I remember Nelda Gosnell fondly. She was a fantastic teacher and was the first one to get me interested in literature and creative writing. She taught me how to interpret complex and seemingly cryptic prose that I never thought I'd understand. And in doing so, taught me the to see the artistry of creative writing.
She had a definite and most positive impact on those students fortunate enough to know her.
Who didn't love Nelda? She had a heart of gold, the patience of a saint-and was cute as a button! I remember her Poe class and her sex-ed class. She certainly could teach anything!
I will never forget her Death and Dying class. One of the most impactful classes/courses I've ever been a part of. I cherished my time with her and the class and learned more about getting in touch with my feelings than I ever had before.
I met Nelda in the 6th grade. My first class with her was Transitions...We had a guest speaker that came in and taught us Transactional Analysis...I learned to meditate and haven't stopped since...
The next year I took a creative writing class that Nelda taught...
My childhood (like most Loretto-ites) was unusual at best...Nelda saw the writer in me, she nurtured and cultivated my burgeoning talent...
The next year...my 8th grade year...I took Death and Dying...little did we all know the sweet irony...my beloved Nelda had been diagnosed with cancer...Nelda took me aside one day...she let me cry and struggle with the pain and confusion...she listened silently as I told her all of the reasons she couldn't die and how much she was a part of my life and how much I needed her... We'd all started journals in the class and Nelda would respond weekly to our entries... Toward the end of her life as she lost her hair and physical strength, she stopped teaching...we were all heartbroken...our beloved Nelda was slipping away...all the while teaching us firsthand how to deal with losing someone you love... After Nelda died, our class wrote a memorial in her honor...we all took slips of green paper and wrote a comment about Nelda...I somehow ended up with the sweet and beautiful notes from all of her students...I still have them...and will bring them to the reunion...Amazingly enough, I also held on to my Death and Dying journal...and over this many years have pulled it out and re-read my entries and Nelda's responses...
My favorite story at her memorial as told by her husband, Steven...Nelda and Steven had gone to a local grocery store to obtain check cashing cards, you were supposed to assign your account a password...Steven's was, "Help"...Nelda's was, "Hope"...
I love you Nelda...you are a shining star that still guides my path...I think of you everyday...You were the first woman (outside of my mother) that was my mentor and my hero...
Thank you for taking the time and interest in me...you are deeply missed.
Ron Barrett (1984)
The one... the only...She was formative for most of us in ways we cannot describe...
Her spirit embodied the best of Loretto...
"Fascination with things is good... But don't forget, people can smile."
-Nelda (on returned "Transitions" journal entry, 1978)
Chuck Michael (1982)
I remember Nelda Gosnell fondly. She was a fantastic teacher and was the first one to get me interested in literature and creative writing. She taught me how to interpret complex and seemingly cryptic prose that I never thought I'd understand. And in doing so, taught me the to see the artistry of creative writing.She had a definite and most positive impact on those students fortunate enough to know her.
Camille Benton (1984)
Who didn't love Nelda? She had a heart of gold, the patience of a saint-and was cute as a button! I remember her Poe class and her sex-ed class. She certainly could teach anything!Chris Coughlin (1984)
I will never forget her Death and Dying class. One of the most impactful classes/courses I've ever been a part of. I cherished my time with her and the class and learned more about getting in touch with my feelings than I ever had before.Ginger (Hunter) Mijares (Muse) (1986)
I met Nelda in the 6th grade. My first class with her was Transitions...We had a guest speaker that came in and taught us Transactional Analysis...I learned to meditate and haven't stopped since...The next year I took a creative writing class that Nelda taught...
My childhood (like most Loretto-ites) was unusual at best...Nelda saw the writer in me, she nurtured and cultivated my burgeoning talent...
The next year...my 8th grade year...I took Death and Dying...little did we all know the sweet irony...my beloved Nelda had been diagnosed with cancer...Nelda took me aside one day...she let me cry and struggle with the pain and confusion...she listened silently as I told her all of the reasons she couldn't die and how much she was a part of my life and how much I needed her...
We'd all started journals in the class and Nelda would respond weekly to our entries...
Toward the end of her life as she lost her hair and physical strength, she stopped teaching...we were all heartbroken...our beloved Nelda was slipping away...all the while teaching us firsthand how to deal with losing someone you love...
After Nelda died, our class wrote a memorial in her honor...we all took slips of green paper and wrote a comment about Nelda...I somehow ended up with the sweet and beautiful notes from all of her students...I still have them...and will bring them to the reunion...Amazingly enough, I also held on to my Death and Dying journal...and over this many years have pulled it out and re-read my entries and Nelda's responses...
My favorite story at her memorial as told by her husband, Steven...Nelda and Steven had gone to a local grocery store to obtain check cashing cards, you were supposed to assign your account a password...Steven's was, "Help"...Nelda's was, "Hope"...
I love you Nelda...you are a shining star that still guides my path...I think of you everyday...You were the first woman (outside of my mother) that was my mentor and my hero...
Thank you for taking the time and interest in me...you are deeply missed.
Ginger Mijares aka Hunter Muse