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ABOUT TOWN: Remembering Beloved Stoughton Teacher Marilyn Fiske

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REMEMBERING A BELOVED TEACHER: Marilyn Fiske, a reading teacher at the Gibbons Elementary School, unexpectedly passed away this Thanksgiving, November 22, 2012, at the age of 64. 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marguerite Rizzi wrote, "Marilyn has been a reading teacher for the Stoughton Public Schools for over 27 years.  During her tenure, she served as a remedial teacher in the summer school program, served on curriculum review committees, as well as volunteered as a mentor in our new teacher mentoring program."  

Gibbons School principal Lynne Jardin told About Town, "There aren't enough words to describe her.  She was an amazing person. There was no child she didn't touch. She always had a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She really got kids. They were her heart and soul.  Her own children and grand children were her priority."   

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Jardin added, "She was part of the fabric of this school.  It wasn't just at the Gibbons.  She was at the Jones, and worked with fellow reading teachers.  As much as she helped children, she really enjoyed them.  She brought them to life. You could always see her sharing a laugh with the kids. She touched every staff member in her own way. They all have some type of connection with her. She was the first person to ask about others, and try to soothe people. She really was the life of the party. She will be sorely missed and never forgotten."  

Marilyn (maiden name Mynahan) was a graduate of St. Mary's High School, Lynn, Class of 1964. She went on to study at Emmanuel College and received a Master's Degree in Reading from Northeastern University. 

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In Stoughton, she taught at the North School (now Dawe), the Jones, and was currently a literacy specialist at the Gibbons.

According to her obituary, "Her greatest joy came from her two granddaughters, Ema & Bella Fiske." In addition to her mother and granddaughters, Marilyn is survived by her son, Daren Fiske and his wife Sarah, and her daughter Jamie Fiske.

Stacey Gay-Teixeira, a Gibbons School parent, wrote, "She was one of the kindest, most generous women. She will be missed by all. Thoughts and prayers to all of her family and friends."   

Carol Siegel, a former North School (Dawe) parent, adds, "She made each of her students feel special. Because she paid so much attention to them, they paid attention to her. In addition to being an outstanding teacher, the efforts her husband and Marilyn made to save their baby daughter, Jamie, when she needed a liver transplant have touched us all. Because of their efforts, Jamie survived, and transplant legislation was created to help others. My heart goes out to her family, school, and all the hundreds of children who learned to read because of her efforts."  

Marilyn's Wake will be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-9 p.m. at Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street in Lynn.  The funeral is Wednesday, November 28 at 11 a.m. at Cuffe-McGinn.                                                                                                        

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Mrs. Fiske Reading Fund c/o Lynne Jardin, Joseph H. Gibbons Elementary School, 235 Morton Street, Stoughton, MA 02072. Checks may be made payable to "The Mrs. Fiske Reading Fund."  

Marilyn's address is 622 Woodlands Way, Abington, MA 02351 if you want to send a card to her family.  

Marilyn leaves many friends behind, both teachers, parents, administrators and staff.  But, most of all, she leaves the thousands of students that she connected with, and enabled the gift of reading.

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