District 158 mourning loss of former students

Last week was tragic for Huntley School District 158 and Community Unit District 300 families.

District 158 is mourning the loss of three former students. District 300 is grieving for a former teacher.

Brothers Kumail and Zohair Husain were killed on Sept. 8 when the car they were in went off the road and hit a tree.

Kumail, 20, and Zohair, 18, had recently immigrated to the United States and had been star students at Huntley High School.

Kumail played on the soccer team even though the fast he observed during Ramadan limited his minutes on the field.

Zohair was a dedicated student who was quiet and polite and attached to his older brother.

Their former soccer coach and teacher told me they weren't waiting for their future to happen to them. They were rushing toward it head-on with a plan and a commitment to excel in school.

The Sept. 8 accident that claimed their lives also took that of two others -- Henry Onwualu of Huntley, also a Huntley High School graduate, and Ayush Joshi -- and left one in critical condition.

All indications are that Kumail and Zohair will be sorely missed by the members of the District 158 family who interacted with them during their short time in this country.

My heart goes out to the family of Kumail and Zohair -- two young men about my age just trying to make a better life for themselves in their adopted country.

Teacher was elementary: Mrs. Thompson was known throughout Hampshire as the Hampshire Elementary School teacher who taught two generations of Hampshire children how to read.

Gail Thompson, a Hampshire High School graduate, longtime Hampshire resident and teacher for 33 years, died Sept. 10 after a long illness.

A quote from former Hampshire Elementary Principal Gary Wright is telling of the influence Thompson had at the school: "The kindergarten program at Hampshire Elementary was Gail Thompson."

Thompson started several annual traditions in the kindergarten program and instructed almost 2,000 students in more than three decades with the school.

When her health finally prompted retirement in the spring, emotion poured out from from community members, who shared memories from Thompson's 33 years of teaching.

Fittingly, Hampshire Elementary School honored the wishes of Thompson's family and hosted her visitation and memorial service last week.

I think it would also be a fitting tribute to name something -- perhaps District 300's third new elementary school -- in honor of a woman who touched the lives of so many colleagues, students and parents.

By all accounts, Thompson too will be dearly missed, and I'm sure you'll join me in extending condolences to the families of these individuals, who are remembered more for what they did for others than what they did for themselves.

dailyherald.com.