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John Henry Hershinow
John Henry Hershinow
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John Hershinow Obituary
September 8, 1998 - September 28, 2024
John Henry Hershinow passed away on September 28th, 2024. He is survived by his parents, Tamara James Hershinow and H. Brian Hershinow, his sister, Charlotte Claire Hershinow, and a very special extended family.
He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Kentucky Wesleyan University and his Master's Degree from The University of the Cumberlands. John Henry worked at Frederick Douglass High School, where he loved teaching Advanced Biology to many classes of students. He truly enjoyed his family, fishing, UK Athletics, playing sports with his friends, and studying the Bible.
Funeral services will be held at 11am Friday, October 4th at First United Methodist Church Winchester, 204 S. Main Street. This will be followed by visitation and a Celebration of Life at Spindletop Hall, 3414 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, from 1-4pm. A private burial will be held for the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The Kentucky United Methodist Children's Homes.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Anonymous
December 29, 2024
I´ve been debating on posting this for a long time. But I´ve decided to do it. I had Mr. Hersh last year B4. We were never super close but to hear of his passing hit me hard. He called me by my middle name last year after he found out what it was and I´d always call him Henry as a joke. I would pass by him every day on my way to my algebra class this year and he´d say hello to me and ask me how my year was going. I have so many pictures of me and my friends in his class having fun and being stupid. The fun that he allowed and took part in. I still remember him talking about pokemon with me and our favorite reptiles. In a school where I didn´t fit in, he made me feel included. Even if we weren´t super close, he never failed to make me feel like I was worth something. He gave me the confidence to take AP Biology. He always believed in every one of his students. I cannot say how deeply I feel for his family and those that were close to him even months later I still think about him often.
Aiden fretthold
October 14, 2024
he was my A day biology teacher in 2023-2024 freshman year
Jacob Barb
October 7, 2024
My first time meeting Mr hershinow was the second day of my freshman year, I am a sophmore now. Everyday he would put a smile on as many people as he could, he made his class balanced and he showed care to his students and staff. He was one of the best teachers of the entire school. Take care hershey
John David Craig
October 7, 2024
I never had Mr. Hershinow as a teacher during my freshman year at FDHS. however, i´ve heard so many great stories about him. His death has affected this school by a lot. He will be missed dearly.
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Marie
October 6, 2024
Hershinow was my absolute favorite teacher, I am not good at biology in any sort of way however, he always pushed me to do well in there, making it as fun as possible to learn, he loved his students so much, may that sweet soul rest in peace, we all love him so much and he'll be incredibly missed by FDHS
Thomas Reif and family
October 4, 2024
Our deepest heartfelt condolences to Brian and Amy and the whole family. Sending love and healing Prayers for you all
Tracy Arghavani
October 4, 2024
Tammy, Brian, and Claire
We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. He was an amazing, caring person because he came from an amazing, caring family.
Tracey Couch
October 4, 2024
Brian, Tammy and Claire, the Mint Hill neighborhood will forever hold such a special place in my heart. It was a such a wonderful street for our children to grow up on. All the mornings spent carpooling to school and afternoon bus pick ups with the kiddos will forever be among my most precious memories. I will forever remember JH as such a sweet and kind boy- I always admired how he watched over Claire. He was a great big brother
Darla Myers
October 4, 2024
Brian, Tammy,Claire and the rest of the family
Just came back from the service and Spindletop, Celebration of Life.
The service was beautiful, with friends and others speaking so highly of this beaitiful young man.
To know the witty man and Big Hersch was such a blessing.
I am so proud to have known him and the rest of you.
Loved the picture of the Shark with all of the rings.
JH was so loved and going to be dearly missed.
What a guy.
Love,
Darla Myers
Olivia Kincaid
October 4, 2024
Mr. Hershey I hope you know how much you have affected each one of your students and how much we all love you I have Mr hershinow freshman year of high school (I´m a junior now) and he really pushed us to do our best and he was always there to catch us if we fell I remember the last day of freshman year the words he said to us, he thanked us for being his first year class and he told us that we were always welcome in his class and that if we ever needed him he was always there and he was I visited him occasionally last year but I haven´t had a lot of time this year however last Friday me and my best friend went on a whim and walked to his class before school and if I knew that was the last time I would ever see him I would´ve gave him the biggest hug and told him how much he truly impacted every student and how much each and every one of us loves him. Rest in peace Mr Hershey
Dylan
October 4, 2024
Mr Hershinow was the best teacher I have ever had. In high school it is hard to be a teacher that is a friend to his students but also a mentor who will make sure you understand exactly what you need in a topic to succeed. Just last week I was talking with a friend who had his class with me freshman year, we were talking about how we wish other teachers taught like him and how much he really was able to get you to engaged in class and to really understand a topic. He was so intelligent and I aspire to live life as he did. One memory that really sticks with me was towards the end of my freshman year. My friend for some reason was carrying around a children´s helmet. Mr Hershinow saw it on her desk then proceeded to try it on and teach in this helmet for about 30 minutes. Everyone was laughing and taking videos and pictures. His ability to make anyone laugh no matter the day they had or the things they were going through is one thing about him that I think everyone can relate to. There are so many stories I could share but most have the same concept of showing Hersh to be this goofy, intelligent, loving person. The impact he made on mine and so many others lives will forever be something I cherish and remember.
