I only know him as mr. Prickett. I attended Potrero Elementary School mr. Prickett was my fourth through sixth grade teacher. Mr. Prickett used to call me, Handsome Jack. Tom Prickett wasn't only the teacher he was a great teacher and mentor. It's hard to believe I was just a student 49 years ago. Today is Sunday February 12th 2019 and I just learned he passed away. He will always be in my heart. I will miss him.

Mr. Prickett was my 6th grade teacher in 1994. I had just moved back with my mother after having lived in Los Angeles for some years. She rented a house in the US so I could go to Potrero Elementary. Unfortunately, we were evicted of our rental home prior to when students were expelled from Potrero Elementary School. We moved back to Tecate, Mexico. Mr. Prickett was an exceptional man. It’s hard for me to know what must have gone through his mind at the time. I was fearful that the school would find out I lived in Mexico in the wake of Prop 187 and the subsequent unrelated expulsion of students living in Mexico. I remember every day Mr. Prickett would pull another kid out and they would come back in class with tears in their eyes. Everyday, the class would slowly whittle down in numbers. Soon, my day came. I remember our conversation and sadness in having to leave his class.  I remember having some books of his and when I lived in Mexico for some months while out of school I would read them voraciously. Where the Red Fern Grows was one of Mr. Prickett’s books. Once out of school I read a 1950s Encyclopedia that we owned. Our backyard, literally, was the US border fence. Today, I can say I’ve written several articles in a college economics encyclopedia. Not bad for a US born kid of a single farm worker mother. Years laterI went back to visit Mr. Prickett but I don’t really think he remembered me. I tried reaching out years after through email. I have since tried reaching out to the current principal to share my story. I’ll always remember Mr. Prickett because despite the exterior circumstances, his passion for teaching rubbed off on me and inspired me to keep learning. Today I continue to teach both high school students and teachers. I’ll jump out of WWII airplanes because it’s a way for me to keep growing as an individual. All this thanks to Mr. Prickett that in his own way served a greater cause to an otherwise unsuspecting student who benefited from his passion. 

I have fond memories of Tom Prickett. As a child I always enjoyed visiting Cousin Tommy and Aunt Dagny in Morris,Minnesota.  I was always impressed with the things he showed me that he made in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.  He was a few years older than me and I looked up to him.  I was so happy that he was successful in his Navy days, his career as a teacher, and   as a husband and father.  I am so glad that my family got to visit with Tom and Espy two years at the Stark family reunion in Colorado.

So many people have so many fond memories of Tom. As a teacher he touched so many people. I know that I will keep those memories that I have very close to my heart.

It is my privilege to have called Tom Prickett my friend for the past seventeen years.  He was a fine man, a loyal American, and a dedicated educator.  I was fortunate enough to have worked in his classroom as a substitute teacher many times.  He surely made a difference for the good.  I'm thankful to have known him and he will stay in our memories.  Our prayers are with Tom and his family.

OBITUARIO

Thomas Moore Prickett Jr.

11 marzo, 1941 – 4 noviembre, 2015

Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary

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