Terri Baseggio, Huntley Schoolteacher

January 08, 1999|By Dave Barnes. Special to the Tribune.

Terri Baseggio, a 5th-grade teacher in the Huntley elementary school system, died Monday of complications of heart surgery at Sherman Hospital in Elgin. She was 48.

A resident of Crystal Lake, Mrs. Baseggio had taught a 5th-grade class in Huntley Elementary South until last month's holiday break, according to Barbara Nugent, a secretary at the school.

"It was very unexpected," Nugent said of Mrs. Baseggio's death. "It's hard to believe we won't see her again."

Born in Minneapolis to Raymond and Eileen Potvin, Mrs. Baseggio realized her dream of becoming a teacher

 in 1991, when she began her eight-year career in Huntley. She also taught kindergarten and 2nd grade.

According to her husband, Tom, whom she married in 1972, Mrs. Baseggio chose not to pursue her career until after raising the couple's two children, Brian and Erica, waiting until her late 30s to attend college and ultimately graduate from Northern Illinois University in 1990.

"She was a very outgoing teacher," Nugent said. "She had a lot of energy and had a very good rapport with her students and with the other teachers."

In addition to her husband and children, survivors include two sisters, Toni Bault of Minnesota and Dottie Accurso of Missouri; a brother, Bob Potvin of Bartlett; and 14 nieces and nephews.

Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Resurrection Catholic Church in Crystal Lake. Classes for her 5th-grade pupils will be canceled so they can attend services.