SMMUSD Mourns The Passing Of Beloved Retired Lincoln MS Teacher

SANTA MONICA, CA — Beloved, retired Lincoln Middle School math teacher Steve Marcy was known for bringing fun and adventure into his lessons, his colleagues said.

Santa Monica Malibu Unified School Districts announced Marcy's unexpected death at the age of 77 on Jan. 25. District officials expressed their gratitude for Marcy's impactful work throughout his 36 years at Lincoln Middle School.

"Steve had a tremendously positive impact on students over his 36 years at Lincoln Middle School. He also inspired teachers throughout the district and beyond," said SMMUSD Interim Superintendent Mark Kelly.

Marcy was first hired at Lincoln Middle School in 1971, where he worked until his retirement in 2007. During his teaching career, he wrote mathematics enrichment materials and published eight binders of classroom activities that teachers in the district and nationwide still use.

The beloved teacher was also cherished in the community as the Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 2 in Santa Monica since 1989. In 2013, Marcy was honored as an inspirational hero by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce where he reflected on his work as a role model for kids in the community.

"As both a teacher and a Scoutmaster, I was thrust into the position of role model. In both contexts, children can be strongly influenced by the example you set. You hope to inspire them by that example," Marcy said. "There are many teachable moments to discuss values such as kindness, integrity, and moral courage. You can teach children that they have the power to do something great.”

Even after his retirement, his work continued to be impactful for others in the district like current SMMUSD math and science cooridinator Rosa Serratore. Serratorre said she admired the way Marcy brought fun and adventure into his classroom.

Marcy is survived by his wife Janis, his sister Jan Rhue, his four children Matt, Jennifer, Jasmina and Andy along with his five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

His family planned a memorial for him on Feb.11 at 11 a.m. at the Lincoln Middle School auditorium.

“Please share our gratitude with the school board for taking the time to acknowledge all that my dad gave to the community for so many decades," Marcy's daughter Jennifer said. "He loved Lincoln, the people he worked with, and the kids he taught, and on many occasions, he told me how lucky he felt to have landed there for his career."

To share cards and memoried with the family, community members can email [email protected]. The family asked that donations in Marcy's honor be made to Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, ACLU or Santa Monica Boy Scout Troop 2.