Dr. Solberg passed away on Sunday.

I've met with Dr. Solberg numerous times when my two kids were attending McNair. She's an incredible human being, and her love of teaching has inspired both my son and daughter to learn French.

Thank you, Dr. Solberg, for your service to Jersey City.

I like to think it means only that people just don't know what a fabulous, inspiring teacher she has been at McNair.

I know Sara and I'm not surprised to hear that she's inspiring and motivating others even as she's going through such a terrible ordeal. Thanks to the OP for sharing this article!

Sewing the seeds of love, memories
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
LISA ZIMMERMANN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
A s an recipient of the Princeton Secondary School teacher of the year, a lover of Shakespeare and a veteran English and French teacher, Sara Solberg, 59, of Jersey City, knows stories of heroism, friendship and courage, but little did she know her own life would embody such a tale. Solberg was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer - stage 4 Glioma (GBM), the same type of cancer doctors diagnosed Sen. Edward M. Kennedy - in March of 2007.

"You don't beat this," she said. " Nobody ever told me there will be a miracle, but I love my medical team at Columbia. The best they said is that they were interested in keeping me highly functional."

Solberg said she is highly functional, at least when it comes to her mental capabilities. However, though the cancer spared Solberg's mind, the tumor location caused her left side to paralyze. This consequence hinders Solberg's ability to complete her dying wish to sew each of her three children a quilt.

"I don't know where my left hand is," Solberg said illustrating that sewing would be an almost impossible task.

This is where Solberg's long time friend Jane Harris, of South Orange and formerly of Jersey City, stepped in to help. Harris' son used to be a student of Solberg's at McNair High School and later on the two ladies formed a friendship.

"I'm going to miss her tremendously," Harris said. "Anything I can do to make it easier for her is worth a lot."

So Harris spoke with her friend Edna Davi, of Kearny, a social worker, who used to teach sewing classes at Bergenfield High School and the Bergenfield and Kearny Adult Schools.

Davi admits that to some, Solberg's project might appear overwhelming because Solberg gathered a wide variety of fabrics over the years.

"I sewed to put myself through college, so it doesn't scare me - nothing in the sewing range scares me. I've been sewing since I was 10," Davi said with confidence.

A third recruit came to mind when Harris asked Davi if any of her students might be able to help. Davi thought of Jennifer Greenhalgh, a former student who suffers from cerebral palsy.

"It's mind-boggling that she can do this," Davi said of Greenhalgh's ability to sew. "I've always been in awe of Jennifer. It's just as good as someone who sews that has full faculties. To be able to coordinate two hands and a foot at the same time for her is way more daunting than for a normal person. It's pretty amazing."

Greenhalgh, of Arlington, said she naturally progressed to quilting.

"It was another thing that I wanted to try and I got really into it and one thing led to another and I got involved with other people who quilt," she said.

While Harris, Davi and Greenhalgh quilt, Solberg continues to challenge her own mind even though she can't use the left side of her body.

"She keeps herself very busy," Harris said. "She's teaching herself Spanish, she told her house worker not to speak English to her because she said it's about time she learn Spanish."

Harris continued: "Considering all she's facing, she's a big role model for all of us."

Though Solberg is in hospice and bedridden, she hasn't given up on herself.

"It doesn't mean I'm going to die in 24 hours."

So the three woman continue to take fabric scraps and ideas from Solberg. They are weaving themed quilts for each of Solberg's three children: Maggie, 26, a Shakespearean scholar, will receive a medieval themed quilt; Betsy, 24, who spent time abroad in Japan teaching English, will receive a Japanese themed quilt; and Gidion, 18, who Solberg says loves all things Nordic, will receive a Nordic themed quilt. Though these three women's sewing capabilities may vary, all of their hearts appear to be in the same place.