Franke Thomas changed my life when I was in high school. Home life was extremely difficult, and it was reflected in my grades. He took me aside and gave me a way to make up enough points so I didn't flunk my first quarter, and I went on to get A's the rest of the year. He believed in me, and because of that I learned to believe in myself.

 I stuck around to be an aide, and he continued to influence my outlook on life. He showed me what it looked like to care about our big world, and how to be playful and to enjoy just being alive. Every time I listen to Spyrogyra I think of him, and I will treasure the times he waltzed me around the bio lab.  I made him a blue jeans cup in a ceramics class that year, and by golly if he didn't still have it for years after.  I'm a teacher now (SDSU-in Calexico, CA) and I know that he had a part in my finding my way. It began with him.
  I'm inconsolably sad that he suffered at all, ever, and that he is not here any more. What a tremendous loss. I am so thankful to have known him.
My thoughts and prayers are with Carrie and his children, and his close friends.