supported him. His program at Grant Night School saved me at a time when my life could have gone a very different direction. I didn't feel like regular high school showed that I had any value or respected me as an individual. Dave did and treated us all as adults which is what a lot of us needed. With the efforts of those at Grant Night High School I was able to graduate and go on to have a productive life. Without their guidance I'm not sure what would...

Mr Mesirow brought a vibrancy and excitement to education I had never experienced before. I will always remember him as that very young and wonderful social studies teacher of my youth at Marshall. Out of all my high school teachers, he is on of the few I remember, and I remember him fondly. So sorry for your loss, he was a wonderful man and teacher. Dianne Lea JMHS Class of '65

About twenty five years ago, I was working in the non-profit industry and looking for a career change. Dave gave me the opportunity to volunteer at Grant Night School. I will always be grateful to him for encouraging me to pursue a career in education and instilling in me a passion to advocate for students.