Former social studies teacher Lyn Hendry died of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Oct. 13 at a retirement community center on Maryland’s Eastern shore. She was 89.

Hendry taught social studies at Richard Montgomery before coming to Whitman in 1970, where she taught modern world, far-east affairs, economics and several other social studies classes until her retirement in 1986.

Hendry taught math teacher Bonnie Duvall at Richard Montgomery when she was a student, and became Duvall’s colleague at Whitman years later.

“Lyn is still clear in my memory to this day,” Duvall said. “She was the best teacher I have ever had. She had this amazing way of interacting with students.”

Duvall remembered her disappointment senior year after hearing Hendry was leaving Richard Montgomery for Whitman.

“After having her for world history as a junior, I immediately signed up for her class the next year,” Duvall said. “It didn’t matter what she was teaching, as long as she was teaching it.”

In 1979, Hendry was one of two high school teachers in the area to receive an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Georgetown University for excellence in secondary school teaching.  Hendry deserved the degree for preparing so many students for the university’s curriculum, said Timothy Healy, who was the president of Georgetown when Hendry received the doctorate.

In 1986, the National Merit Scholarship Program recognized Hendry as a distinguished teacher under their Presidential Scholars program. She also received the University of Rochester’s Award for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching.

Duvall said she will always admire Hendry as a teacher and a person.

“I have her on such a high pedestal, so different than any other teacher I have come across,” Duvall said. “She changed my life and inspired me to become a teacher.”