Teacher Sarah Tilman made biology fun

The 27-year-old St. Louis Park native and former Minneapolis North teacher's aide died after going home sick from Wilson High in D.C.

By PAUL WALSH, Star Tribune

Last update: February 18, 2009 - 12:30 PM

Sarah Tilman went home sick Monday from Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, where she taught biology.

Later that evening the 27-year-old died.

The St. Louis Park native is being remembered as a person who made a big difference in a little time.

"Although Ms. Tilman's life was short in terms of years, she had a tremendous impact on hundreds of student's lives that far outweighs the time that she spent on this earth," Wilson Principal Peter Cahall said in a written announcement to students and staff members.

David and Cathie Tilman said Friday that an emergency room doctor who treated their daughter suspected that an outer layer of skin over her heart was inflamed and infected. Last week, she struggled with various cold and flu symptoms, her parents said. Results from an autopsy in Fairfax County, Va., are pending.

"When I talked with her on Monday, she talked about difficulty breathing and the feeling of a tight chest," her father said. But before she left school that day, he said, "She took the time to make preparations for her sub for the next day."

David Tilman, a University of Minnesota regents' professor of ecology and director of the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Bethel, said Sarah was fit and had no previous heart problems. She captained the synchronized swimming, cross-country skiing and cross-country running teams in high school and was a synchronized swimmer at Carleton College in Northfield, he said.

Cahall, in his announcement, said: "Ms. Tilman was a dynamic and dedicated teacher and person. She made learning about science and biology fun, exciting and with a practical application to the lives of the students that she taught."

Wilson teacher Tenille Bowser wrote a "Top 11 Reasons Why I Loved Sarah Tilman" that included: "She was the only 27-year-old I knew who grew herbs, would knit for fun and could create personalized towel gift sets using her knitting skills. I would in-turn tease her about being such a grandma."

A student wrote on Tilman's legacy.com Web page: "I can honestly say that she made me relive my love for science. I was hoping to take her AP class next year, but unfortunately, that can't happen."

Before going to Washington, Tilman was a teacher's aide at Minneapolis North High in the 2004-05 school year, her father said. She graduated from St. Louis Park High School and Carleton, then she earned a master's in education from American University in Washington.

Along with her parents, she is survived by her sisters Lisa Tilman and Margaret Nelson; and a brother, Andrew Tilman. Visitation is scheduled for Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m., at Thomson-Dougherty funeral home, 2535 Park Av., Minneapolis. Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, at 11 a.m., at Wooddale Lutheran Church, 4003 Wooddale Av., St. Louis Park, with visitation one hour before. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482

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