Vanessa Greenleaf

Vanessa GreenleafVanessa Lynne Greenleaf, 55, of Marblehead, Mass., died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2013, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House.Vanessa was a wonderful daughter and sister, a loyal wife, a gifted musician, an intrepid sailor, a caring teacher, and a great friend an inspiration to us all! She taught at Briscoe Middle School, Beverly, Mass., and was an active member of the Boston Yacht Club.Born in Birmingham, Ala., she attended Collegedale Academy in Collegedale, where she graduated in 1975. In 1979 she earned a BA in English from Southern Adventist University, also in Collegedale. She was editor of her high school yearbook, wrote for the university newspaper and played the violin in the university orchestra. After college she helped her then husband, John Henson, through medical school, and in 1990 completed an MS in education from Hunter College in New York City.Vanessa began her teaching career in 1990 as a sixth grade teacher in New York City public schools. In 1991 she joined Brimmer and May, a private school in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and after 11 years transferred to Memorial Middle School in Beverly, later joining Briscoe as part of the merger. During her final three years she was a math coach.Vanessa was known for her influence on students lives. They wrote that her classes brought what she was teaching "to life," and that she taught with "inspiration." Parents thanked her for being a role model for their children, and colleagues were grateful for her mentorship. During her final weeks more than a hundred of her former students in Beverly High School wrote to thank her for changing their lives.Vanessa is survived by her parents, Betty and Floyd Greenleaf, Port Charlotte, Fla.; a sister, Vickie Knecht, and her husband, Douglas, Mountain View, Calif.; a brother, Kelvin Greenleaf, Chattanooga; nephews, Kyle Greenleaf, Derek Knecht and Donald Knecht and his wife, Andrea, and their daughter, Rory Jo.A niece, Daphne Alyse Knecht pre-deceased her.Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Vanessas Life at the Gospel Chapel in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Collegedale at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.Interment to follow in Collegedale Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the following scholarships; Beverly Dollars for Scholars- The Vanessa Greenleaf Scholarship, Beverly High School, attention: Kelly Orso, 100 Sohier Road, Beverly, MA 01915, or Daphne Alyse Knecht Gym-Masters Spirit Endowed Scholarship. Checks payable to Southern Adventist University with the scholarship name listed on the memo line. Southern Adventist University, Advancement office, P.O. Box 370, Collegedale, TN 37315.Please visit the online guestbook for Vanessa at www.eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.