Lauren Erickson Van Wart, beloved wife, daughter, and friend, died unexpectedly on December 4, 2023. She was 44.

Lauren was born September 15, 1979, in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Janet Erickson of Hubbardston, MA and the late Ronald Van Wart. In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband of 13 years, Ernest Joseph Cardin III.

Lauren graduated from the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a high school for academically accelerated juniors and seniors. She went on to become a Chancellor Scholar, graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 with a triple major in Mathematics, English Literature, and Economics.

Laurne coached the Western Mass ARML for many years.

1966  Begins the Canton High School Math Team while working with others to found team Math competition leagues: Greater Boston Math League (GBML) and Massachusetts Math League (MML). He writes competition math problems for these as well as the MAML, the Massachusetts state exam. Creates several successful fundraisers for college scholarships: selling food at the CHS football games and at a “coffee shop” before school, and running a concession stand at the Patriots’ stadium. Some funds are used after Math meets to celebrate as a team by going out together for dinner. With student volunteers he calculates golf handicaps for local clubs. All funds raised go to scholarships for those students. 

1972-1978 Teacher and Mathematics Curricular Developer at summer Upward Bound program for “economically deprived youths and their parents,” held at Brandeis University.

1977 Is Massachusetts Teacher of the Year. He is congratulated by Governor Dukakis and interviewed on a local PBS talk show.

1966 (through following decades) Mr. Badoian’s mid-sized school Math team competes in the large-school division and wins the State and New England Championships three years in a row. The Canton High Math Team’s green takes on a Celtics flair as it becomes the legendary team to beat. In lieu of banners hanging in the rafters, a large trophy case overflows at the entrance to the Math Department’s Building C. Mr. Badoian’s commanding presence in his signature green sports coat (worn for Math meets) becomes legendary among math competitors across New England.

Participates in associations of Math teachers, offering lectures and presentations, and continues his professional development alongside teaching classes at local colleges. He writes math problems for New England and national Math competitions.

Oversees the CHS Math department as a community of teachers having what could be described as a family atmosphere (with a presiding patriarch). The Building C teacher’s room was known for kidding, and raucous laughter would be periodically heard down the hallway. Donuts and bagels were brought every morning as a Math Team fundraiser, but breakfast or a pizza party would be offered gratis when there was a need for a morale boost. A newbies-welcome golf tournament would round out the year. His reviews were notoriously conscious-raising and hit to the heart, but his teachers knew he would go to the mat to support them professionally and personally. He would ask after concerns in people’s lives and was generous toward money pools for a wedding or baby gift, making sure there was enough.

1984 Receives the Presidential Award for excellence in Science and Mathematics teaching (Massachusetts). He is flown to Washington DC and finds himself enthusiastically shaking Ronald Reagan’s hand on way to a helicopter, despite being a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. He reports he got caught up in the moment.

1976-1988 Directs CHS Summer School

1975-1977 Coaches Peter in Middle-School Basketball and Baseball, and Peter and Leslie’s Hershey Track Teams that qualifies runners for the National competition. He begins a Middle School basketball traveling team in the Hockomock League. Helps found ARML, as Vice President and coach of the Eastern Massachusetts team, now a national competition. Writes problems for National Math Counts competitions

2004 Mr. Badoian “retires,” and his colleagues throw him a well-attended party. A CHS wing is named after him commemorating his 50 years as a Math teacher—a wing in which he continues as a teacher of his usual three classes and Math Team seminar and as Math Team coach. Despite issues with hearing and a bit of “slowing down” from his usual break-neck pace, Mr. Badoian continues teaching classes, as “young ‘un” teachers retire at the usual time. He keeps doing what he most loves doing, as his wife Linda, colleagues, students, their parents, and administrators offer the support and flexibility that allows him to continue on as a local living legend—continuing to produce students more than ready for top college math courses and math teams competing at a highly competitive level.

May 2018 Mr. Badoian misses school for the first time in his life due to being unwell as he is diagnosed with cancer. (His family thinks he only missed school for three emergency surgical procedures—after which he would direct class content from his hospital bed in the ICU.)

September, 2018 Battling cancer, Marty finally stops teaching his three classes while maintaining his role as Math Team seminar teacher and coach.

October 27, 2018 Martin J. Badoian passes peacefully at home, having spent his last days visited by friends, family, and former and current math team students--and watching the Red Sox work their way to the World Series.

INFLUENCE

In the mid-80s, Mr. Badoian, despite not liking to “toot his own horn,” bites the bullet to apply for a Presidential award that would confer money for his program. In it is the following poem and reflection:

 “This learned I from the shadow of a tree, 

That to and fro did sway against a wall,

Our shadow selves, our influence, may fall

Where we ourselves can never be.

--Anne. E. Hamilton

“I believe teachers are best judged and viewed by the accomplishments of those they have influenced in and out of the classroom. … The kind of statement I cherish most from my students is articulated in the following excerpt from a note I received from one of this year’s graduates. ‘Your work outside the class has to be one of the greatest role models for me to mold after. I don’t think my four years at CHS would have been anywhere near as challenging, interesting, or unforgettable if you had not been there. My only hope is my brother has the great fortune of having you. Thank you again for everything.”

A number of former students become teachers themselves, some even on the Canton High faculty.

