Teacher Dies Minutes After Retiring From 36-Year Career

by sweet east pearl | June 1, 2008 at 03:48 pm

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MOLINO, Fla. — An elementary school teacher retiring after a 36-year career died of a heart attack moments after saying goodbye to her final class for the summer.

Sharon Smith, 57, died Friday on the way to a hospital according to her niece, Doreatha Jackson. Smith was a fourth grade teacher at Molino Park Elementary School, where she had worked since 1972.

Principal Alice Woodward said students had not been gone more than five minutes before Smith complained of shortness of breath and an ambulance was called.

"Any child who had her would tell you Sharon was their favorite teacher," said Woodward in an interview with Pensacola News Journal. "She had a caring attitude and saw something good in every child and every teacher."

Sharon Smith waved goodbye and blew kisses Friday to the Molino Park Elementary School students she loved dearly. It was a big day for the fourth-grade teacher. Friday was the last day of school. The day she was to retire after 36 years.
But just moments after the last students had been dismissed, Mrs. Smith complained of shortness of breath. An ambulance was called. A few moments later, Mrs. Smith, 57, died on the way to West Florida Hospital, said her niece, Doreatha Jackson.
"She had the first heart attack at school," she said. "She was revived, and en route had another one. She had a history of heart trouble."