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"I first meet John
Kimber when he was substitute teaching in a Social Studies
class at my school. I walked into the classroom in
time to hear him telling a story about his recent trip to
China. I hadn't intended to stay, but I found myself
captivated by his story. The students and I listened in rapt
attention as he described in detail his adventures and then
related it to the current classroom topic. Who was this man,
and what was it about him that kept me and a group of
farm-town kids enthralled in a story about a culture and
life far from here?
John devoted many years to teaching
specializing in science and hands-on education for the
students of a small rural school district. There he
developed an outdoor Science Education Center that lives on
in the collective memory of all who went through his
program. In addition to his successful teaching career, John
has many diverse talents. He is a gifted artisan,
working miracles in rock and stone; he is a contractor and
landscape designer, as well as an exceptional musician. John
has a strong sense of compassion for his fellow man, couple
with a gift for listening - truly listening to the heart of
his speaker; this has enabled him to help many people
throughout the years. He has a strong sense of civic
responsibility and has served his community in various
roles. John's commitment to the environment and the beauty
of the natural world is evident in his creation of a
spectacular retreat at his home nestled against the
foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
John is a master story-teller, with the
unique gift to make the driest explanation into a story that
reaches out and wraps itself around your heart. His ability
to spin a yarn, his strength of character, devotion to
humanity, spirit of creativity, sense of humor, and genuine
enjoyment of the world around him has earned him a special
place in the hearts and minds of many people.
While reading John's book, I was transported
back to another time which allowed me to see through a
window of history into a world that only exists in our
memories. For a moment I got to experience his joy and
laughter, his sorrow and pain. I was able to see first hand
acts of compassion and generosity in a world that seemed to
work a little better with fewer complications than today.
So sit down in a comfortable chair and
immerse yourself in another time and place... where folks
seemed a little kinder."
Rebecca Mestaz
Principal, Wilson Middle School
Exeter, CA
2005
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