RIP Marty Fullington
Cedar Lee January 5th, 2009
I just learned that my beloved high school English teacher, Mr. Fullington, lost his battle with cancer. He died this past Saturday.
He was a hilariously funny and quirky man. He was always so goofy. This is one of the few pictures I could find of him, and you can see there that he’s joking around about something–counting his money. Just looking at it makes me smile.
Mr. Fullington was a rare kind of teacher. He cared so genuinely for his students. He made himself so available. Of course I’ve had other great teachers in my life whom I’ve loved, but Mr. Fullington was my favorite.
He was such an encouraging force in my life, and I count him as one of the few people who really had a strong impact on me during my teenage years. I know he had a similar impact on many of my classmates, and it boggles my mind to think how many students have loved him and benefited from his guidance over the many years he taught. When I was about to graduate high school and I was deciding what to do with my life, he encouraged me to try being an artist.
I kept in touch with him after I graduated from Clyde A. Erwin High School in ’99, and every time I talked to him he was always curious to hear all about my life. If I visited his classroom while he was teaching, he would excuse himself from the class and make the time to sit with me at a school desk and chat in the corner. The last time I saw him was maybe about 5-6 years ago, when I went to his house with a few other former students of his. We had dinner with his family. I wish that I had visited more often.
It was only a few weeks ago that I heard he was sick–apparently his cancer hit very hard and very quickly. I am shocked by the news. Today I had planned to blog about art, but I’m in mourning for Mr. Fullington. I grieve his loss, but I am so glad that he lived when he did and that I was lucky enough that his path in life crossed mine.
Sorry to hear of your sad heart today. When a student can feel this rewarded by a teacher I am sure that feeling was equally reciprocated by him. Teachers grow and are rewarded just as much from their students. It seems like he had a wonderful career teaching and you were fortunate to have experienced learning from him.
Mr. Fullington had a great influence on my life. I love what you have written because he had the same effect on everyone that he encountered. The best time was when he played his guitar in class and we all sang christmas carols. His passing devastated me and he will be greatly missed. I still can’t believe that he is gone it seems like yesterday when I would sneak out of psychology and talk to him about what was going on in my life. I hope that I can become a cool adult like he was.
Ahhh Cedar *hugs*
My Mr. Fullington was Mr. Rock, who died suddenly, years ago at the age of 54, after a routine surgical procedure.
We are so blessed if we have even one teacher like this, they truly fulfill their life purpose by caring and inspiring students like us.
^i^
Kathleen, thanks. I hope you are right, because I like thinking that I might have been a good thing for him too. One thing’s for sure–we had some fun times in our 12th grade AP English class.
Junior Valdez, I don’t think you and I were in school at the same time…I saw on Facebook that you were Class of ’07? I’m glad to hear that Mr. Fullington was there for you & your class the same way he was for me. I hope your sadness fades quickly and you are left with the happy memories and inspiration that he gave you for your life.
Anita, I know, I do feel good that he accomplished so much in his life as a teacher. Thanks for your understanding!
I heard about it last night. I had him for English III Honors and just loved him as well. Goofy and crazy and passionate. He will be missed. Maybe you could paint something in his honor because he was so influential in your art and painting career.
Blessings,
Mandy
I had Marty for AP English, too, and I just can’t believe that he’s gone. I’ve always had great teachers, but he was my favorite by far. He was unlike anyone I’ve ever met. I graduated in ’06 and didn’t make it back to visit him that much since I graduated, but each time I did, he was so interested in what I was doing with my life. He offered to proofread my college English papers. How many high school teachers are willing to do that for their former students? Not many, I’d guess. I can still picture him sitting on top of a desk in the front of the room, making fun of one of my classmates, oftentimes myself. That’s how I’m going to remember him. I may not remember the way he taught us to write papers or the titles of all the books we read, but I’ll never forget his insane sense of humor and that cute little smile he had.
Hi Cedar,
Just found your blog from SMartist…
I appreciate you honoring your teacher the way you have. As a 25 year teaching veteran, I feel I have been a “Mr. Fullington” to more than one. These students pop in and check on me, or make a quick call to say “do you remember when you…” (half the time I don’t..or deny it). Just last night I had a student I taught in middle school call and ask me how to spell something. lol (She has a 11 year old son now). I had one ask me to co-sign on a car loan (an assumption was made that teachers have a lot of money and good credit …we wish). Sadly, I’ve had one write me from a prison cell. (…and no, I didn’t teach him how to get there
!
