A longtime Maricopa middle school teacher who died last week is remembered as a dedicated educator beloved by his students.

Leonard Bratspir taught seventh and eighth graders at Maricopa Wells Middle School from 2013 until 2020. But he dedicated his life to teaching for an eye-popping 55 years.

“Mr. Bratspir was an excellent educator who taught for over 55 years,” MWMS Principal Thad Miller told InMaricopa. “He loved his job and his students loved him. He touched thousands of lives, and his legacy will live on forever.”

Miller remembered Bratspir as “an excellent example for all educators to follow.”

Bratspir lived in Arizona since the 1980s.

He was a man with a sense of humor.

In a 2015 InMaricopa profile, he was asked what he least liked about Maricopa. His response: “All the traffic lights that never work when you want them to.”

His favorite quote came from Ben Franklin: “There are two things you can lose and never regain — time and personal honor.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Penn State University and his master’s degree in education administration from Villanova University.

Bratspir is survived by his wife, Linda, and five children.