Memorializing Ms. Acuff

Photo of Ms. Acuff on a trip to Europe.

Shannon O’Dwyer

Former Hamilton High School teacher, Ms. Ellen Acuff, recently passed away on the morning of October 29, 2021 at the age of 61 after about a year of battling neuroendocrine carcinoma. Ms. Acuff was an art teacher for Hamilton High School for the past 20 years and made a significant impact on the many teachers and students she encountered in her time here.  

I myself had Ms. Acuff as a teacher for two semesters. I took Drawing my freshman year and Painting my sophomore year. I remember Ms. Acuff to be sweet and caring for her students and supportive of their artwork. Ms. Acuff taught me to use shadow and light to create depth. She taught me to use color to liven up my paintings and bring joy into my work. She taught me to love art and art history even more than I already did. She encouraged me to take risks, be creative, and most importantly enjoy what I put out into the world. As an AP Studio Art student, I wish that I could share with her my creations, and that she could guide me along the way in my focus and artistry. She had a true impact on my life and my art and I will forever be grateful to her.  

Below are some staff memories to memorialize Ms. Acuff. 

Ms. Hinytz

Back in the day (early-mid 2000's), Ms. Acuff and several staff members would participate in a bike ride in Door County and we'd spend the weekend enjoying the scenery, food and festivities!  SO much fun, so many laughs and memories. [I most admired] her steadfast resilience, calm demeanor and kind heart. One in a million!

PK

When I think of Ms. Acuff, I recall strength, courage, and a love of art--a love that she so wanted to share with students.  Ellen faced challenges in her life--challenges that she always faced and worked to overcome.  Despite her many preps (sometimes having to teach “art on a cart” as she travelled to different classrooms), Ellen was able to help her students develop their talents---earning college credit from the College Board (in AP Studio Art), and recognition as work was selected for display at the Milwaukee Public Art Museum.  Even as she was battling cancer, she delighted in spending time with her oldest granddaughter making jewelry and sketching and journaling. The fact that former students made a point to see her while she was undergoing treatment speaks to her ability to profoundly impact young people.

Mrs. Schroeder

I started at Hamilton in 2002, but just had an acquaintance friendship with Ellen until I started in Publications in 2005.  Ellen shared the Publications space with me at that time, using Publications as her office for a couple of years.  We soon became close friends. She was so quick to laugh and we laughed all of the time, sometimes until our sides hurt at nonsensical things.  When her first granddaughter Marlee was born shortly after my grandson Brayden, we compared notes on their growth and milestones.  Ellen would bring Marlee to football games, sitting with my husband and I. In the summer, Ellen and I would go to Holy Hill and hike and go to ‘artsy places’ out in rural areas.  

I always teased her about how healthy she was, always concocting different dishes made from vegetables I had never even heard of.  She used to be a bodybuilder in her younger days and she showed me crazy bodybuilding pictures of her in competitions. 

When my husband was diagnosed with cancer four years ago, Ellen was so very supportive, calming me down when I would go off the deep end.  Her soft voice and a calm approach to so many things was one of the [aspects] I loved most about her.  We could talk about anything. She was truly one of the kindest and [most] intuitive people I have ever known.  She was soulful and longed to help so many of the struggling students at Hamilton.  

When faced with her own terminal cancer diagnosis, she told me that when she got to heaven, she would find my husband and the two of them would send me signs that even a skeptic like me couldn’t rationalize away.  She has left such a void; she was truly one of a kind.

Ms. Lisheron

I met Ellen Acuff in the fall of 2006 when I came into the HHS Art Department as a replacement teacher, so I have known her for 15 years. We soon realized we lived about a block and a half away from each other in Wauwatosa, as well as having daughters who went to school together. We enjoyed walks around the neighborhood, what we called "walk & talk," usually discussing what was going on at school, but also personal topics such as relationships or more often, our kids. We also bonded over our love of biking, often riding the New Berlin or Bugline trails. In the summer of 2014 we participated in the Scenic Shore 150, a fundraising ride benefiting the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, which covered 150 miles in two days from Mequon to Sturgeon Bay. She had done other rides, such as the Trek 100 to benefit the MACC fund as well as a mini-triathlon incorporating her swimming ability. In her younger days, she had been a competitive swimmer and was also a bodybuilder, which we had a few laughs about.

