Portland, Oregon
Witty, Lee Thomas 'Tom' 89 03/12/1921 09/09/2010 Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Clarice Jean Pershing Witty; and brother, Jerome O'Harra Witty. He is survived by his daughters, Sharan Lee Farley and Nancy Jean Brownlow. For many years, Tom was a dedicated teacher at Wilson High...
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About two years ago, I ran into MR Witty at the Beaverton Post Office, he asked me for a ride home, which I obliged. We discussed memories of the old days at Wilson, it was great. I admired him very much for his sharpness and inspiring students to learn and do better, he will be remembered and missed!.
RIP Tom
Steve Nagel Wilson Class 1976
steve nagel
October 21, 2010 | Beaverton, OR
I remember Mr Witty at Wilson High School, and recently, about 2 years ago ran into him at the Beaverton Post office, where he asked me for a ride home, which I obliged. He was living close by at the time in Beaverton, I took him home, he talked of the old days at Wilson, it was great!. He was a colorful great personality and good at inspiring students to learn and do better. He will not be forgotten and always remembered in positive vain.
RIP Tom.
Steve Nagel
Wilson High...
steve nagel
October 21, 2010 | Beaverton, OR
Mr. Witty was the consummate biology teacher! He made smelly refrigerators exciting--something you really wanted to jump into and figure out what was taking on new life and why! I'll never forget the look on the face when he somberly entered class the morning of November 22, 1963, and with his voice breaking up, said the rumors we'd heard were true. I'd not heard anything, and didn't know what he was talking about. And then he completed his sentence-- that President Kennedy had been...
Susan Shepherd
October 02, 2010 | Portland, OR
Hi there, Sorry to hear of the loss of Tom, he was great to my family. Jacques, Jori and Roger Osborne. We spent the first year of our son's life subletting his house while he was in Baja, Mexico. He was a great man full of laughs and full of humor. He will be missed.
Thank you, The Osbornes ( Parkdale, Oregon)
October 01, 2010
My sincere condolences to the family at the loss of Tom. He was a huge influance in my high school life and beond. I was his student at Wilson for three years (71-73) and remember him fondly. His commitment to his students, his grin, his struggle to quit smoking (sucsessful). I will remember and miss him.
Tom White
October 01, 2010 | Portland
I was in Mr. Witty's Wilson HS biology class in 1961-62. He was using new texts that well-suited his excitement about biology, and he inspired and nurtured in me curiosity, and a love of learning and of science, that became cornerstones of my life. I'll never forget his teaching us about DNA and RNA: he was vibrant, demanding and witty (pun intended), and he made the subject riveting. He was the best science teacher, and one of the very best teachers, I've ever had. Thank you, Mr. Witty,...
Leslie Sorensen-Jolink
October 01, 2010 | Portland, OR
I had the great privilege to be in Tom
Witty's biology class for 3 years, 1971 - 1974, as a student and lab assistant. He was one of the very best teachers ever, and made learning exciting, fun, and relevant. His spark still burns in family, friends, and former students. It helped light my way through 33 years of teaching. Thank you, Mr. Witty!
Bill Oliver
October 01, 2010 | Portland, OR
Dear Sharon, Nancy and family,
We were so saddened to hear of the loss of Tom. Over the years, Dad has told us of the many wonderful memories of Cousin Tom and Jerry with Grandma and Grandpa in Ashland during the summer months. We are unable to attend the services, but are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Gary and I also have been blessed to know both Tom and Clarice over the years and treasured their friendships. Continue to remember the good times and all that has been...
October 01, 2010
Mr. Witty was my Biology teacher at Wilson High School in 1958 and I loved going to his class. I learned so much from him and he inspired me to continue with Biology and Science at Lewis & Clark College. After graduation I taught Biology at Centennial High School for many years and I saw Mr. Witty at a Wilson High School football game several years ago. I told him how he has inspired me to continue with Biology and Science and that I taught at Biology at Centennial High School. We hugged each...
George Held
September 30, 2010 | Colton, OR