Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Beloved teacher: Tom Baer

Scholarship established in memory of Tom Baer

Goal is $50,000

By Shari Kaplan

The family and friends of Los Gatan Tom Baer, who died in late August, have organized an endowed scholarship called the Tom Baer Teachers of the Future Fund in the hope that Baer's love of teaching will have a permanent, far-reaching impact in the South Bay Area. Baer's cousin Dan Cotton, who is also a teacher, spearheaded the memorial scholarship effort.

Following his graduation from Cupertino High School, Baer earned a bachelor's degree at Dartmouth and a master's degree and teaching credentials from San Jose State University. Over the years, Baer was involved in schools in the Fremont Union and Mountain View high school districts, where he worked as a teacher, administrator and sports coach. Locally, he served on the Los Gatos Planning Commission. He was also one of the founders of Los Gatos' Congregation Shir Hadash, where he also served as president.

"He liked to take students under his wing, and he got involved with families and students," recalls Baer's widow, Cynthia, who says among the many cards and letters she's received was a note from a troubled student who wrote the following about Baer: "When everyone else gave up on me, he didn't. He always steered me in the right direction."

"He wanted the highest level of education for everyone," Cynthia adds, offering the example of how her husband advocated having all students read and study Shakespeare's Hamlet, not just advanced-placement students.

The fund is designed to broaden the pool of candidates entering the teaching profession. It will provide $1,000 scholarships to students who may have been at risk but have since demonstrated character and potential, along with a plan to attend college and ultimately become teachers in some capacity. The fund organizers' goal is to raise a minimum of $50,000.

Students from all high schools where Baer was a teacher or administrator will be eligible to receive a scholarship--Fremont, Lynbrook, Homestead, Cupertino, Monta Vista and Mountain View. Los Gatos High School students are also eligible, as the Baer family--which includes daughters Rachel and Emy--has made Los Gatos its home for more than 20 years.

Donations, which are tax-deductible, should be made payable to the Fremont Union High Schools Foundation and mailed to Tom Baer Teachers of the Future Fund, P.O. Box 215, Los Gatos, 95031.

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