Gerard Gerry Benedict didnt just teach biology and conservation at Midlakes High School. He lived and breathed it, and he passed that passion on to students and colleagues.

Mr. Benedict composted at home. He put in solar panels. If he saw a plastic bottle by the side of the road, he picked it up. He ran and walked regularly to school, even though he lived in Newark, about eight miles away for his fitness as well as the Earths.

Every year, Mr. Benedict and students would plant trees in the field across from the schools. He and his students also regularly collected water samples to track the health of nearby Flint Creek.

Mr. Benedict, 65, died doing what he loved. He was volunteering for the Finger Lakes Trails Conference in the Catskill Mountains, helping to clear trails when a branch hit him last weekend.

He just loved nature and the outdoors, remembered Midlakes Principal Jamie Farr.

He was the type of guy who lived what he taught and loved what he taught, said Farr. Thats what made him so effective. Because he loved it so much, the students loved it. He had the admiration of his students and the respect of his colleagues.

Mr. Benedict taught biology for 35 years at Midlakes, and coached the cross-country team for more than 20 years.

He retired two years ago, although last year came back to school as a long-term substitute for Christina Ross, a teacher he mentored and recipient of a unique gift.

If he found a beaver skull along his route to school, hed bring it to class cleaned up, of course for the learning experience, she said. His gift of a beaver skin is still in her classroom.

It was roadkill that Gerry put together for me, Ross said. I loved it.

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Midlakes biology teacher loved and lived to teach nature