It probably wasn’t the cancer itself that bothered Marian
Fields
– it was the fact that the disease kept her away from her
students.
For almost 20 years, Fields taught English to sophomores and
seniors at San Benito High School. And, for almost five years,
Fields fought the effects of ovarian cancer and chemotherapy until
she died early Thursday morning, two months shy of her 55th
birthday.
It probably wasn’t the cancer itself that bothered Marian Fields – it was the fact that the disease kept her away from her students.
For almost 20 years, Fields taught English to sophomores and seniors at San Benito High School. And, for almost five years, Fields fought the effects of ovarian cancer and chemotherapy until she died early Thursday morning, two months shy of her 55th birthday.
Fields’ death rocked the faculty at SBHS and the community at large. Whether they were honors students or enrolled in the regular curriculum, Fields saw the potential in all of her students.
“Marian would go to whatever lengths she could go to keep a kid from failing. It really bothered her that she couldn’t do more,” said Martha Gioia, an English teacher at SBHS.
Fields went on disability retirement in January 2002 with the ability to come back if she got better, said Evelyn Muro, director of personnel at the SBHS District.
“She always fought. Ultimately, I think that (returning to the classroom) would have been her wish,” Gioia said. “I think she realized, as time was progressing, she knew that wasn’t going to happen.”
Gioia said Fields never gave up even though chemotherapy treatments took away her energy.
Everyone hoped for the best, especially since Fields was so good at what she did.
“She loves her subject, she knows her subject, and loves to teach her subject – she connects with students,” Muro said. “To have someone like Marian Fields as a teacher – you should hold on to them.”
Teachers and students describe Fields as witty, thoughtful and mild mannered.
While Fields expected a lot out of students, she was a good person, said Jessyca Fox, an SBHS junior.
“She was a very positive person,” Fox said.
Fields also never failed to see the good in any negative situation or person. She “truly believed in every student and lived that out in her actions,” Muro said.
“So many of these kids don’t have love or acceptance elsewhere. She gave it to them,” said Jill Clark-Kunich, an English teacher at SBHS. “While most people would look in a negative way, she found the good in the situation and in the person.
“She is such an example to anyone who has to deal with people in their career – love the people you’re serving.”
Doug Achterman, SBHS librarian and former English teacher, struggled to think of a specific example of Fields’ generosity because “it’s an accumulation of small things that she did – almost everyday, there was some little gesture that I saw from her,” he said.
Fields was so well liked by former students that she had stacks of correspondence from them in her bedroom, Clark-Kunich said.
SBHS senior Anthony Pulliam said Fields had a lot of patience and knew English really well.
“As far as academics go, she was a hard grader. In real life, she was a sweet lady. When she wasn’t grading papers,” he said jokingly, “I loved her.”
After leaving SBHS, Fields moved in with her mother and sister – both of whom she helped care for – in San Jose. After a recent setback, Fields was checked into Stanford Medical Center, where she died.
Originally from Minnesota, Fields earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Stanford University and a master’s of arts in teaching from Duke University. She taught abroad in the Netherlands, received the Dorothy Wright Award for excellence in teaching from San Jose State University and was a mentor teacher to new teachers for two years.
What Fields will be remembered for most is the connections she made with people, especially the students she taught.
Funeral services and memorial events are pending. Memorial donations may be mailed to either the Marian Fields Memorial or Ovarian Cancer Research funds, in care of San Benito High School, 1220 Monterey Street, Hollister, Calif., 95023. Specify which fund the donation is for. Also, condolences can be sent to Field’s mother, Eleanor Palmer, 1031 Forest Knoll Dr., San Jose, Calif., 95129-3015.
