In Memory
Nevin E. Longenecker
Beloved, award-winning high school biology teacher and member of the South Bend Hall of Fame, Nevin E. Longenecker, passed away September 27, 2024 following a short bout with brain cancer. He was joined in his final days by his family from around the country and passed peacefully. He was 87 years old.
Nevin had been a teacher for more than 60 years and had taught at John Adams High School since 1968 where he ran a nationally recognized research program for high schoolers. Among the thousands of his former students are noted doctors, researchers, physicists, and educators, including 11 current John Adams faculty members and the principal, who credit him as their mentor and inspiration.
He is survived by his wife, Lorna; his three children, Steve Longenecker of Longmont, Colorado, Dave Longenecker of South Bend, Indiana, and Jane Elliott of Los Angeles, California; and his siblings, Neal Longenecker and Laveda Peffley of North Manchester, Indiana.
Nevin was born in the Village of West Milton, Ohio, about 20 miles Northwest of Dayton, on November 22, 1936, and was the second son of Waldo and Opal Longenecker. He was raised in West Milton’s Highland Brethren in Christ Church, grew up in a house with an outhouse, and during his early years, picked cotton to help pay for boarding school.
Inspired by a desire to do something impactful with his life, Nevin earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Goshen College, and two master's degrees in biology and natural science from Purdue University and Texas A and M, respectively. During his senior year at Goshen College, he met Lorna Linder, who became his wife in 1961. After completing his second master’s degree, Nevin moved with Lorna to South Bend, Indiana where he began teaching at Muessel Junior High School. In 1968, he transferred to John Adams High School where he remained an active faculty member through this past school year, which was his 64th year of teaching.
While at John Adams, he taught a full schedule of biology courses, but he was best-known for developing a flagship science research program which served as a gateway to the fields of science and medicine for thousands of students. Under his skillful guidance and mentorship, Nevin’s research students won hundreds of awards and received more than two million dollars in grants and scholarships.
Over the course of his long and illustrious career, Nevin was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions from institutions such as NASA, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Chicago, Indiana University, Shell Oil Company, the Indiana Department of Education, and others. In 1980, Nevin was honored as the Indiana State Biology Teacher of the Year, and in 1984, he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In honor of his dedication to the service and care of others, in 1998, Nevin was inducted into the South Bend Hall of Fame.
In addition to John Adams, he taught adult education for the South Bend Community School Corporation for 22 years. In the summers, when wasn’t installing swimming pools, he headed up a summer research program at the University of Notre Dame. He served as the lead teacher at the National Science Foundation Molecular Biology Institute at Indiana University in 1989 and Assistant Director of the NSF Summer Institute in 1991 and 1992. He delivered numerous presentations at teachers’ conventions, was a motivational speaker for science teachers, and was the author of a book as well as numerous articles and syllabi for high school and university educators.
He maintained active memberships in the National Association of Biology Teachers, Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, National Education Association, and American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was a long-time member of the Kern Road Mennonite Church and served for six years as the chairperson of the congregation, building committee chair, and chair of adult education.
The current principal of John Adams High School, James Seitz, said of Nevin, “Mr. Longenecker embodied everything good that the educational system has to offer. His dedication to his students lasted far beyond the classroom. He was a teacher, mentor, friend, colleague, and outstanding person. Most importantly, Mr. Longenecker taught his students the value of inquiry, hard work, determination, and kindness.”
His students have gone on to become doctors, researchers, chemists, physicists, CEOs, teachers, and many other noted professions. Nevin could hardly go anywhere in the greater South Bend region without running into former students. In his final months while managing his diagnosis, he could not visit a doctor’s office, hospital, lab, or hospice facility without some medical professional or staff member recognizing him, mentioning they or their children had him as a teacher, and thanking him for inspiring them on their path. He truly was a legend in the South Bend community.
Nevin’s parents and his brother Keith preceded him in death. In addition to his immediate family, Nevin’s memory will be cherished his children’s spouses, Gail, Sharolyn, and Brett, and by his grandchildren, Joshua, Anna, Sarah, Cole, Taylor, Kassidy, and Sage.
The family would like to say a special thank you to all the doctors, nurses and staff throughout the last chapter of Nevin’s life: Beacon Cancer Care Memorial, StoryPoint Assisted Living & Memory Care in Granger, Concept Care at Home, and Traditions Health. We cannot thank you enough for your kind and compassionate care of Nevin while he was in his final weeks.
In keeping with his passionate love of science, Nevin generously donated his body to the Anatomical Education Program at Indiana University School of Medicine. It was his heartfelt desire that this gift would continue to contribute significantly to the advancement of health science education in the state of Indiana. Those, like Nevin, who decide to bequeath their bodies to the health sciences have made a significant contribution that benefits the quality of life and care for the living.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hope Ministries (https://www.hopesb.org/#). Condolences may be sent to the Longenecker family, c/o John Adams High School. A Celebration of Life service has been planned for October 26, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Pentecostal Church in Edwardsburg, Michigan. For more information and to RSVP for the service, please visit https://nevinscelebrationoflife.rsvpify.com.
10/11/2024 EJS
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