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Died December 10, 2020.
Elliott Alternative Education Center, Modesto, CA
Adult Education & Technology
Gerard “Jerry” Jarvis, a computer and adult education teacher, as well as an adult education counselor at the Elliott Alternative Education Center high school, recently died from complications related to COVID-19 according to a post on the district’s Facebook page.
Jarvis, who was with Modesto City Schools for 32 years, all at Elliott, contracted COVID-19 outside of the work environment in mid-November, according to the post.
Jarvis was known for bringing doughnuts for all of his students and the entire staff on the last day of every quarter as well as visiting “every office/classroom” on a daily basis to ask how everyone was doing.
“Jerry was loved immensely by everyone, and he will be truly missed,” the post said. “His memory will live on, not only on the Elliott campus, but also in the entire Modesto community.”
Fellow Elliott teacher Fred Johnston said in a text message to The Bee on Sunday, “All of his students had good things to say about him. That is rare, especially at Elliott, but it shows everyone respected him and liked him.”
Johnston said he told a former student about Jarvis’ passing and the young man replied that Jarvis made a huge impression on him. “Jerry urged him to step out of his comfort zone and to write and apply for the local American Heritage essay contest” perhaps about a decade ago, Johnston said.
The student’s piece was selected as one of the top three essays, and “he wouldn’t have even attempted such a thing if Jerry hadn’t suggested it and encouraged him.”
Johnston also shared a recollection by Elliott data entry clerk Ashley Wheeler about meeting Jarvis when she was 11 or 12. Her grandfather took an adult education introductory computer class Jarvis taught, and “Jerry would give Ashley word searches and spreadsheets to put together so she would not bored while her grandfather was in class. Jerry cared about EVERYONE.”
Johnston said Jarvis was a role model for all people, not just teachers. “As I am writing this, another student reached out to me expressing his sorrow about the passing of Mr. Jarvis. That’s the kind of teacher Jerry was.”
Other friends and colleagues mourned Jarvis on Facebook. One fellow educator said she was “gutted” by the news of his death. “He was a gentleman and a good teacher, and even better person. Elliott will never be the same without him.”
Another Elliott teacher commented, “He was one of my favorite people on earth. I learned a lot from Jerry and will miss him dearly.”