Obituary for Philippines RPCV Linda Laighton Bahr



A graduate of MacMurray Collge in Jacksonville, Ill., Mrs. Bahr taught hearing-impaired students through the Northwestern Illinois Association. She took a break from teaching in Illinois schools to teach the hearing impaired in the Philippines from 1985 to 1987 by volunteering for the Peace Corps. Her two-year stint in the Philippines allowed her to learn about another culture firsthand and ignited an interest in world travel. She went on to visit Nepal, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru and Thailand "She liked going to places that other people don't necessarily find comfortable," explained Larry Bahr.

Obituary for Philippines RPCV Linda Laighton Bahr

World-traveling teacher inspired many students

Jan 30, 2007

Chicago Daily Herald

Linda Laighton Bahr ~ 1954-2007

Linda Laighton Bahr was known to inspire her students to become more than they ever thought possible.

A deaf and hard of hearing specialist at Streamwood High School for 17 years, Mrs. Bahr stopped teaching in August 2005, when she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Last fall, Mrs. Bahr and her husband set up a Web site to communicate with friends and family members.

"It was a kind of therapeutic way to share her story and let other people know about her condition," said Larry Bahr.

Several former students and parents wrote Mrs. Bahr to let her know how she had touched their lives. Many were grateful that their former teacher never gave up on them although they often struggled at school work and even in their personal lives.

Through the Web site, Mrs. Bahr discovered that several of her students went on to college. One wrote to inform her that he had escaped gang life and remained in school.

"She said that if anything good came from her illness, it was that she learned how much she meant to people, how much she loved them and how much they loved her. A lot of people don't find this out," said Larry Bahr.

A resident of Elgin since 1987, Mrs. Bahr died Jan. 20. She was 52.

Mrs. Bahr grew up in New Jersey. During her childhood, she spent summers with her two sisters at her grandfather's beach house in West Hampton, New York.

A graduate of MacMurray Collge in Jacksonville, Ill., Mrs. Bahr taught hearing-impaired students through the Northwestern Illinois Association. She took a break from teaching in Illinois schools to teach the hearing impaired in the Philippines from 1985 to 1987 by volunteering for the Peace Corps.

Her two-year stint in the Philippines allowed her to learn about another culture firsthand and ignited an interest in world travel. She went on to visit Nepal, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Brazil, Peru and Thailand

"She liked going to places that other people don't necessarily find comfortable," explained Larry Bahr.

As an animal lover, Mrs. Bahr especially enjoyed a safari to Kenya and a tour of the Galapagos Islands, and she always had a few pets at home.

When she married her husband on July 11, 2004, she jokingly made up adoption papers concerning her two cats.

Larry Bahr described his wife's strength throughout her illness.

"Linda cared for people deeply. Even when she was ill, she focused on what they were doing instead of herself."

Memorial services for Mrs. Bahr will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 10 at St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church, 36W957 Highland Ave., Elgin. Memorials can be made to Anderson Animal Shelter, 1000 S. LaFox St., South Elgin. For more information, contact Laird Funeral Home at (847) 741-8800.

To leave a message on Mrs. Bahr's Web site, go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ LindaBahr.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2007; Peace Corps Philippines; Directory of Philippines RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Philippines RPCVs; Obituaries

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