I have NO doubt you enriched Mr. Fullington’s life and helped validate his need to feel he made a difference. Without a doubt, my students have enriched mine…and still do! It’s not the subject matter that’s matters most anyway…that’s secondary. It sounds like Mr. Fullington had that figured out! …as it seems you have. Thank you for remembering him and sharing with the world!
Your post has made me smile, feel comforted, almost proud my path led me first to a teaching career.
Mandy–all this past week, I have been thinking of Mr. Fullington as I worked in the studio. I’ve been thinking about what he would want me to do, and it has made me work harder. I think he would want me to paint my heart out and really try to fulfill my potential–he always wanted to see me succeed. I feel like I’ve been painting in his honor all week, if that makes sense. But yes, I do really want to do a portrait of him, when time allows. I’ll have to find a good picture!
Kendra–that’s how I remember him too. Perched on the desk, grinning, joking, sarcastic and witty.
Jana–I don’t know what to say. Thank you for writing this to me. And thank you for being a caring teacher and making a difference in the lives of so many kids. The world really needs people like you! I will see you around on the smARTist site!
Cedar,
Your comments and the responses from others touched my heart. He truly was a dear, dear man. He had eyes that could see only the best in everyone he ever met. If you get to a point in life when you feel like doing a portrait of him, know that you may have access to all of our family photos. Thank you for your tender words about Marty. My heart searches for him endlessly. Your words gave me a glimpse. Love, Martha
Martha,
Thank you! I know I never really knew you guys, but I think about you and Katie all the time and hope you are doing well.
I’m currently expecting my first child (due in October!) and I’m trying to make enough new artwork to see me through the first several months after the baby is born, so my studio time is pretty booked up right now. But I know I’d love to paint a portrait of Marty at some point in the future. If you have any favorite pictures in digital form, I would love for you to email them to me so I’d have them as a reference. My email address is Cedar@ArtByCedar.com
Love to you!
Mr. Fullington taught English in the ’85-86 school year when I was in 8th grade at Lexington Middle School and ALWAYS remained my number one educational influence throught my years in school. I was his number one fan in our class — he had a natural ability to see the awesome and unique potential in each student, including myself. One day during the middle of class, he asked to see me outside in the hall. I had been goofing off with friends and assumed I was in for a necessary lecture. However, to my surprise, he put on his serious face and shared with me from his heart what he believed my potential to be in life and encouraged me to consider a career in Communications, PR, or Broadcasting. This conversation really took me by surprise but never once did I question his vision. I believed him! Today I am the Marketing & Sales Director for a senior home care company and truly believe he guided me in this direction… This is a career I LOVE.
I have many stories to tell about the influences he had on other students in my class and the magical gift he had to include everyone — athletes, gifted students, students who truly struggled, musicians, and dorky 8th graders like me who really didn’t expect someone to care like he did. No one was beyond the grasp on Mr. Fullington’s reach.
I shared with Mr. Fullington that at the end of the school year my family was going to move Fort Worth, Texas. He knew and understood how badly I didn’t want to leave my friends and start over in a new high school. I told him I was afraid of not having friends for a while and he asked for my new address. We exchanged contact information and I remember the day I received his letter! I couldn’t believe he actually wrote to me. And to those of you who knew him, you know his letter was full of wit, humor and so very much positive encouragement. I even still remember a comment he made about hoping the Pony Express still made special deliveries in TEXAS…
My daughter graduated this summer from college and is going to be a teacher. You can bet I’ve shared multiple stories of how Mr. Fullington inspired each student in our class and hope that she will be able to replicate some of his techniques and certainly his compassion to make a difference in the lives of so many.
Tricia–wow. Thank you so much for sharing your story!
The number of responses I’ve gotten from this blog post amazes me. It makes me happy to know that Mr. Fullington had planted all these seeds in so many people for so many years, and sent out ripples throughout the world!
Thank YOU Cedar for caring enough to post your initial thoughts and allowing me to share my memories…I sincerely hope my adoration for Mr. Fullington will reach his other fans and his family.