In Memoriam
MTEA remembers the many contributions of our former educators. Those mentioned here were especially active in promoting the principles of safe driving and were pivotal in MTEA leadership.
Dan Marinkovich (1926-2020)
Dan Marinkovich was born April 1, 1926 and lived a long and full life until his passing on December 11, 2020 in Missoula, Montana. Dan taught driver education to teens and college students in Miles City, and teens in Anaconda and Philipsburg. He entered the profession in the 1960s, retiring in 2008, but that didn't end his cherished identity as a Traffic Educator. He kept his Montana educator license and his approval to teach traffic education active, because he so valued the profession and his role in it. In fact, Dan was MTEA's first president in 1967 (and elected again in 1999) and attended almost every MTEA conference since 1976, the year of the first MTEA conference.
Dan's dedication to teaching was wide and varied: he held endorsements in History, Health Enhancement, School Counselor, and Traffic Education. He was a longtime teacher, but also served as principal and superintendent in Anaconda. He also played basketball while a student at the University of Montana and found the time to coach basketball at Custer County High School and Miles City Community. Dan brightened the day of all who met him, listened to his stories, and were made to feel special and appreciated by his cheerful and friendly nature. He will be missed, but fondly remembered for his gentle leadership and his desire to keep learning new things.
Read personal remembrances about Dan Marinkovich.
Dan Marinkovich was born April 1, 1926 and lived a long and full life until his passing on December 11, 2020 in Missoula, Montana. Dan taught driver education to teens and college students in Miles City, and teens in Anaconda and Philipsburg. He entered the profession in the 1960s, retiring in 2008, but that didn't end his cherished identity as a Traffic Educator. He kept his Montana educator license and his approval to teach traffic education active, because he so valued the profession and his role in it. In fact, Dan was MTEA's first president in 1967 (and elected again in 1999) and attended almost every MTEA conference since 1976, the year of the first MTEA conference.
Dan's dedication to teaching was wide and varied: he held endorsements in History, Health Enhancement, School Counselor, and Traffic Education. He was a longtime teacher, but also served as principal and superintendent in Anaconda. He also played basketball while a student at the University of Montana and found the time to coach basketball at Custer County High School and Miles City Community. Dan brightened the day of all who met him, listened to his stories, and were made to feel special and appreciated by his cheerful and friendly nature. He will be missed, but fondly remembered for his gentle leadership and his desire to keep learning new things.
Read personal remembrances about Dan Marinkovich.
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David Huff (1950-2012)
Traffic Education Director (1998-2011) Montana Office of Public Instruction, Helena, MT http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/davidhuff In 2014, MTEA established the David Huff Memorial Scholarship to encourage new traffic education instructors to attend the annual spring conference. |
