The Creative Soul Who Cleaned My Classroom

We honored our maintenance staff at work this week, only one of them wasn’t there. 

My friend, Robert Gillett. He died February 2014 after a battle with cancer. Robert and I shared two common interests. Writing and politics.

He wrote prolifically. Poems. Essays. Letters to the Editor. Letters to elected officials. Emails to radio talk show personalities.

It seemed to just pour out of him. He’d often ask me to proofread, and I gladly did so. It served as a refreshing change of pace for this teacher of middle school students.

Some days I’d return to school to find a poem on my desk.

I miss that.

Other days I'd find a short story or a quote about one more thing he wanted to say in our discussion about politics or religion.

I miss those too.

And now during this political season, I really miss my friend. He’d be having a ball since the three GOP candidates leading in the polls are non-career politicians.

So today, National School Custodian Day, I honor Robert. He was my co-worker, but most of all, my friend.

I miss him.

Do you have a memory of your school's maintenance crew? For those that knew Robert, share a memory of him.