A Teacher’s LegacyA Teacher’s Legacy In the heart of Oakland, a century-long celebration unfolded as former students gathered to honor their beloved mentor, Florence Lewis. Known affectionately as “Flossie,” she had dedicated her life to teaching English literature for nearly four decades. As Flossie drove down the hallway, memories flooded her mind. She had once been the teacher, guiding countless young minds, and now they were returning to express their gratitude. “They remember something I said that made a difference in their lives,” she beamed. “It’s not what I expected. I never could have imagined it.” The courtyard at Piedmont Gardens filled with her former students, now professionals in various fields. Doctors, lawyers, architects, and writers – all gathered to share their stories of how Flossie had shaped their lives. Flossie had a gift for bringing literature to life, inspiring her students to think critically and appreciate the power of words. Brad Friedman, a graduate of ’73, was so moved by her teachings that he became a high school drama teacher himself. “With Flossie, it was an experience,” Friedman recalled. “We were involved in a process that was very exciting and very fun.” Another former student, Susan Simpson, attributed her self-confidence to Flossie’s encouragement. Despite having ALS, Simpson’s voice was clear as she conveyed her appreciation through an audio reader. “Flossie taught me how to write and helped me believe in myself,” Simpson said. Daniel Handler, the author behind the renowned “Lemony Snicket” series, also credited Flossie with sparking his passion for writing. “She made you pay attention and do careful work,” Handler said. “She didn’t let you ride along on a vague dream.” Flossie’s teaching philosophy was simple: commit yourself fully, both in writing and in life. This mantra left an enduring impact on her students, shaping their journeys long after they left her classroom. “If they’re smart and they need you and you’re there for them, they never forget that,” Flossie said. As the celebration continued, Flossie reveled in the love and admiration surrounding her. Despite the passage of time, the bond between teacher and student remained unbreakable. On that Sunday afternoon in Oakland, a 100th birthday party had transformed into a heartfelt reunion, a testament to the power of a teacher’s legacy. For Flossie Lewis, her impact extended far beyond the classroom walls, forever etched in the hearts of her former students.
OAKLAND — On Sunday afternoon in Oakland, a 100th birthday party for a retired teacher turned into a heartfelt reunion. Students from nearly four decades showed up to honor their beloved mentor, known simply as Flossie.
As Florence Lewis drove down the hall to her own birthday party, she thought about the students approaching her.
“They come when they’re 70 years old because they remember something I said that made such a difference in their lives,” she said. “And those memories have brought them here. It’s not what I expected. I never could have imagined it.”
About 40 alumni filled the courtyard at Piedmont Gardens in Oakland to help their former teacher celebrate her 100th birthday. Flossie, as her students knew her, taught English literature at Lowell High School in San Francisco for 20 years and at Lincoln High School for 18 years before that.
She said she had to first learn what it takes to be a good teacher.
“Because the kids were smarter than me and I had to outsmart them and the only way I could do that was by being a performer. And I performed,” she said.
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Her classes were fun but challenging, and Flossie had a talent for bringing the plays of Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw to life. Brad Friedman, class of ’73, was so inspired by Flossie’s class that he became a teacher himself and taught high school drama for over 30 years.
“Teachers teach and students listen — or they don’t listen,” he said. “You’re not a know-it-all who just throws things at them. You’re someone who gets into the details and figures things out together. With Flossie, it was an experience. I always felt like we were all involved in a process that was very exciting and very fun.”
Another former student, Susan Simpson, became a lifelong friend and helped organize the reunion. She has a condition called primary lateral sclerosis, a disease related to ALS that has robbed her of her voice, but Susan said via audio reader that it was Flossie who helped her come out of her shell in high school.
“I was in Flossie’s classroom for three years,” Simpson said. “She greeted me every morning in different English classes. She taught me how to write. She helped me believe in myself and have fun.”
Apparently, Flossie had that effect on a lot of people. Daniel Handler would hang around her classroom after school and was later inspired to write children’s literature under his now famous pen name, “Lemony Snicket.”
“I thought, ‘Sure, it would be fun to be a writer.’ But she was someone who … didn’t just let you ride along on a vague dream or a half-hearted thought. She made you pay attention and do careful work,” Handler said.
Flossie said she decided to go into teaching in the late 1940s because it was a job that women could do at the time. She said she thought she could command the attention of a class because she had the kind of personality that didn’t seem “teacherly.”
Most of all, Flossie learned that you have to commit yourself fully — in writing as well as in life. It was a lesson her former students took with them on their journeys, and it’s the reason they wanted to return.
“Because if they’re smart and they need you and you’re there for them, they never forget that,” she said.
Doctors, lawyers, architects – many of them retired – in Flossie’s presence on Sundays they all became high school students again. Because once a teacher, always a teacher.
John Ramos
