Upper School English teacher Sharron Reynolds Mittelstet died peacefully on February 2, 2012. Her love for literature and students touched many in the community.

Early last month, she was diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; however, her husband John said that symptoms surfaced as early as October. Nonetheless, she continued teaching up until Thanksgiving.

“To me, [she] was her normal ‘keep-me-on-my-toes Sharron,” John Mittelstet said in an email to the community.

Students from all grades had the opportunity to express support on many different levels; the school collected cards and messages to pass on to the Mittelstets. Several faculty, students, and alumni visited her and her family at their home over the past weeks.

Since her first year at the school in 1992, Mittelstet was deeply involved in community life outside the classroom. She was the head faculty cheerleader in many of the first Homecoming games, and she was also a popular choice among students for college recommendation letters.

“She had a great sense of humor and is loved by all for her warmth,” Head of School Chris Nikoloff said.

Furthermore, she was a movie buff and enjoyed watching films of a variety of genres; she always kept a jar on her desk filled with movie ticket stubs and taught the Literature into Film elective for seniors.

A memorial service will take place Saturday, March 10, 11:00am on the Saratoga Campus.