Greencastle-Antrim teacher passes away, memorial service held

Sharon Landis, emotional support instructor at Greencastle-Antrim High School, passed away the day before Thanksgiving. She became the third high school teacher to die in the past year while still actively employed.

Landis, 60, died Nov. 26 at her brother’s home in Maine. She had battled cancer.

Band director Samuel Forney died Nov. 10, 2013, and math teacher Kathe Whipp died May 16, 2014.

“Everything else is still so fresh,” said high school principal Ed Rife. “We’re dealing with three deaths in one building. It affects the entire high school family.”

Counselors visited with Landis’ classes to help the students process their grief. The counselors and district psychologist were available to all pupils in the building.

Landis’ church, The Life Center, sponsored a memorial service Sunday, Dec. 14 at Greencastle-Antrim High School.

Mrs. Landis

“Mrs. Landis was an incredible teacher,” said former student Lacy Carver. “She went out of her way to help us kids understand anything. Her heart was so warm and so big. All around, she was a wonderful woman.”

Carver remembered that the students used to tease Landis for the healthy green shakes she drank, because they “looked gross”.

Landis was employed by Lincoln Intermediate Unit, but worked in the G-AHS building for eight years.

“She was a special woman,” Rife said. “She had a wonderful gift working with the students and their families. She cared so much about success for them. It’s a great loss.”

Landis, 60, was a native of Rhode Island. She had a BS in elementary education from Barrington College, and an MA from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.

She was executive director at Star Community Inc. in Hagerstown, Md., and outreach director at The Life Center. She was adviser to the board of directors of PEACE Promise, dedicated to abolishing human trafficking. She was also involved with the I-81 Corridor Project to stop prostitution at truck stops. She is survived by her father, two brothers, nieces, nephews and great-nieces.

Memorials are suggested to PEACE Promise, PO Box 1502, Mechanicsburg PA 17055.