The Harker community lost beloved English teacher, coach, and friend Jason Berry last Saturday. Berry, 38, died at his home due to apparent heart failure.

Students and teachers received the news in emails sent over the weekend from Head of School Christopher Nikoloff, who wrote that Berry “impacted many with his wisdom, wit, and warmth and will be deeply missed.”

Berry had been working at the Upper School for the past five years. The Harker community was his family, literally as well as figuratively. He married Director of Alumni Relations MaryEllis Deacon in Duck, North Carolina in June. Deacon is the daughter of math teacher Jane Keller and Upper School Division Head Butch Keller. When discussing his wedding with The Winged Post last week for a planned feature story, Berry had a specific recommendation.

“When marriage finds you, have the most special people surround you with love and compassion,” he said. “Marry your best friend because she or he will be there for you eternally.”

Recalling some of his favorite memories with Berry, Mr. Keller shared a conversation that the two had about teaching.

“He and I believed so strongly that the word ‘teacher’ has a higher meaning than most people give it credit. To be a teacher is to inspire and encourage students to do and be everything that is right in the world,” he said. “He believed a teacher was a person that was trusted in all things. A person that students came to for everything.”

Senior Shenel Ekici, who was in Berry’s Honors English 3 class last year, posted a Facebook status on Saturday in honor of her teacher.

“He saw something in me that no one else ever did and certainly I never recognized. Mr. Berry gave me the gift of trust—in my ideas, my words, my talents, my belief in the inherent goodness of humanity,” she wrote. “I made the decision to pursue a major and career in writing because of his advice and encouragement.”

In addition to Berry’s firm beliefs about the nature of teaching, Mr. Keller underscored his warm and nurturing personality.

“He got the nickname ‘Bear’ from Mrs. Keller when she first got to know him because his personality and ‘cuddliness’ reminded her of a big snuggly bear,” he added.

English Department Chair Marc Hufnagl described Berry as “one of the most compassionate, selfless people I have ever known.”

The two English teachers shared a special relationship with one another: Hufnagl called Berry “The Kid,” while Berry called Hufnagl “Dad.”

“His genuine kindness-in-action inspired me more than once to be more understanding of others and tolerant,” Hufnagl wrote in an email. “He was a true humanitarian in that way and a most wonderful friend and colleague.”

English teacher Brigid Miller echoed Hufnagl’s sentiment, adding that Berry’s generosity distinguished him.

“He covered my class, he took my son to school, he reminded me about deadlines I needed to meet, he brought me lunch when I didn’t have time to go to the Edge–the list goes on,” she wrote. “And he never, ever, ever wanted anything in return.”

Miller also emphasized Berry’s humorous and scholarly sides, affirming his unceasing love for English literature.

“We were nerds together. We would email Gatsby quotations to one another,” she wrote. “He never failed to laugh when Daisy tells Gatsby, ‘I’d like to just get one of those pink clouds and put you in it and push you around.’ I don’t know why that line, specifically, resonated with him so much, but he loved that one.”

In her Facebook post on Saturday, Kristi Sun (‘12), who had Berry as a freshman, shared the impact he had upon her.

“Bear was the textbook definition of the crazy-articulate, hyperintelligent scholar. His presence was almost a tangible force whenever he was around; when he spoke, we were mesmerized,” she wrote.

Activities Director Kerry Enzensperger recollected Berry’s dedication to his students, friends, and family.

“He would always sacrifice himself and give everything he had to everyone else,” she said. “[One time], I thought I was smart coming here super early to hide Easter eggs for a spirit event, and I got here at 6:00 and he got here at 5:30. He worked all the time just to make everything better for everybody.”

The Class of 2012 selected Berry to be its faculty speaker at the Baccalaureate ceremony last spring. Addressing the graduating class, he advised: “Be who you want to be, and if that doesn’t agree with you, then find, once again, your center, your inner voice; don’t settle for an imitation of yourself.”

In addition to teaching English classes, Berry coached Varsity girls soccer and lacrosse through record-breaking seasons. Chemistry teacher Andrew Irvine coached lacrosse with Berry and counted him as a close friend.

“He was a very scholarly individual. We definitely contrasted each other in our different expertises. I think that definitely brought us together as a package, as a coaching unit,” said Irvine. “He was a very thoughtful guy.”

Matriculation events scheduled for last Monday were postponed to next Wednesday in deference to the community’s loss. Additionally, grief counselors were available to students and staff throughout the week to help them cope.

Originally from New Hampshire, Berry received his Bachelor of Arts from Furman University and his Master of Arts from Clemson University. He was a Clemson University PanHellenic Council for Excellence in Teaching honoree.

Berry is survived by his wife, MaryEllis Deacon; parents, Lance and Nancy Berry; brother and sister-in-law, Josh and Jessica Berry; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Butch and Jane Keller.

The family held a memorial service yesterday at WestGate Church in San Jose, followed by a reception at the Upper School campus.

To honor his memory, the school is establishing the “Jason Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund,” which will finance scholarships in perpetuity. Those wishing to contribute can send checks to the advancement office or complete a form online at www.harker.org.