Micah Jones
October 4, 2024
Hersh was a Bears fan and I was a Steelers fan. So we would always make fun of each and other for the bad games and players we had. At the end of freshman year, I gave him a mini Bears Helmet with my signature on it so he knew it was from me. He was my first teacher at high school, and I had his first class ever. So we were both new. I´m glad I had him because he helped me prepare for the tough work I had later on in high school. Give Jesus a hug for me. I´ll see you soon
Grace Kearns
October 4, 2024
Mr. Hershinow will forever impact me as a teacher who made me actually enjoy what I was learning. He always took the time to see the work like we did. He would take the time out of his day to talk to us, make us smile and laugh. He was so loved and it was obvious by the upperclassmen that come to his room every single morning to talk to him. It was obvious by how when people saw him on my schedule that would tell me how lucky I was to have him twice a day. I was a nervous freshman, and I don't adapt well to change. He lit up my mornings in a way no one else could. He was an amazing teacher and an even better person. We all already miss him so much. You'll live forever in everyone's hearts.
Karson Little
October 3, 2024
Mr. Hershinow was one of the only reasons I would look forward to an A-day at Douglass. I´m currently a freshman and had him as my biology teacher. I don´t enjoy my other A-day classes so it would always be the highlight of my day when I got to his class (fourth block) and I would be able to relax and have fun with an awesome laid-back teacher. Though it´s early in the year, the number of times I smiled in his class were unmatched anywhere else in the school. He always made sure we weren´t too bored of the work and would come down to our level of student and see class how we do. He was able to teach me more in a couple of days than any other teacher in the building. As a freshman, I still didn´t get to know him very well. From what I did get to learn about him, he was easily my best and favorite teacher. I know having him as a teacher for the short time I did will leave an impact on my view of learning/school and teachers. Talking to other freshman and upper class-man everyone always talks about how much they loved having Hersh as a teacher. All of us will miss having him in class, and seeing his smile every morning. We already miss you Hersh.
Mason fox
October 3, 2024
He was the best teacher I could ask for, me and him were really great friends. It is soo sad to see this tragedy happen. Wish you all the best in life an I pray for you!
Tyler Walter
October 3, 2024
Mr Hershinow I still haven't been able to process the fact that he's really gone. I walked into Frederick Douglass as a freshman who recently moved areas and knew nobody. What i didn't know was that in my B2 Freshman Biology class i would meet a first day teacher fresh out of college. Mr Hershinow was the type of teacher who made sure he talked to each student and made every student laugh. He never left anyone out and made sure everyone was included and enjoying his class. Mr.Hershinow was my guy he immediately took me under his wing our first year and has helped me through so so much the last 2 and a half school years . Mr Hershinow was one of my only major male role models in my life and he was like family to everyone. Me and him spent countless hours every single day for the last three school years talking about the UK wildcats basketball the NFL, his obsession with lizards how bad the Chicago Bears were fantasy football all types of science, whether it be biology, chemistry or physics, and Mr. Hershinow was the type of guy who would go above and beyond to make sure every student had what they needed to be successful. He generally cared About his teaching, and whether or not it was effective. Once i become a sophomore i would come back and visit him every single morning for at least 20 minutes and all of the time he would show me presentations before he would present them to his classes and he would ask me if I thought they were good enough, and if I thought he should change anything he was always asking for feedback And really really really wanted his students to learn the best they could. I have so much I could say about Mr. Hershinow and have tons and tons of videos and pictures of him just being a goofball in class. last week I spent two hours in his classroom hanging out and talking to him just about life and he told me that I made his week but what I wish I really could've told him in that moment was that he made each school day better for me whether he knew it or not sometimes by just making me laugh sometimes by helping me on homework or by writing recommendation letters for me to get into clubs and extracurriculars. mr. hershinow pushed each one of his students to be better than they were before he pushed so many of his students to take AP biology and is the reason that I am going into college with early college credit he always would help me on my AP biology work and this year he would even help me on AP chemistry Mr. hershinow always put others before himself and he was so so loved by every single student in the Frederick Douglass community. I couldn't fit all of our conversations in an entire notebook, when I heard the news, my heart shattered, and I have still been in denial. I always used to tell him that he would be a great dad and I wanted to see little hershinows running around. I knew he would be a great dad because in a sense he was like a