Marian Fields died Thursday, Oct. 16 at Stanford Hospital after
a long battle with cancer. She was 54.
Marian Fields
Marian Fields died Thursday, Oct. 16 at Stanford Hospital after a long battle with cancer. She was 54.
She was born in St. Cloud, Minn., on Dec. 27, 1948. Moving to California, she graduated from Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, achieved her bachelor’s degree in English from Stanford University and continued on to Duke University, where she achieved her master’s degree in teaching English.
Her early work experience on the East Coast was for Russell Sage Women’s College where she recruited students. Returning to the San Jose area, she was a home teacher and realized her love for teaching.
In 1984, Mrs. Fields began a legendary career at San Benito High School. Teaching reading, language arts, English literature and compotition to a wide variety of students, Mrs. Fields will long be remembered for her kind dedication to her students.
In 1988, Mrs. Fields received the Dorothy Wright Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was one of 55 out of 400 nominated by English students at San Jose State to receive this award.
Ancillary duties included service as basic skills department chair, mentor teacher, standardized test grader and editor of numerous documents for the curriculum department.
A Fullbright scholarship enabled her to be an exchange teacher in Holland in 1992-93. Her love of travel extended to Ireland and Wales.
She was preceded in death by her father John Palmer.
She is survived by her sister Tracy Palmer and mother Eleanor Palmer, both of San Jose.
Memorial donations may be mailed to either Marian Fields Memorial or Ovarian Cancer Research, both in care of San Benito High School, 1220 Monterey Street, Hollister, Calif., 95023. Please specify to which fund you are donating to.