From the ATMIM website in 2001:

Marty has taught for over 40 years and has been Chairman of the Mathematics Department at Canton High School for 26 years. Marty has repeatedly demonstrated his dedication and commitment to his students, school, and community. He has been a well known leader in mathematics education in the state and region for the past 25 years. His work with his Math Team has produced numerous State & New England Championships. His students have excelled in local, state, and national competitions year-after-year and have received degrees from the top colleges and universities across the country. Marty has been a leader of mathematics competitions both locally and nationally. He has been the New England Math Meet Director since its inception and has been a director of the New England Mathematics League postal competition for the past 20 years. Marty was one of the founders of the ARML (American Regions Mathematics League 25 years ago, is currently its Vice President, and has been the coach of the State Math Team for the same length of time. Marty has been the State Math Olympiad Contest Director and its President and has served as its Treasurer for the past 15 years. Marty has published a five-year overview of the State Olympiad Exam providing detailed solutions for each problem. He currently writes contest problems for Mathematics Leagues around New England and has been an invited speaker at ATMIM, ATMNE, and NCTM conferences both locally and nationally. Marty graduated from Brown University and has taught mathematics classes for teachers at Bridgewater State College. He has touched the lives of so many students and teachers in the New England area and we are all the better for it. Marty has been the recipient of numerous awards such as the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (State & National Winner), Tandy Scholar (National Winner), and an ARML Award for his contributions and service for the past 25 years. Marty is a teacher, mentor, and leader in mathematics, second to none. His love of mathematics and problem solving is clearly obvious to all who know him. Mathematics, teaching, and problem solving has been his life for the past half century. He cares for his family first, his students second, and his colleagues next. Marty has dedicated his life to sharing his joy of mathematics to all, strived to improve mathematics education for students and teachers, and to lead by example. Those fortunate to have worked with Marty, recognize him, as a true and model professional educator. Marty’s approach to life is that he expects no more from others than he expects from himself.

J. Bryan Sullivan, a loving husband, father, grandfather and a lifelong dedicated teacher, passed away at home on Monday, January 4, 2016 in the loving care of his wife and daughter following an eighteen month struggle with Lewy Body Dementia that ravaged his body and most importantly, his very being. 

He was born and raised in Worcester the son of the late William A. and Sylvia (Sihlman) Sullivan. Bryan graduated from Saint Peter’s High School and Worcester State University. He later returned to school to earn two Masters Degrees from Worcester State as well as Boston College. During his college years, Bryan enlisted and served several years in the US Army and Army Reserves. Bryan spent over 40 years as a dedicated and supportive math teacher at Hudson High School where in his early years he was affectionately know as Clark Kent a.k.a. “Superman”. 

He loved being a guiding influence in the lives of the many young people he had the privilege of teaching. He supported them both as a mentor and coach of the math team during competitions that the school participated in. His love of mathematics led to his dedicated membership in numerous professional organizations and leadership as past president of the American Regions Mathematics League, Massachusetts Association of Mathematics Leagues, Association of Teachers of Mathematics in New England, and Association of Teachers of Mathematics, Eastern Mass. 

He was the recipient of numerous awards including being named one of two Presidential Award Winners for Excellence in Teaching in 1983; a Tandy Technology Scholar, 1993; the STAR Award from Cornell University, 1994; and was inducted into the Massachusetts Mathematics Hall of Fame in 2002. In 1994, he was one of five mathematics teachers featured in the nation-wide NCTM video “Dreams Count.” 

While in college, a coed named Joan caught his eye and they were married in August of 1965. Together they settled in Sterling raising their two children and enjoying each other’s companionship. They enjoyed traveling throughout the US and the world, and were fortunate to cross many exciting destinations of his “bucket list.” From sunrise on Mt. Haleakala in Hawaii to sunset at Ayers Rock in Australia, they made many friends and enjoyed wonderful memories. Bryan was also fortunate to be a part of an exchange program that brought students to Russia and was excited to spend a summer teaching in Hawaii. Bryan was an avid golfer and belonged to leagues both here and in Florida where he spent the winter months. He was a member of Wachusett Country Club and was most proud of his hole-in-one scored on the course. His golf clubs were the one item that always seemed to accompany Bryan and Joan on their trips. In recent years they were able to finally realize a life-long dream of owning their retirement home along the Gulf Coast of Florida, settling in Sand Key where Bryan was able to enjoy the game of golf while Joan was visiting the beach. 

He will be lovingly missed by his beloved wife of 50 years Joan C (Sundin) Sullivan; his two children, Jeffrey R. Sullivan and his wife, Michele of Lakeland, Florida and Kristen M. Sullivan of Sterling; his brother, William Sullivan; his sister, Kathleen Kelley and her husband, Donald of Worcester; three grandchildren, Sophia, Alina, and Cade Sullivan of Lakeland, Florida; two nieces, Erin Fitzgerald, and Courtney Graves; and his sister-in-law, Donna Sundin and her partner, Steve Garfield all of Worcester. 

From ATMIM: 2001

A recently retired professional with 35 years of experience in mathematics education including teaching and department chair duties and math team coach at Hudson High School, Bryan is known locally, regionally, and nationally as one of the most influential educators involved in student math competitions. For most of his career in education, Bryan has been involved in the Worcester County Mathematics League, the American Regions Mathematics League, and the Massachusetts Association of Mathematics League. He is the coach of the Western Massachusetts All Star Team that competes in the ARML competitions and serves as its site coordinator at Penn State. He has served as President of ATMIM and continues as a member of the Board of Directors. He also served as Conference Chair of the 1988 NCTM Regional Conference in Boston and the NCTM Annual Meeting in Boston in 1995. He again will serve as the Conference Chair of the NCTM Regional Meeting to be held in Boston in November, 2002. Bryan has been the recepient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics, a Tandy Technology Scholar, and the American Regions Mathematics League Founder’s Award. He was featured in a video production sponsored by NCTM and has been recognized by Cornell University for his far reaching impact on students.