RE Log Spring 2023

74 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2023 In Loving Memory To submit an obituary of an alum, former faculty member, former trustee or former administrator of Ransom Everglades who have passed away, please email Maggie Pearson ’80 at mpearson@ransomeverglades.org. We request that you keep your submission to no more than 500 words and remember to include a high resolution photo and the graduating class years of all Ransom Everglades alumni or students mentioned. Submissions for In Loving Memory George Kasyan , RE Faculty Emeritus and science-teaching legend, passed away on December 20, 2022, at the age of 76. George arrived at RE in 1974, the year of the merger between the Ransom and Everglades schools, and soon became a favorite of students and faculty alike. He was a jovial man whose love of children and creativity in the classroom inspired generations of students to pursue careers in STEM fields. He taught at RE for 40 years. George understood that in order for his students to thrive in his classroom, he first needed them to know that he cared about them as people. He devised innovative experiments that thoroughly engaged those in his classes. For a unit on electricity, students plugged a hot dog into an electrical outlet and then watched it cook before eating it. He organized a fire safety day known as “Fire Day” that taught middle students about the importance of understanding science as it related to their daily lives. His students also designed and launched rockets from the middle school field. Regardless of the activity incorporated into his instruction, for George, it was simply a venue to teach students to think critically and work cooperatively. Any student who had George as an advisor (or was a middle school faculty member) will fondly remember that George made waffles for his advisory holiday parties. He won the Arthur Moses Faculty Award – the highest honor given to RE faculty – in 1996, and the middle school science award is named after him to this day. He was a devoted friend to many at Ransom Everglades, and he will be deeply missed. In an article in the RE Alumni News in November 2021, George said: “Developing and instituting student-centered learning activities was my passion throughout my teaching career. Even now I miss seeing all the smiles on my students’ faces when they had their ‘AHA’ moments of understanding. I do, however, enjoy having control of my time and sleeping in past 5:30 a.m.” George is survived by Linda, his wife of more than 50 years (they were married at Wayside Baptist Church); children Pamela Kasyan- Howe ’89 (James) and James Kasyan ’93 (Meredith Hagedorn); and grandchildren Jacob, Aiden, Chase and Teagan. Until his final days, he enjoyed camping trips and exploring the natural world with his family and friends. James Thomas Cowgill Jr. , former Chief Financial Officer of Ransom Everglades and RE parent, passed away on Feb. 10, 2023. He was 52. A Fort Lauderdale native, Jim served as CFO at Ransom Everglades from July 2013 through June 2020. Prior to working at RE, Jim spent 18 years at Pine Crest School, his alma mater, in a variety of positions in the business office including as CFO from 2010-13. Among his colleagues at RE, Jim was known for his unflappable demeanor, positive spirit, flawless work and mischievous sense of humor. He helped the school through a period of extraordinary growth and challenges. Jim steadily guided school leaders through the purchase of the La Brisa land, the REinventing Excellence campaign and the building of the Constance & Miguel Fernandez STEM Center. He also directed RE’s recovery from Hurricane Irma. After the completion of the STEM Center, he stepped down in 2020. “Jim’s professionalism, knowledge, and collaboration made him a joy to work with,” Interim Head of School Rachel Rodriguez said. Jim documented his battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, by writing a blog ( https://betterlivingwithals.com ) that was equal parts inspiration, engaging storytelling and laugh-out- loud humor. Until the end, he expressed gratitude for his time on earth, his beloved wife and family, his dear friends, and his faith. He is survived by his dear wife, Marlene Fayette-Cowgill; children Ashlyn Cowgill ’19 and James Cowgill III, who worked for a time in RE’s tech services department; parents Lourdes Cowgill and Jim Cowgill; and sister, Lourdes Cowgill Janssen (Herb). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the non-profit Team Gleason at https:// teamgleason.org to support those currently living with ALS.