New Bedford students remember former teacher and Taunton victim George Heath
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
Students and faculty in New Bedford are remembering their former teacher who was murdered in the Taunton attacks on Tuesday. George Heath was an art teacher at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. The school was joined by George Heath’s wife Rosemary as they remembered him Friday.
"George would have loved this. Absolutely would have loved it,” she said.
George was one of the victims in Tuesday night’s attacks. HE was stabbed in the head by Arthur DaRosa while George was trying to stop him from attacking a waitress.
Students of the former visual arts teacher came together Friday to honor him. His wife says his students were everything to him.
"I mean he absolutely changed as a person when he started teaching here with the students. He became the best George I’ve known in 14 years. This school changed him,” said Rosemary.
The students wrote messages to their beloved Mr. Heath on balloons and then released. They all wore shirts designed by a student that combine Heath’s name and his love for Batman.
"His personality made it always fun. Everything was always upbeat and happy. He was bright he was never down,” said junior Kate Lima.
The students also wore two different shoes, something that Heath did by accident just a couple weeks ago.
"If you knew Mr. Heath you knew that was great and he was telling everyone. It really did brighten everyone’s day,” said Lima.
It is no doubt an emotional time for this mourning community, especially Rosemary, but she says all tears shed Friday were happy tears.
"I am the happiest person since Tuesday at 6 o’clock when we were happy and talking, um, I would never let myself feel sad here. It’s all happy,” Rosemary said.
George Heath was just 56 years old.
© WLNE-TV 2016
