A student's tribute to a beloved English teacher

Joey Lutz, a popular young teacher at Santa Monica High School, died recently when a wave swept him away on a beach in Panama, where he was vacationing. One of his students, soon-to-be-senior Sophy Cohen, has written a tribute:

(Joey Lutz)

I never thought this would happen, my head filled with confusion, shock, and grief in the same instant as the words ... missing, presumed dead filled the computer screen. My second thought was a wave of realization as I wondered how it was possible for such a young, great man to be carried into the next life by a riptide.

His traveling spirit took him across the world as he looked for the next adventure.

My dearest English teacher put his heart and soul into the curriculum, caring for each individual as he did what he loved each day. To inspire the young minds of others was his mission, because although only 25, he had all the wisdom of life right before him. You could find Mr. Lutz in the library chatting with students after school, or outside at lunch sitting among a group of teachers. He even  participated in Racial Harmony, a two-day campus sleepover that allowed various racial groups on campus to come together and talk about their differences. He was an advocate for our rights, interested in what we had to say. He had been president at his high school in Culver City. He was a part of the ukulele band with teachers at school and on weekends sang in a barbershop quartet, giving us an unforgettable performance on Valentine's Day.

Looking back to the first day of school, I remember walking into his class. He was the only teacher on campus who turned the classroom into a living space that made kids feel comfortable in and out of class time. With the couches and rug, mini-fridge and microwave, Mark Twain quotes and Jimi Hendrix posters, any Samo High kid could walk in and feel instantly at home with a greeting and warm smile from Mr. Lutz. Soon, a few laughs would be shared, advice would be given, the guitar would be played and food would definitely be shared. And then you would know that you were accepted. From that point on, he would always have your back or be there for a chat. He became to many students not just a teacher, but also a mentor, an inspiration and a friend.

Books filled his room, and he was known to pick one up and start reading aloud. On that first day in AP English, he told us that no matter how much we screwed up, no matter if we accomplished every assignment, if one student managed to get published in The Times, it would guarantee an automatic A in the class. That's because, Mr. Lutz, you believed more in experience, and trying new things than in following the state standards (although you managed to accomplish that, too). Your lessons plan varied from day to day as you wanted us to experience every possible aspect of the English curriculum, and we never focused too long on one subject until the end ... poetry.

Each day you would choose a student to flip through the works of "Lotus Blossom" and ask him or her to pick a poem and speak. Your final was not a test or an essay, but a performance of a poem that described who we were and where we came from. There was never a more emotional period at school than on that day. The performances left hearts touched, minds opened and tears spilling. Unlike in other classes, on the last day of your class, no one rushed out the door.

Mr. Lutz hugged every student, wishing them the best and vowing that the following year he would bring the bar mitzvah photos he promised to show.

In no other class would I ever write letters to companies about the Fair Trade coffee and workers' rights in Africa, or analyze the motivational speech of Barack Obama and identify the rhetorical devices he used.

Mr. Lutz inspired us to read, to write, to see, to travel and to experience what life had to offer, and I'm writing to say that I hear you, Mr. Lutz. Every student at Santa Monica High School hears you, too. We love you with all our hearts and will never forget every word you've inspired us with. May you rest in peace and smile upon your students for many years to come. My dearest sympathies go out to Stuart, Freda and Mickey, his loving family.

Comments

[Shira Lutz]

This is beautiful, but I am Joey's little sister... it makes me a little sad that the author didn't include me in the family...

-Shira Lutz