Obituaries

Clarence Bianco recruited me for my first teaching job in 1974, and provided help and support as long as he remained with RUSD. I remember his wonderful smile and his rapport with teachers and students. We addressed him as "Clarence," with respect. He was the only RUSD Central Office administrator that I knew who got down into the trenches with the teachers. He dropped in on my classroom now and then to see how I and my students were doing. He organized and attended regular teacher support meetings. He was always there when you needed help. I left special education teaching shortly after he retired. His memory will remain alive with me forever.

Wishing Fair Winds and Following Seas to one of the nicest, most personable men I've ever known. Very Respectfully, Dr. Patrick (Pat) Knowles, Fond du Lac

As I was reading my cousin's obituary once again this morning, I was reminded with much warmth of the times he and I would talk of those matters only educators care to muse about. Being a teacher who often had special needs children in my classroom, I was always so proud of sharing with Binks as the head educator of such children for an entire school district as large as Racine Unified. Then I was reminded of his commitment to the homeless and my respect for him was elevated to the next level. This was something cousin Binks did not talk about. He just did it. He and cousin Maryellen were so faithful to the cause of the less fortunate and did it without seeking applause from others. I am smiling now as I write this....so proud to your cousin!

To the entire Bianco family, friends, and others who knew and treasured Binks. My first encounter with Clarence was when I was in elementary school in the late 60s/early 70s. As a deaf individual and someone who needed a strong advocacy for supporting my needs as well as keeping me mainstreamed in the Racine unified school system, I am more than grateful for Clarence and all he had done in the day. I still remember the day when he came to my home to take me to school because the busing system only drove by, honked horn, and left -- Clarence realized that this was inappropriate and saw to it that they fixed that. That level of personal attention is almost unheard of these days... In my later years when I was employed by RUSD, I had the luxury of crossing paths with Clarence again -- he always spoke well of his family and friends, and showed me one of his pride and joys, an old Metro that comfortably sat in the 1/2 car space in his garage. Clarence embraced life in such a way that his compassion and empathy for others easily rubbed off. He led by example, and naturally, he will be sorely missed. Our deepest condolences.