Thursday, February 2, 2023
I am sorry to hear that Mr. Hounsell, our beloved and respected WCI biology teacher, has passed away. He was a lovely man who left my wife Linda and I with vivid, good memories of our time in his classes at WCI. We remember the crayfish and the wax trays! I also spent a few after school sessions with Bob, using ether to knock out various generations of Drosophila that helped turn the theory of Mendelian genetics into empirical data which indeed matched the predicted ratios of expressions of various dominant and recessive genes. And that one day when one student (who had more or less shook her head at every mention of Jurassic, Triassic, Cretaceous eras, dinosaurs, etc.) stated flatly that Darwin had recanted the Theory of Evolution on his deathbed, Mr. Hounsell stopped the class and said passionately "do not believe everything you read in those pamphlets they hand out at supermarkets!"
I wish our high schools made it easier for grateful past students to reconnect across the decades and give their respect and thanks to their teachers. I imagine teaching is a challenging and rewarding job. Clearly Mr. Hounsell took it very seriously, worked hard to make the lessons stick, and succeeded. He made a connection and an indelible impression. It's too late, but thank you very much, Bob, and thanks to all of your colleagues at WCI (1978-82 in our case).
We send Bob's family and friends our condolences and best wishes. May the memories of the lives you shared sustain you and bring you peace and comfort.
Jan and Linda Gray, Bellevue, WA, USA
