BBA mourns teacher's passing

Andrew McKeever - Managing Editor

Posted: 12/09/2009 06:00:53 PM EST

MANCHESTER - Brian Gawlik, a film and technology teacher at Burr and Burton Academy, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 8, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover N.H., following complications from cancer. He was 48 years-old.

He was the first technology instructor the school hired following the construction of the Smith Center, which houses the communications and technology classrooms, as well as a fully-equipped television studio. He held the post of the Jonathan Levin chair in technology, which was endowed by Gerald Levin and Barbara Riley Levin in 1998 in honor of Mr. Levin's son.

Gawlik was a natural and inspirational teacher who encouraged numerous students to go onto to further study at the college level in communications and broadcast journalism, said former BBA Headmaster Charles "Chuck" Scranton, who hired him for the position in July, 1999.

At that point, Gawlik had had no previous teaching experience, Scranton said, but he was the right person for the job.

"He had all the obvious skills in terms of understanding the technology and the vision of where we wanted to go," Scranton said. "We took a chance and it was one of the best hires I ever made. He just innately believed that kids had the wisdom and the ability to do something unique."

From September 1999 until June 2008, Gawlik taught digital filmmaking and television news production as well as helped students make their own documentary films. He then spent a year - from June 2008 to June 2009

- at the Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City receiving treatment for cancer. He returned to Burr and Burton this fall and resumed his teaching duties until forced to seek further treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock about six weeks ago.

Gawlik's passing prompted an outpouring of messages of support and well-wishes on a Facebook page set up by Nikki Grossfeld, a Burr and Burton 10th grade student. By 6 p.m. Tuesday night more than 700 people had left messages or posted photographs, and by Wednesday morning that number had swollen to more than 900.

Gawlik had a huge impact on her brother, who graduated from BBA this past June, Grossfeld said.

"He was the kind of teacher who was also a friend," Grossfeld said. "When I first found out he had a limited number of days left I realized that everyone had memories of him that I would never be able to have.... that made me want to hear more about him. I didn't know it would have as large an outcome as it did, although I was hoping for it. I know he touched not only the lives of all the kids at BBA but also many who have already graduated."

The page will stay up indefinitely, she said.

Gawlik will be deeply missed by the staff and students at the school, said Headmaster Mark Tashjian.

"Brian was a revered teacher, colleague, and friend, and this is a devastating loss to this community," he said. "The only blessing is that he had the chance to say goodbye and leave this world on his own terms. Our hearts go out to the Gawlik family, his students and colleagues, and the students in future generations who will not have the chance to be touched by this great teacher."

Gawlik is survived by his parents, Helen and Joe Gawlik of Manchester, his brother and sister-in-law Joe and Wendy Gawlik of Manchester, his brother Gregg Gawlik of Pawlet, his sister and brother-in-law Jeannine and Eric Lonsway and nephew and niece Quinn and Maeve Lonsway of Portland, Ore.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Christ Our Savior/ St. Paul's Catholic Church in Manchester at 11 a.m.