school dad to me. I would tell him about my issues outside of school and about my family problems. I would tell him about my issues with my biological dad, and even though sometimes he wouldn't have an answer he would always be able to cheer me up and help me forget about whatever was going on outside of school. One of my favorite memories with him is one time I made him decorate his entire room with the Packers flag, and the Packers posters after the Green Bay Packers beat his favorite NFL team the Chicago Bears. I still hear his laugh and think about this face he would make when he would shrug his shoulders and just say I don't know. Mr. Hershinow was my guy. He was my best friend and a lot of people know that but he wasn't just there for me. Mr. Hershinow made an impact on every single student and as you can see by reading some of these, there are tons of students that he helped and it's kind of crazy to think that just one person could help so so many people. I encourage everyone
that's reading this to remember that grief is love persevering. What I mean by that is that yes grieving is hard and super painful but grieving is also evidence that you loved this person dearly and it's the love persevering after you've lost the person. I encourage everyone not to fight that let the love for him continue to live on because he was loved by so so many . we will always remember you big hersh
Claire Hershinow
October 3, 2024
John Henry impacted everyone he met just as much as they impacted him. He was intelligent beyond belief, the most loyal friend, and the biggest goof. Thank you to everyone who has kept us in their thoughts and prayers. He lives through your memories, and we appreciate everyone sharing.
elizabeth
October 3, 2024
Mr. Hershinow made an impact on each and every student that stepped foot into his classroom. Feeling heard and included was never an issue when he was around. To know Mr. Hershinow was to love him. I will forever be grateful for the all of the talks we had, all the times I ran into him in the halls, and all the times my friends and I would hang out in his classroom. He was so loved and will be missed by so many.
Betty Collins
October 3, 2024
Mr. Hershinow, my husband, and I came in together as new teachers at Frederick Douglass. Being new to Douglass meant many new teacher meetings together. I always looked forward to seeing him, sitting with him, and just visiting when we had the opportunity. He was a great young man who brought a lot of joy to a lot of us. I am thankful I had the opportunity to know him. Please know we are praying for you.
Betty Collins
Jacie Brewer
October 2, 2024
Mr. Hershinow was a light for so many students at douglass. I had him my freshman year and I have visited him each year since. He made everyone feel so welcomed and was always making the classroom filled with so laughter and fun. He helped me through so much freshman year and I wish i could just rant to him one more time about useless drama that was going on at the time. I, as well as many other students, are going to miss you so much mr. hershinow and i really hope you knew how much we all loved you. Rest easy big hersh.
Elizabeth Deffendall
October 2, 2024
I had Mr.Hershinow as a freshman which was his first year of teaching, even now was a junior his teachings have stuck in my mind. He truly cared about students and you could tell he wanted to be there. He was the kind of teacher who would go above and beyond to help a student learn, laugh, or smile. His class was always one of my favorites and he will be missed. My deepest condolences go to the family, you will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Colton Jared
October 2, 2024
I´m sure I can speak for a lot of people when I say this. Mr Herishinow not only loved his job but loves the kids he got to help. He made sure he got to know everyone, he made sure everyone was doing well inside and outside of school, he made sure to have a connection to everyone he came across. If we could vote for all time best teacher for FDHS I guarantee all the votes would go to him. Even though he didn´t teach everyone in school he loved everyone and made sure he could make their day a little bit better someway shape or form.
Everyone going to remember you Big Hersh
Karmin Hudson
October 2, 2024
This was my first year having Mr. Hershinow as a teacher. Although I only knew him for such a short amount of time he was a bright soul that had a positive impact on everyone he met. My thoughts and prayers are truly with his family.
Dan Jacobs
October 2, 2024
John Henry fished behind our home on Mint Hill in Lexington all the time. He was always so respectful and was such a great "lets talk fishing" type of guy. Always a wave from him when he drove by our home! He will be missed. Lynn and I are very sorry for your loss Brian & Tammy. We will be praying for you.
Tommy Simmons
October 2, 2024
John Henry visited and fished with our family in north Georgia. He was fun, interesting and a wonderful conversationalist. We will miss his fly fishing stories and good company. Our prayers are with his family.
Larry Diamond
October 2, 2024
Brian and family. Extending my deepest condolences for your loss.
Larry Diamond
Amelia Farmer
October 2, 2024
I am so lucky that I got the chance to get to know John Henry! He was truly special and could always make me smile.
Deb (Reif) Kischer
October 2, 2024
Though I never met your son, I am truly saddened by his passing. My thoughts are with you.
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