Edison Teacher Celebrated By Students After Cancer Diagnosis

An Edison High School Teacher went to last Friday’s football game to say goodbye to colleagues and students.

Neil Guard recently learned he has terminal cancer, and said his physicians believe he only has weeks to live. Facing that – Guard’s wife said he insisted on attending another Edison game. He’s rarely missed them while teaching there.

Colleagues and students gathered at his car window to say their goodbyes.

The cheerleaders cheered, and teachers from the science department cried as they spoke to him.

“Teaching is just who I am. It's not a job, it's who I am” said Guard. “We all thought I would be back next semester after some treatments and it just went way worse than anyone ever thought it would, and so now, theoretically, I have weeks. And we'll just see, a day at a time, how it goes.” 

“I mean he's just great, honestly,” said teacher Rachel Holt, “And they love him. Just his passion for teaching, and how much he loves his kids, he loves his students and we love him."

Guard’s wife, Nancy, said “When he had the bad news, the first words out of his mouth, well, I guess I won't get to teach again. Seeing these kids, seeing he made a difference, that's everything.”