First day back at work after the holiday. First day back at work in the new year. Trudging through snow drifts, braving below freezing wind chill factor to go to work.
I like my job right now. Even though it was hard getting out of bed, even though I could get use to a life of leisure, it was okay going to work today. Then I get there and I'm socked with tragic news. My former supervisor, Dr. Florence Sawicki, died the day after Christmas.
No one even knew she was sick. That's the kind of person she was. She didn't talk about her problems. She was such a cool person, a terrific boss, one of a kind. I said these words months ago so it isn't the grief talking. She was a person who believed in results. She didn't regiment you to a certain way of achieving the results. And no, it wasn't the ends justifying the means. She believed in the integrity of people and the ability of the people she hired. And as laid back as she was, she could also be tough. If you let her down, you didn't get many second chances.
Sometimes I think she liked animals more than people. She had a slew of them. She normally looked happy but her pets made her radiate. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that we donate money to an humane society of our choice. They knew that meant more to her than flowers at a gravesite.
She also loved children and dedicated her whole life to them. She was no believer in forcing children to become mini-adults with pressure to achieve. Her philosophy was to let the children play. Let the children laugh and they will learn.
I'm very sorry Dr. Sawicki is gone. Dr. Florence Sawicki, an educator, an humanitarian, one special lady.
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