Dr. Don Houpe 1940-2008
>>Reflections on Dr. Houpe by Dr. Jon Miller
Founding NCSSM teacher dies at 67
Laura Collins
The Herald-Sun
lcollins@heraldsun.com
Aug 22, 2008
DURHAM — Students, faculty and family are mourning one of N.C. School of Science and Mathematics’ longtime educators.
Donald Houpe, 67, died early Wednesday morning at UNC Hospital from a “heart infection,” according to his wife, Lois Jean Houpe.
Mr. Houpe, of Chapel Hill, was a founding faculty member of Science and Math and had been there since the 1980s. He was the foreign language coordinator at the school, where Ginger Wilson, dean of humanities, said he was a very kind and caring teacher and person.
“He was a real linguist in that he was interested in the structure of the language,” she said. “He had a tremendous impact on the students. He was somebody who was exceedingly patient with students, always willing to go the extra mile. He was probably one of the most dependable people you’d ever meet in your life. He loved this school, he loved teaching.”
His wife agreed.
“He loved teaching and the School of Science and Math,” she said. “It was like his second home. He said that he knew he, as a teacher, he was supposed to challenge the student. But he said in actuality the students were challenging him to be a better teacher.”
Away from the school, Lois Jean Houpe said Mr. Houpe was a devoted husband and father. He was also very involved in the Esperanto League of North America, an association of people interested in the artificial language of Esperanto that was created to be a vehicle for international communication.
“His family was his world, but he also reached out to other people and tried to make other people feel welcome and comfortable. He was a non-judgmental person,” his wife said.
The school will have a celebration of life service for Mr. Houpe from 8:15-9:45 a.m. Monday. The family is having a private interment of the ashes, but it will be followed by a public memorial service at noon Saturday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
© 2008 by The Durham Herald Company. All rights reserved.
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