OUR TOWN
Naomi Joyce Hunka Pasemann would have been 90 years old March 23. While many of you will remember her as a teacher, a counselor or a friend, I’m guessing most will recognize her name because of Naomi Pasemann Elementary School. Some of you may also recall I was the school’s first principal when it opened for the 1998-99 school year.
I have often referred to opening that new school as the highlight of my career. I had known Naomi since I was 10 years old, and most of the staff had previously known her as well. It was such an honor to have her with us for special moments like awards presentations, and for the students to meet her in person.
Naomi had a great sense of humor. In fact, she often said, “He who laughs, lasts,” emphasizing the importance of finding humor in our lives. So, it seems only fitting that when the Taylor Independent School District board announced the naming of Pasemann Elementary in 1998, a slight misunderstanding brought about an abundance of laughs.
When folks learned about Taylor’s newest campus being named in Mrs. Pasemann’s honor, many assumed she had passed away. Sort of a memorial for a muchloved educator.
People were often shocked to see her walk into a party or see her shopping.
Naomi was a popular speaker, and from that point on she began every local speech by saying, “My name is Naomi Pasemann, and I am still alive.”
Audiences would roar with laughter, and with Naomi’s storytelling skills, she made them laugh even harder as she described the misunderstanding in full detail. However, the last laugh was on her.
A couple of weeks before school started that year, Jim Snyder from Condra Funeral Home called me to offer the donation of a burial vault for the school — a huge concrete burial vault. In other words, what a casket goes in before being lowered into the ground.
Mr. Snyder’s idea was that we could use it as a time capsule to commemorate our first year at the school, and it could be opened in 25 years.
It was a wonderful idea, and I couldn’t wait to call Naomi and tell her about this unique donation. Here’s how that conversation went.
Me: “Hey, Naomi. Guess what? Condra Funeral Home is donating a burial vault to the school.”
There was complete silence. After a few seconds she replied, “Well, I’ll tell you one thing Tim Crow, I am not getting in it.”
At the end of that first year, Condra delivered the vault and dug the hole to bury it in front of the school. Naomi was there when it was delivered, and I had my camera. I remember suggesting she stand in the vault for a super fun photo, which she did.
During Naomi’s 83 years on this Earth, she received many awards and recognitions including Taylor’s Outstanding Citizen for 1993, Taylor’s Woman of the Year for 1981, Taylor High School Teacher of the Year in 1975 (chosen by her peers) and Rotary Educator of the Year in 1990 (chosen by students). She was also named Central Texas Counselor of the Year in 1992 and was inducted into the Taylor High School Duck Hall of Fame in 1996.
At the time of the naming of Pasemann Elementary, I was principal at Northside Elementary School and I attended all the school board meetings. I still remember that board meeting in 1998 when the name for the new school was announced. Naomi was there with her husband, Bobby, and I happened to be sitting next to them.
I’ll never forget the expression on her face when the announcement was made. I said to myself, “This is a moment Naomi will never forget.”
A few weeks later, it was announced I would be the principal for the debut of the new school. That was a moment I will never forget.
Naomi was so much more than just a name on a building. She was a remarkable person who treated every student with the same care and respect she gave to her own children. She was always ready to listen, and to offer words of advice and encouragement.
She worked tirelessly to help families gain the skills needed for success, and to help students make good choices. She always volunteered to raise funds for scholarships and grants.
Naomi and I served as co-directors for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life for the first five years it existed in Taylor. She was out in the community, making personal contacts to let people know about this new fundraising opportunity to support cancer survivors and to hopefully find a cure.
Every summer when I asked her to go on a field trip to the San Antonio Zoo and keep up with a group of kindergarteners and first graders, she always said yes. This was a tradition that started when I was at Northside and continued at Pasemann.
When I asked her to help with family night events, she was there to do whatever we needed. Whether it was presenting to parents, serving hot dogs or watching children in the babysitting room, Naomi was a worker who rolled up her sleeves and got things done.
It was Naomi’s senior class, the Class of 1954, that started Taylor High School’s homecoming in the fall of 1953. Naomi worked to organize every homecoming after that for the rest of her life.
Naomi volunteered countless hours serving on committees in the community, all to benefit the town and especially our youth. Just a few days before her passing, she was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army to support families in the community.
One of the projects I am most proud of is producing “The Naomi Pasemann Story,” a video interview with Naomi on the Taylor ISD YouTube channel. I wanted to preserve her story so that future generations would know the person behind the name on the building.
In March 2019, we held a premiere at Pasemann Elementary to celebrate Naomi and to introduce the video to the community. Naomi and her family entered the gym on a red carpet as the Taylor High fight song played and the large crowd rose to their feet with applause.
We ended that night by singing “Happy Birthday” to Naomi since her 83rd birthday was just a few days away. Little did we know that would be her last.
On New Year’s Eve 2019, I was working into the early morning hours to edit a video I was producing about Mr. T. H. Johnson. On that night, I was working on the interview footage of Naomi telling about Mr. Johnson as her superintendent and mentor.
I closed my computer about 3 a.m. Dec. 31 and went to bed. At 6 a.m. I received a text from my friend and colleague, Lindy Peterson, letting me know Naomi had passed away.
Bobby called me and asked if I would serve as a pallbearer, and to say a few words at the service. What an honor it was to pay tribute to this wonderful lady. Over 1,000 people showed up at the Williamson County Expo Center to say goodbye to our teacher, counselor, friend and mentor.
It’s easy to understand why Naomi came to be known as “Mama Duck.”
Naomi believed in making every moment count, and what a legacy she left behind. We should all strive to have such a positive impact.
To learn more about Naomi, visit the Taylor ISD YouTube channel. In addition to a couple of videos about Naomi, she also appears in the T. H. Johnson video and the video about Old Taylor High.
I’ll end this column with a phrase that Naomi made famous: “Once A Duck, Always A Duck!”
Join me here in a couple of weeks as we explore another tale from Taylor. Until then, be proud of where you’re from.
Crow is a longtime Taylor resident and retired from the Taylor Independent School District after 40 years of service. For a topic or suggestion, reach out to Crow via jason.chlapek@ granitemediapartners. com.
