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Teacher Dies One Day After Retiring, East Bay Community Mourns Loss

An East Bay school community is in mouring after learning about the death of a beloved biology teacher who died one day after retiring.

Eric Thiel, a longtime teacher at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, had just returned from a movie theater over the weekend when he passed away unexpectedly, according to The East Bay Times. He was 65.

News of Thiel's death prompted students and teachers to create a makeshift memorial — packed with flowers and notes — on the school's campus.

Thiel is being remembered as a kind, incredible teacher dedicated to mentoring young minds, according to Pleasanton Unified School District Communications Coordinator Patrick Gannon.

"An amazing person," Gannon said. "A mentor to his students. A lot of students have been reaching out saying that (Thiel) is the reason that they are where they are. They just credit a lot of their success to (Thiel)."

Among his accomplishments, Thiel helped create the AP Biology course in the district, Gannon said.

Thiel leaves behind a wife and four children, according to Gannon.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Thiel family. As of Tuesday, it had already surpassed its $18,000 goal.

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