Teacher helped students learn to speak English

When as a small child Herman P. Bueno came to the United States from his native Colombia, he started first grade without knowing any English and with no extra help in the classroom.

Family members believe that is why Mr. Bueno chose to become a teacher and work specifically with non-English speaking students.

Most recently, Mr. Bueno worked with students at Carpentersville Middle School. Before that he was at Eisenhower Middle School in Schaumburg and in the Woodstock schools.

Now, counselors in Dundee Unit District 300 in Carpentersville will be comforting students when the return, as they learn of his death.

Mr. Bueno passed away Aug. 14. The 22-year resident of Cary, was 52.

Mr. Bueno had begun his career teaching English as a Second Language at Highland Park High School, before moving to the Northwest suburbs to be closer to his Cary home.

As a native Spanish speaker, Mr. Bueno worked primarily with Spanish-speaking students, but he impacted everyone at the school, including his teaching colleagues, says Principal Stephanie Ramstad.

"He was very passionate about teaching and learning," Ramstad says. "He was very gentle and a kind spirit, who touched the lives of students and adults, alike."

His wife, Carrie, said her husband loved his job and he looked at it as the chance to empower his students.

"Herman wanted his students to be as much as they could be," Carrie Bueno says. "He didn't want to let language become a barrier."

She added that her husband was an example of that determination. The two met while students at Harper College in Palatine, before Mr. Bueno transferred to Northeastern University to earn his education degree. He later earned a master's degree in education, from Roosevelt University.

"If Herman could do it, anyone could," Carrie Bueno added.

Besides working with students, Mr. Bueno also was passionate about outdoor sporting activities. The couple enjoyed hiking, rock climbing, and kayaking together, while Mr. Bueno then advanced those skills by competing in triathlons.

One of his proudest accomplishments was participating in the 51-kilometer American Birkebeiner Ski Marathon, considered the largest cross country ski marathon in North America, and takes place in the woods in northwest Wisconsin.

The couple also cherished their two Siberian Huskies, and even had a sled for the dogs.

Besides his wife, Mr. Bueno is survived by his daughter, Aimee Laine Bueno, as well as his mother, Helena Leudo, and four siblings. Services have been held.