Editor's note: This article was updated at 2:30 p.m.
A memorial service is tentatively set for March 10 for retired professor Dr. Gordon Vars, 88, who died late Tuesday night after being hit by a car near his Fairchild Avenue home.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office and report that Vars was crossing Fairchild Avenue at the intersection of Woodard Avenue when he was struck by a westbound Volkswagon Beetle at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
The transported Vars to Akron City Hospital, where he died of his injuries at 11:32 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Kent Police report that alcohol is not a suspected factor in the crash, which is still under investigation. The driver's name will be released upon completion of the investigation.
The Rev. Melissa Carvill-Ziemer of the said a memorial service is tentatively set for March 10 at the church, where Vars was “a very loyal and devoted member” since February 1967.
Carvill-Ziemer said she was with Vars’ widow, Alice, this morning as she gave a television interview.
“Alice was reviewing things about his life – and he was a really remarkable man,” Carvill-Ziemer said. “He was very active in his loves, but very careful about allocating his time. He was just finishing up the editing phase of his newest book; he was always defending the (Kent) bog. He loved birds, he loved people. He was just a wonderful man – very warm and friendly.”
Carvill-Ziemer said Vars’ dedication to the church was unwavering.
“I’ve been here six and a half years and can count on one hand the number of Sundays he hasn’t been at church. He was so faithful. He sat in the same seat every week. He was still stinging in the choir,” she said.
Vars taught Sunday school classes for UU middle-school age children for “many, many years. There are many people who still called him Dr. Vars because they remember growing up with him as their Sunday school teacher. He participated in so many activities, social events and adult education events.”
Carvill-Ziemer said the church will keep the community updated via its website and its Facebook page about the memorial service tentatively set for March 10.
Emily Vincent, director of media relations at Kent State, said Vars was an emeritus professor of teaching, leadership and curriculum studies.
According to the 2005 book “The Encyclopedia of Middle Grades Education,” Vars was co-founder and first president of the Midwest Middle School Association, precursor of the National Middle School Association.
“Gordon Vars has been a proponent of core curriculum since his first education course as an undergraduate at Antioch College,” the book stated. “His career has been devoted to teaching about and advocating for core curriculum – a person-centered, democratic approach to education.”
The book stated that Vars started at Kent State in 1966 as a professor of education in the Department of Teaching, Leadership and Curriculum Studies and as coordinator of the Middle School Division of the Kent State University School of Education.
In 1975, the book reported, he became coordinator of the Kent State Junior High/Middle School Staff Development Program, a field-based graduate concentration to assist current classroom-based educators to improve their middle school grades teaching practices. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1993.
Throughout his career, Vars authored numerous research papers and books on topics related to middle school education.
He was a very active member of Friends of the Kent Bog, a group "dedicated to the protection and preservation of the Tom S. Cooperrider Kent Bog State Nature Preserve for the education, enjoyment and inspiration of present and future generations."
Do most people even look for pedestrians while driving? Are people behind the wheel aware that when the light is green for you to go straight and you are turning left or right onto another street, there could and should be assumed that there are pedestrians in that crosswalk as that is their designated time to cross? I was almost hit by two cars Monday evening. As I attempted to cross downtown on the designated walk signal across Main St., a man in a truck going south on Water St. and turning east on Main tried to "teach me a lesson". I'm in the middle of the intersection, defenseless, in the middle of the crosswalk when he sped toward me, hit his brakes then honked and pointed to the walk sign. Yes, the walk signal. WALK. And he still thought I was the one in the wrong as he barely missed me and sped off. People have NO IDEA the laws and seem to care more about getting to wherever it is they are zooming to than any other person out there. Kent, despite being a city with a bustling university, is one of the most unpedestrian friendly city I've lived in. Especially crossing in front of the police station. You run for your life.
He was a trailblazer when it came to teaching 6th graders sex education--so that we were informed about the changes taking place in our bodies before and during those changes. No big surprises, Dr. Vars' well measured presence grounded us. He shared with us his love of ham radios which came from his service in WWII. He gave us a window into a larger story, by the doing and sharing of activities. No doubt he saw the worst at a very young age and he wanted to affirn what was best in life---communication, love of nature, and engagement in life. When Dr. Vars met his future wife, Alice, he glowed. He told us he had met someone very special. We understood with few words, that true love was possible, no matter what the age. We are so grateful for his gifts, and he will be sorely missed by so many. We send our deepest condolences to Alice and all the family. Lesley A. Pownall Bahr
Sally, Thank you for your email. We learned about Dr. Gordon Vars accident yesterday and were saddened by the news. We are in discussions on how to make some type of memorial to him so we appreciate your suggestion. We will work towards making something happen in this regard. Thanks again for your suggestion! Dee
Despite the many improvements being made in Kent, many of the streets are still terrifyingly dark after sunset, which is a sad state of affairs in such a walkable city.