Branka Marceta and TIMAC

I met Devon towards the end of her participation in TIMAC as a [Link]Cohort 2 member. I was very impressed by her presentation in May 2006 (you can see the 13 minute video of that presentation at http://drop.io/devonmarkert, along with some photos of her during TIMAC ). We met again, later on that year, at NECC in San Diego (July 2006). We were both very excited about the sessions we attended about technology integration in education. We also had a very nice dinner at a Brazilian churrascaria and spent hours enjoying food and good conversation. It was very interesting to learn about how Devon spent some time in Spain where she met Nourredin. Their relationship had many parallels to mine with my husband, one of us being an immigrant and a non-native speaker. It was my first time eating at a churrascaria, and now it will have a very special place in my memory because it was with Devon. The following school year we asked Devon to be a Super Mentor for our new TIMAC Cohort 3, because we knew how great of a fit for a support mentor she was - very professional, yet caring and enthusiastic about technology in education. She agreed to do it and we were very pleased because we knew that the new teachers in TIMAC are in very good hands with Devon’s kind moral support and strong technical skills. In October 2006, Devon attended a rap-session by Technology Enhanced Language Learning Interest Group with CATESOL (California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). I gave her my camera to snap photos and take videos. You know how it usually takes a little bit of time for most people to learn how to use a new gadget? Not Devon. She picked it up right away.
Then in March of that school year the news came about the headaches and the tumor. Since that faithful time, we have been following her amazing fight, being very hopeful that she would be back with us and TIMAC very soon. Devon has touched many of our lives and we will miss her immensely. She will live on through the wonderful relationships she has formed with many of us and through the fruitful results of her work with her colleagues and ESL learners. We have been very fortunate to have had her in our adult education community. With the heavy heart, we say goodbye.

Branka Marceta and TIMAC

Devon & Noureddin's Vacation Getaway at Newport Beach's Marriott Resort Sep 4, 2008.

A Student of Devon's

The joy and love you gave us will never die.Forever missed forever loved.Our angel on earth has gone home. Devon was my teacher at Griffith School. She was the best teacher in the world.I have no words to express my sorrow in this big loss my deepst condolences to Devon's family and friends. Devon will be my inspiration forever.

Billie Lee Langley

This is so difficult to write. To me Devon was a breath of fresh air. She gave me so much hope for what the younger generation was about. I got to know Devon while teaching ESL in Torrance Adult. I knew she was a wonderful caring person the minute we started talking. Devon brought me into the 21st Century by teaching me technology stuff. She was a wonderful, gifted mentor. And she made me feel so good about what I was learning. I loved her laugh and her genius. I will miss her so much and I know I was fortunate to be her colleague for even our short time. My heart and prayers go out to her family and friends. Thank you so much for sharing her with us.

With great sadness,
Billie Lee Langley

Daniel

There are no words. It was an honor to share so much with Devon and to be inspired by her. I will always remember her bursting into a room -- full of energy. We'd talk about classes...then music...and then...always...movies: "Did you see..!" "I loved the new...!" "...was so cool...!" "Oh my gosh...I just saw...!" "You have to...!"I don't think she ever got through 5 minutes without a smile or that infectious giggle either. She was a bright light.
My deepest condolences,
Daniel

Renee Frigon

Devon and I met on the soccer field as young girls. Years later Ruthie and Devon became great friends and I realized how small this world truly is. As her friendship with Devon grew, Devon and I were able to reconnect through email. All of her emails were always so warm and positive. Also I was able to come from Fresno to attend the Blue Party. We still talk about that night and I even have a picture on my refrigerator of the party. I will miss Devon and pray for her family and friends.
Love
Renee

Karla Frizler Octavio

Devon & I worked together as ESL Instructors at Torrance Adult School since 2003, and in that time we became good friends. I spoke with or saw her on an almost daily basis for the past few years, and her passing has left a tremendous hole in my heart.

In my entire career, I have never worked with anyone as dedicated, creative, productive, dynamic, powerful, sweet and friendly. She was a visionary who was always looking for new and interesting and more-effective ways of doing things. In that way, we were very similar, champions of thinking outside the box ... constantly challenging our students, our colleagues, our bosses ... ourselves. And having fun along the way! But Devon was different than me. I'm a bull in a china shop. She had a way about her that was so damn sweet and completely disarming. You didn't know she was convincing you to do something or agree to something. I never heard ANYONE say no to her. Never. She just had that certain charisma, that intangible something that drew people to her and made them want to be part of whatever plan she was concocting.

Devon & I began our relationship with me as her mentor, but that dynamic quickly shifted. We ended up mentoring each other. I couldn't believe how much I learned from this "young girl" (I'm 13 years older). I taught her about teaching strategies using technology, dealing with people's fears, etc., but she taught me patience and understanding and how important it is to encourage people even if their ideas are wacky or unrealistic. It didn't matter. Passion is passion, and if she saw even a shred of passion or interest from a student or teacher, she ran with it. I loved that about her. It was just simply her nature to look at the positive in everything and everyone.

After Devon stopped driving, we carpooled to and from work a couple days each week. I cherish those memories now. Sometimes we hatched work plans, other times we talked about American Idol, and lately we talked a lot about things like medical marijuana. But we always talked, and we always laughed. Well, almost always.

I'll never forget one Monday morning in May this year. Over the prior weekend, it was announced that Senator Ted Kennedy had been diagnosed with a glioma. All the news reports seemed to focus on the fact that it was a death sentence. Coward that I am, I was dreading the ride to work the next morning with Devon, and secretly hoped it wouldn't come up. But, being who she was, Devon got into the car and immediately asked me, "Do you think everyone thinks I'm going to die, just like Ted Kennedy?" I responded, "No. I think everyone thinks if anyone can beat cancer, YOU can." She smiled at me, and we proceeded to talk about Britney Spears or some other innane topic for the rest of the drive.

Devon was my colleague, my friend, my "little sister," and "Auntie Devon" to my 3-year-old daughter, Mia. Telling her that Devon passed was one of the hardest things I've ever done. In her infinite wisdom, Mia hugged and kissed me and said, "We miss Auntie Devon. It will be OK, Mommy."

Devon--I will never forget you and all the lessons you taught me, and I vow to make sure you are remembered at school and in my home. You were one of a kind and I feel so blessed to have known you for the time that I did. I love you and miss you terribly, and send all my love to your family and friends.