Dec. 13 marks the day my beautiful son Spencer died from cancer. To honor his memory, my family is raising money and collecting food for an organization that was near and dear to his heart, the Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry in Newark, NJ. Spencer grew up in Montclair, then lived and worked in Newark. He was very proud to be a part of a city with such a rich and diverse history.

Spencer was a dedicated teacher and coach. When he was getting a master's degree (which he did while working full-time), everyone told him to get a degree in administration or educational leadership so he would have "more options." Spencer refused and was adamant that he never wanted to be sitting in an office. He said he always wanted to be in the classroom with students. He used teaching social studies to develop skills in expressing one's ideas concisely and convincingly in writing and speaking. He would give a writing prompt every day, so writing would become second nature. One example was "Who is better - Batman or Spiderman and why? Or choose any two fictional characters and compare." He met each student as an individual and helped them to identify their strengths and areas that needed improvement.

When he coached water polo, he was tough and wanted to win, but having fun and being respectful athletes was just as important. He was also a wonderful son, brother, partner, and friend to many. His gentle soul and desire to make the world a better place will always be missed.

We are raising money to honor Spencer's memory and support the Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry in Newark, NJ.