When David Sigworth’s car broke down on the way to an education conference in Ocean City, the student representative to the Harford school board called his superintendent, Jacqueline Haas.
Haas responded in typical fashion for the 36-year educator: She tried to teach him how to fix it.
When that didn’t work, she made arrangements for a mechanic and a ride for Sigworth; she even offered to drive the Fallston High School senior and his date to the upcoming homecoming dance.
Haas, who died of a severe asthma attack on Dec. 30, was remembered by hundreds from across the state at a memorial Wednesday afternoon at Aberdeen High School for the leadership and stability she provided Harford schools in nearly 11 years as superintendent, but also for the compassion and playfulness she showed while always looking to help others.
“She gave so much to us and never gave enough to herself,” said Patrick Hess, president of the school board.
State Superintendent of School Nancy Grasmick praised Haas for the science, technology, engineering and math courses she brought to Harford, and for the precision she showed serving as a legislative chair for the superintendents in Maryland.
“Jackie, simply explained for me,” Grasmick said, “was the superintendents’ superintendent.”
James Haas, a former special education teacher and the superintendent’s husband of 26 years, grew accustomed to sharing his wife with the school system and many others.
“Harford County Public Schools probably had more of Jackie than I did,” he said. “Even though it was difficult at times, that give-and-take is what made our marriage special.”
For James Haas, the most difficult times will come each night at about 10, when his wife usually returned home from work. He also won’t be able to bear watching the Hallmark channel or TV show “MASH” for a “long time to come.” They were two of his wife’s favorites.
He was with his wife when she suffered the fatal asthma attack last week at her home in Aberdeen. “Like a great romance,” he said, “I was with her at the end and said my last goodbye.”
In addition to her husband, the superintendent is survived by two sons, Robert, 26, and Steven, 23; a brother, Skip Cordes, of Philadelphia; and two sisters, Cathy Jo Zimmeran, of Newark, Del., and Debbie Cordes, of Aberdeen.