There was obviously a strong bond over our love of art and we supported each other during each of our Master's programs. We often went to museum exhibits, sometimes with art club students, sometimes just the two of us. Among our favorites were the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Wustum or RAM in Racine, the John Michael Kohler, the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, and Sharon Lynne Wilson Center. We had gone to Mount Mary Starving Artist Show, Bastille Days, and we both loved the Doors Open Milwaukee event, sharing beautiful Tiffany glass windows that can be seen locally with our glass students. I remember several autumns driving around artist studios in the Cambridge area, which inspired us to have a wool felting day during one spring break and bringing the felting artist into school for an Art Club activity. 

Living so close to one another, we checked in on each other's houses and pets during the other's travels. Although we never made it there together, we shared a love for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her family traveled there during her childhood, as well as continued the tradition with her children, and my daughter moved to Raleigh 10 years ago, so I have been there several times. One special request she asked of me was to re-frame her photo of the Hatteras Lighthouse, which I was able to ensure she had with her to enjoy once she moved to hospice. The highlight of our time together was our trip to Italy and Greece with Ms. Hammer and photo students. Ellen had been to Florence through her master's program, so was helpful in guiding some of our sightseeing to be sure we didn't miss Michelangelo sculptures in the Medici Chapel. But during that first trip, renovations were being done in St. Peter's Basilica, so when we both saw Michelangelo's Pieta’ for the first time, it was very emotional. We hugged and cried. Later, the three of us teachers would laugh at how we seemed to always find ourselves lagging behind the group, stopping to take pictures of the same doorway or abandoned street. I recall boarding the ship to cruise the Greek islands for the last 3 days on our itinerary, so excited that we literally jumped up & down, giggling at the towels folded into animals and the huge window in our stateroom. During frequent visits in the last months of her life, we would look at pictures, share memories and agree it was the best trip ever!

At Hamilton, Ms. Acuff was my "partner in crime." We worked well together, sharing similar educational philosophies as well as alternating duties, having the utmost respect for each other's capabilities and trust in one another - a true team. She was quiet, but had a wonderful sense of humor. She was a dedicated educator and loved seeing the growth of her students from freshmen in Photos, through Drawing and Painting, to setting up their AP Studio portfolios at the Pauline Haas show and finally helping seniors select pieces for the HFAC permanent collection. Her careful, precise artwork, especially in fused glass birds, was clearly a byproduct of her work as a goldsmith. In her final weeks, she taught her granddaughter about the lost wax process of casting, helping her to make a wax model and then had a friend cast the ring as a special keepsake. I know it's only been a couple of weeks since her passing, but I will still think, "Oh, I need to tell Ellen about that," only to remember she already knows. She was spiritual - not in a religious way, but believing that those who have passed, like parents and friends, are always around watching over us. She told me she would be watching over her daughters and grandkids, but said she would also be with me in spirit when I would travel to see the great works of art we didn't get to see together. All I will need to do is remember that moment seeing the Pieta' with her and she will be in my heart seeing it, too. 

Ms. Acuff had been truly loved and supported by her family, friends, coworkers, and students over the last year.  In her final staff message, Ms. Acuff shared some beautiful words of advice for anyone willing to listen. She will be truly missed as a teacher, mentor, artist, and most importantly friend to anyone that got the chance to know her. Please take what from it what you will: 

An old childhood friend of mine, who was also a high school art teacher and football and track coach in the Waukesha area, has been emailing as we go back and forth about the meaning of life.  He recently wrote a section from one of his favorite movies, The Dead Poet Society, John Keating:  “We don't read and write poetry because it is cute.  We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.  And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life.  But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for” (I would say Art too!). To quote from Whitman, "O me, O life!...of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?  Answer.  That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play ‘goes on’ and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

Even though my life may be relatively short, I played hard, always did my best, I tried to be fair and honest and kind to people.  My greatest fulfillment other than raising my two daughters, was teaching and trying my hardest to reach each student.  I have to say, I have lived a good life, even though I would have loved to travel and do my art after retirement...but who knows, I may be able to do that where I am going!

- Ellen