Jane Dybowski, a former Westport High School Teacher of the Year, died Friday night at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston of neuro-endrocrine carcenoid syndrome, a very rare form of cancer. She was 56.
She taught science at Westport High School for 30 years and was on medical leave because of her illness. Most recently she had taught Advanced Placement Biology, Chemistry and Physics at the school, though over the years she had taught nearly every course the department offered. She was named teacher of the year by the National Honor Society in 2004 and was the keynote speaker at the following year's induction ceremony.
Ms Dybowski was a teacher admired for her quick wit and high standards who was honored last year when the school’s yearbook used her motto,“We are not wimps; we are Wildcats,”as the opening page of the book.
She was part of a team of teachers who developed one of the first forensic science units for use with high school students under a grant from the Polaroid Corporation in the early 1990’s. She was instrumental in bring Dr. Henry Lee, a world famous forensic scientist, to Westport High School to talk to students about forensic science techniques.
She was a 1979 summa cum laude graduate of Bridgewater State College, where she was honored with the William B. Vinal Award in Zoology.
Born in Fall River, she is survived by her husband of 21 years, Harry Proudfoot, her sister, Gail Dybowski, and her father Henry Dybowski, all of Fall River. She was the daughter of the late Alexandrina (Lima) Dybowski.
Her funeral will take place from the Manuel Rogers & Sons Funeral Home 1521 N. Main St., Fall River SATURDAY at 9:00 A.M. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Michael Church, Essex St., Fall River at 10:00 A.M. Interment in St. Patrick Cemetery, Fall River. Calling hours THURSDAY 4-8 P.M. There are no FRIDAY calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, attn: Tribute Envelope Program, 10 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445