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Shannon Litz/The R-C Service: Adam Fluke, far right, spoke on behalf of the current Douglas High School Debate Team at the memorial for Marty Cronin on Thursday, Feb. 24 at Carson Valley United Methodist Church. At top, Mac Cronin, 10, seated, and his sister, Ali, 7, standing left, are comforted by friends before the service on Thursday for their father, Marty Cronin.
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ENLARGE
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Shannon Litz/The R-C Memorial: Mac Cronin, 10, seated, and his sister, Ali, 7, standing left, are comforted by friends before the service on Thursday for their father, Marty Cronin.
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When Rommy Cronin prefaced remarks at her husband's memorial service with one of his jokes, she set the stage that Marty Cronin would be remembered with more laughter than tears.
"Marty whispered to me today and told me to take a deep breath, and I did," she said. "Then, he whispered to me again and told me to hold it for 20 minutes."
Marty Cronin died Feb. 18 of complications from brain cancer. He was 49.
Close to 600 friends, family members, colleagues and students - past and present - packed Carson Valley United Methodist Church on Thursday for a memorial service for the Douglas High School teacher, speech and debate coach and father of two young children.
"Many family members and friends tried to discourage me, but how I could I do anything but speak today?" said Rommy Cronin.
She detailed their 20-year relationship that began at Santa Clara University where she was a student and he was her debate coach. They married in 1991 and began their family whose motto at the dinner table was "talk or die."
"He saw in me things I could never see in myself," she said.
Their children, Mac, 10, and Ali, 7, "are reflections of their father," she said.
Even during the battle with brain cancer, the Cronins "focused on the journey and not the destination," she said.
"It's the quality of the relationships you foster with other people," she said. "Through all of you, he lives on."
Melodie Toth, one of Cronin's first debate team members when he came to Douglas High School in 1991, said it was impossible not to buy into his sales pitch.
"Obviously, he was very passionate," Toth said. "He lived what he did."
DHS graduate Ben Larson said Cronin's students went on to become doctors, lawyers, college professors, state department analysts, Ph.D.s and teachers.
"And others of us simply try to help the world one ice cream cone at a time," Larson said.
Their children, Mac, 10, and Ali, 7, "are reflections of their father," she said.
Even during the battle with brain cancer, the Cronins "focused on the journey and not the destination," she said.
"It's the quality of the relationships you foster with other people," she said. "Through all of you, he lives on."
Melodie Toth, one of Cronin's first debate team members when he came to Douglas High School in 1991, said it was impossible not to buy into his sales pitch.
"Obviously, he was very passionate," Toth said. "He lived what he did."
DHS graduate Ben Larson said Cronin's students went on to become doctors, lawyers, college professors, state department analysts, Ph.D.s and teachers.
"And others of us simply try to help the world one ice cream cone at a time," Larson said.
"He was the only father I will ever know," Larson said. "There is nothing I wouldn't have done for him."
More than 20 of the school's current debaters crowded the altar at the church to honor the man some of them knew only for a few weeks.
"For many of us, he was our family," said Adam Fluke. "He took on the most extreme people you can imagine to be in the debate club. Silence was enough to tell this man you needed him and he always was there. That takes more than a Superman, that takes a Cronin."
David Macias said the students even learned from Cronin during his illness.
"When he first told us about it, he said, ''I won't give up. I am going to continue teaching.' And he did to the very last day."
Rachel Bristol called Cronin the best teacher she ever had.
"When my conscience talks to me, it has Marty's voice," she said.
Teacher Randy Green, who shared a high school wing with Cronin for 14 years, said he learned a lot from his colleague as he could hear his booming voice lecturing through the walls whether the classroom door was open or closed.
More than 20 of the school's current debaters crowded the altar at the church to honor the man some of them knew only for a few weeks.
"For many of us, he was our family," said Adam Fluke. "He took on the most extreme people you can imagine to be in the debate club. Silence was enough to tell this man you needed him and he always was there. That takes more than a Superman, that takes a Cronin."
David Macias said the students even learned from Cronin during his illness.
"When he first told us about it, he said, ''I won't give up. I am going to continue teaching.' And he did to the very last day."
Rachel Bristol called Cronin the best teacher she ever had.
"When my conscience talks to me, it has Marty's voice," she said.
Teacher Randy Green, who shared a high school wing with Cronin for 14 years, said he learned a lot from his colleague as he could hear his booming voice lecturing through the walls whether the classroom door was open or closed.
Cronin urged Green to run for the Douglas County school board and acted as his campaign manager in his bid for the Nevada Assembly.
"He was a great guy to have on your side," Green said.
Green said he was in his classroom last Sunday, two days after Cronin died, and noticed a sign on his classroom door made by students to welcome their teacher back after a semester's absence.
"It said, 'Cronin is home.' I stood there and had a good cry and said to myself, 'Yes, Cronin is home,'" Green said.
-- Sheila Gardner can be reached at sgardner@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 214.
DETAILS
"He was a great guy to have on your side," Green said.
Green said he was in his classroom last Sunday, two days after Cronin died, and noticed a sign on his classroom door made by students to welcome their teacher back after a semester's absence.
"It said, 'Cronin is home.' I stood there and had a good cry and said to myself, 'Yes, Cronin is home,'" Green said.
-- Sheila Gardner can be reached at sgardner@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 214.
DETAILS
Donations in Marty Cronin's name may be made to:
-- UCLA Brain Center Research Program, in care of Timothy Cloughesy, director, Neuro-Oncology Program, 710 Westwood Plaza, Suite 1-230 RNRC, Los Angeles, Calif., 90095. Checks should be made payable to UCLA Board of Regents.
-- Marty Cronin Scholarship Fund, Douglas County Professional Education Association, PO Box 454, Minden, Nev., 89410. Checks should be made payable to DCPEA with a notation on the memo line that funds are to be used for the scholarship fund.
MEMORY CARDS
From a memory card collected at the service for DHS teacher Marty Cronin:
"You always saw the potential in me even when I messed around. I felt like you really understood me and I appreciated that very much and I respect you very much. You're a great man. Thanks for the great memories."
Zach Moore, 15, DHS sophomore
-- UCLA Brain Center Research Program, in care of Timothy Cloughesy, director, Neuro-Oncology Program, 710 Westwood Plaza, Suite 1-230 RNRC, Los Angeles, Calif., 90095. Checks should be made payable to UCLA Board of Regents.
-- Marty Cronin Scholarship Fund, Douglas County Professional Education Association, PO Box 454, Minden, Nev., 89410. Checks should be made payable to DCPEA with a notation on the memo line that funds are to be used for the scholarship fund.
MEMORY CARDS
From a memory card collected at the service for DHS teacher Marty Cronin:
"You always saw the potential in me even when I messed around. I felt like you really understood me and I appreciated that very much and I respect you very much. You're a great man. Thanks for the great memories."
Zach Moore, 15, DHS sophomore
