Former students paid tribute to their beloved Belvidere gymnastics teacher after his hospitalization

BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) – There is an orange, glowing sign that says “Mrs. Diamond” in front of Jennifer Diamond’s class.

“That’s why I became a teacher. It’s people like Paul Condon,” explains a fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Belvidere. “You want to imitate them.”

On Wednesday, Diamond started a Facebook page – “Messages for Mr. Condon” – for Paul Condon: her former PE teacher at Perry Elementary and eventual collaborator. The operation began after Condon was hospitalized in critical condition.

A lifelong Belvidere District 100 teacher is entering the final stages of lung disease. On the “messages” page, anyone who has interacted with Mr. Condon during his 34 years of teaching can share their favorite memories and words of encouragement.

“We want him to know he is loved,” Diamond says. “That’s all anyone wants.”

Ryan Curry was one of those comments. The Belvidere resident credited Condon with inspiring a healthy competitive spirit as a student at Perry Elementary School.

“It was always just encouragement,” Curry recalled. “He just made it fun to compete, whether you finished first or last.” He believes that the germ of his military service was born during Condon’s gymnastics classes.

Others added their thoughts from across the country.

“There are so many teachers there, but his aura is very impressive,” assures Tania Lara. This influence follows Lara (Perry’s former student) into her teaching career in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She remembers Condon for his open spirit.

While she was learning English, a retired physical education teacher became Lara’s first athletic coach. As she considers Condon’s advice over the years, tears appear on her Halloween-painted face.

“He was already with me in junior high school, when I was running,” adds Lara.

Diamond can’t think of a better role model than Condon: “(He) gave us this adult in our lives that we realized, ‘Hey, we could do these things. We could ride a bike. We could climb.

A Lincoln teacher plans to read Facebook comments to Condon while he is in the hospital.

“He inspired people to chase their dreams,” Diamond admits. “I think the comments prove over and over again that that was the case.”

Those who would like to add their memories or uplifting words can find this page Here.