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EHS Faculty: Orla Lucille Bell
Orla Lucille Bell passed away January 5, 2005, at the LDS Hospital at the age of 79, after a very difficult struggle with cancer. She was born March 10, 1925 in Evanston, Wyoming to William H. and Elizabeth Stacey Bell.
Orla grew up in Evanston. She moved to Salt Lake City to pursue her education at the University of Utah. She earned a BA in Mathematics; an MS in Science Education; and a Ph.D in Education Administration. Orla was a consummate teacher who influenced thousands of students. She began her teaching career at Horace Mann Jr. High, then moved to East High where she taught advanced math. She was responsible for introducing the computer science program to the Salt Lake School District. She retired from East High after serving 30 + years as a math/computer science teacher, and as Vice Principal for the last eight of those years.
Orla was a compassionate caregiver to her mother and brother for many years. Her interests varied. She loved animals, the outdoors, travel, classical music, and crossword puzzles. Her passion was golf and she won the State Long Drive Competition for Women more than once.
Preceded in death by parents, three brothers and one sister and many beloved pets. She is survived by a niece, Nadene, her husband and family, four kitties and a poodle.
©Deseret News, Saturday, Jan. 8 2005
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Jill Gibson (Serfustini)
I wanted to be a teacher just like Ms Bell when I grew up. I lasted three years at the U of U as a math major, but changed my mind the last year.
Remember the big earthquake we had, I believe, our junior year? I was in Ms Bell's class and I will never forget her grabbing the chalk board tray in one hand and her desk in the other and saying..........."hang on....it's an earthquake", as the top floor of East High swayed back and forth.
She was in incrdible teacher! But, I must admit, I have NEVER used Trigonometry in my every day life (well, expect when describing my life as a "sine curve")
Tammie Ogura (Kuramoto)
Miss Bell was truly a mentor. I enjoyed that double period of math during our junior year. She was the one who told us about President Kennedy's assasination right after lunch. Orla encouraged me then and for years after. After I started teaching, she was still my mentor. We also enjoyed traveling during school vacations with Bev Johnson and Sherry Van Vleet (a P.E. teacher who started at East just after we graduated). She was a one-of-a-kind lady with great values, a wonderful sense of humor, and compassion.
Glen Tolman
I too very much enjoyed Miss Bell as a teacher. The two periods of math our junior year solidified my interest in math. I tried to find a teaching job after finishing my masters degree in applied mathematics but ended up using my logic and problems solving skills developing computer applications. I was pleased to see how she helped introduce computer science into the school curriculum. I also share her interest in golf.
Doug Richards
I don't remember all my teachers but I remember Miss Bell because she was a great teacher. She cared about you and helped you get through those math classes. We were fortunate to have been taught by some great teachers while at East.
Carol Hall (Bartholomew)
I was never adept enough in math to take advanced math classes from Miss Bell, but I can see by the comments from former students that I really missed out on a wonderful experience of learning from her. The goal for us who have been teachers (even on an elementary level of teaching such as mine) is to make a difference in our students' lives, and obviously Orla Bell achieved that. What an impressive legacy.