Frank "Jim" James Guszak

Jim Guszak was a loving husband, father, grandfather and teacher. Beyond his love for his family, he was committed to helping children read and write. Combined with God’s gifts of good health and great jobs, he never stopped teaching once he started.

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1932, to Leo and Bessie Guszak, he would experience the life of the “new kid in the school” in Oklahoma City (2 schools), Tulsa, Shreveport, Dallas, and finally Corpus Christi, where he went from fifth grade through high school. He became an avid sailboat racer and varsity track man in the 400 and 800 meter races.

At Corpus Christi High, he developed a passion for writing for La Gaviota and received a tennis scholarship and was elected captain of the track team. After graduation, Jim spent two years at Del Mar Junior College where he was presented with many opportunities for growth in academics, tennis, writing (newspaper and annual), as well as other organizations.

After transferring to and graduating from the University of Texas in 1954, Jim returned to Corpus Christi to teach and coach sixth grade at Ebony Acres (now Gibson Elementary) for four exciting years. This was followed by a Master’s degree from UT and a principalship in Corsicana (Fannin Elementary).

When a great offer came from San Angelo ISD, Jim moved to San Angelo to Santa Rita Elementary. While in San Angelo, Jim met and married the love of his life, Diana Biedermann, in 1961. Diana was a fifth grade teacher at Sam Houston Elementary. There, they started their family with first born Garron, a wonderful baby.

From San Angelo, Jim and Diana moved to the University of Wisconsin in 1963 with Garron. They were blessed with two more beautiful children, Kristen and Mark, and a PhD. After graduation in 1966, they packed up a Uhaul trailer and departed for Albuquerque, New Mexico, for Jim’s first academic appointment at the University of New Mexico.

After an enjoyable, but short, stay in New Mexico, the Guszaks chose the opportunity of a lifetime to return to the University of Texas, Jim’s alma mater, where they had their fourth child, Ginna. She was a lovely baby and treasured by her older siblings. Too soon, in retrospect, the children grew up and gave Jim and Diana five wonderful grandchildren (Cal, Jolie and Gabrielle Francis and Laura and Logan Wimmer).

From the start of college teaching, Jim found the task of teaching children to read in the absence of children was not his calling. He set out to bring the children into the university where his students could teach them twice a week. He talked to Jack Carter, a nearby principal, who was eager to bring two carloads of children to campus twice a week. While this was a big hit, Jim felt that the university students could move more easily than the children so he moved his program to Baker Elementary where they could teach and learn every day of the week in a cohort of many courses.

Once his pattern of field based instruction was started, it grew to where students would progress through three semesters in the field, culminating in student teaching. This produced great achievement and joy for all involved. Their work became recognized and the students became excellent teachers throughout the state and the country. The inputs of a vast number of graduate and undergraduate students produced an individualized reading and writing program that would subsequently produce countless teachers.

In addition to operating field based programs in Austin and Hays school districts for 26 years, Jim also assisted many other schools in Texas and the United States in individualizing reading and writing. His summer reading program at St. Austin’s School was a joy for twenty six years for children and graduate student teachers.

After retirement in 2006, Jim continued to work with students in various schools but most notably at the Veritas Academy, Austin Christian Academy and Hamlin ISD. He also continued his tennis by playing singles in the Texas State Tennis Association age division up to 80. Jim finally stopped teaching in two private schools when he got his first cancer diagnosis. He was loved by children and teachers alike.

Jim’s parents Bessie and Leo, his sister Marilyn and brother Leo Edward are deceased. He is survived by his beautiful and loving wife, Diana; sons Garron and Mark; daughters Kristen and Ginna, and Ginna’s husband Art Hill; grandchildren Cal Francis, Jolie Francis, Gabrielle Francis, Laura Wimmer and Logan Wimmer.

Visitation will be from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Weed, Corley, Fish funeral home at 2620 South Congress Ave., Austin, TX, on Wednesday, July 14. A rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. that evening, following the visitation. The funeral mass will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church at 10000 David Moore Road in Austin, at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 15. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army would be appreciated.