BY MONIQUE REA
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Blossoming flowers prompt student, staff reflection

Former biology teacher Gene Domek planted bulbs around campus during his time at Roseville High School.

As his flowers bloom every year, students and teachers reflect upon Domek’s lasting campus legacy while he currently battles hospitalizing health conditions post-retirement.

Biology teacher Darcee Durham built a relationship with Domek during their 15 years of working together and sees the environmental and cultural impact he left.

“Mr. Domek was always planting something around campus and he was a big advocate for getting the greenhouse here,” Durham said. “The bulbs around the various trees were planted at different times by him, our TAs, student groups directed by him or even sometimes by kids serving detention which I always thought was a great way for them to ‘serve their time.’”

Domek also contributed to RHS extracurriculars.

Domek coached a variety of athletic teams. He advised Science Olympiad and co-advised Science Club with chemistry teacher Robert Mahlman.

Domek and Mahlman used to visit the San Francisco Exploratorium with Science Club and Science Olympiad in the times before RHS switched to the block schedule.

“It was always a good time when we went, and I think those trips we took are some of my favorite memories with Domek,” Mahlman said.

Domek’s colleagues remember him as an adventurous person. He rented boats as part of a Sailing Club; according to Mahlman, Domek wanted to sail down the coast after retirement.

“He once took a sailing trip to the San Juan islands and he would have liked to sail the coast of California as well,” Mahlman said.

‘According to Domek’s family-run website on the CaringBridge service, he underwent a mastectomy after his cancer diagnosis and started chemotherapy in Aug. of the same year.

He was admitted to the emergency room with severe sepsis that progressed to septic shock blood count, causing further complications.
Doctors informed Domek that he was too weak to survive with his unhealthy colon without surgery in late June. Domek went forward with the surgery and survived.

The love Domek receives from the community doesn’t surprise Durham.

“I think about him every day,” Durham said. “It makes me think about how precious life is and not take it for granted. The way his family and friends have rallied around him speaks volumes about the amazing man he is.”

Although Domek is no longer at RHS, he is not forgotten.

Senior Makenna Vulgas will never forget how passionate Domek was as a teacher.

“Mr. Domek was an awesome teacher,” Vulgas said. “He really cared about everything he did and he wanted to make an impact on all of his students. I appreciated his passion for what he did.”

Senior Ashley Bertholf shares Vulgas’ sentiment.

“He worked tirelessly to help students share his passion for science and also help them achieve their academic goals in and outside of classroom time,” Bertholf said. “He is an extremely smart guy who really cares about his students and their success.”