David Menasche

David Menasche (August 1, 1973 – November 20, 2014) was an American educator and a cofounding teacher of Coral Reef Senior High School in South Miami-Dade, Florida.{{cite news|title=South Florida Teacher, Author Dies Battling Brain Cancer|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/11/20/south-florida-teacher-author-dies-battling-brain-cancer/|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=CBS Miami|date=November 20, 2014|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630040544/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/11/20/south-florida-teacher-author-dies-battling-brain-cancer/|url-status=live}}

Menasche began his teaching career at Coral Reef after earning his teaching certificate at Florida International University in 1997.{{cite news|last1=Evans|first1=Angeline|title=A cancer patient’s quest for purpose and the Pacific Ocean|url=http://news.fiu.edu/2013/02/david-menasche-fights-cancer-with-a-quest-to-see-former-students-and-the-pacific-ocean/51782|accessdate=November 21, 2014|work=FIU Magazine|publisher=Florida International University|date=February 25, 2013|archive-date=June 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627151629/https://news.fiu.edu/2013/02/david-menasche-fights-cancer-with-a-quest-to-see-former-students-and-the-pacific-ocean/51782|url-status=live}} In the fall of 2006, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a lemon-size brain tumor in his right temporal lobe indicative of Stage IV brain cancer, and given a few months to live. After undergoing three surgeries, two and a half years of chemotherapy, and 30 rounds of radiation, he was able to teach at Coral Reef for six more years until he suffered a seizure in 2012 that greatly reduced his peripheral vision in both eyes and weakened his left side, forcing him to give up teaching.{{cite news|title=David Menasche, Teacher Dying Of Brain Cancer, Embarks On Cross-Country Journey|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/david-menasche_n_2363563.html|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=Huffington Post|date=December 26, 2012|archive-date=March 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321154209/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/david-menasche_n_2363563.html|url-status=live}}

Unable to return to Coral Reef, Menasche decided to embark on a quest to reconnect with some of the 3,000 students he had taught during his 15-year career. Calling it The Vision Quest, Menasche posted his plans to his old friends and students on Facebook with a call for couches, and ended up with 73 offers within three days.

Menasche departed from Miami on November 2, 2012, with a list of 150 available couches across the country, filming and chronicling his journey along the way. Completing his trek in February 2013, he spent a total of 101 days on the road, visiting 31 cities, and seeing over 75 former students.{{cite news|last1=Downey|first1=Maureen|title=A teacher facing death asks former students: Did it matter?|url=http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2013/nov/17/teacher-facing-death-asks-former-students-did-it-m/|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=November 17, 2013|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129144529/http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/get-schooled/2013/nov/17/teacher-facing-death-asks-former-students-did-it-m/|url-status=live}}

Following his trip, he published an autobiography, The Priority List: A Teacher’s Final Quest to Discover Life’s Greatest Lessons.{{cite news|title=THE PRIORITY LIST|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-menasche/the-priority-list/|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|date=November 12, 2013|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035638/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-menasche/the-priority-list/|url-status=live}} The title of the memoir comes from an exercise Menasche used with his high school students when studying Othello. It is a list of values that he asked students to prioritize for the play’s main characters in order to develop an understanding of motivation.{{cite news|last1=Pfeffer|first1=Ryan|title=A Final Interview With David Menasche, Beloved Teacher and Author|url=http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/11/david_menasche.php|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=New Times Broward-Palm Beach|date=November 21, 2014|archive-date=November 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124072048/http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2014/11/david_menasche.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Kaye|first1=Marcia|title=The Priority List by David Menasche: review|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2014/01/01/the_priority_list_by_david_menasche_review.html|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=Toronto Star|date=January 1, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070956/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2014/01/01/the_priority_list_by_david_menasche_review.html|url-status=live}}

Menasche had two older brothers, MauriceMenasche, p. [https://archive.org/details/prioritylistteac0000mena/page/104 104] and Jacques.{{cite news|last1=Coleman |first1=Michael P. |title=An Exclusive Conversation with David Menasche, Author of "The Priority List" |url=http://www.sacculturalhub.com/entertainment-and-news/3976-an-exclusive-conversation-with-david-menasche-author-of-the-priority-list-a-teachers-final-quest-to-discover-lifes-greatest-lessons |accessdate=November 21, 2014 |publisher=Sac Cultural Hub |date=February 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129145745/http://www.sacculturalhub.com/entertainment-and-news/3976-an-exclusive-conversation-with-david-menasche-author-of-the-priority-list-a-teachers-final-quest-to-discover-lifes-greatest-lessons |archivedate=November 29, 2014 }} He separated from his wife, Paula, after the Vision Quest.{{cite news|last1=Wills|first1=Kerry|title=Teacher battling brain cancer turns to students for life lessons|url=http://www.today.com/news/teacher-battling-brain-cancer-turns-students-life-lessons-2D11924039|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=Today|date=January 15, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129040022/http://www.today.com/news/teacher-battling-brain-cancer-turns-students-life-lessons-2D11924039|url-status=live}} Menasche’s story gained national attention when Lidia Dinkova, a former student, contacted him to write a story for the Miami Herald.{{cite news|last1=Dinkova|first1=Lidia|title=Former Miami English teacher with brain cancer prepares to journey across country|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/28/2971722/man-on-a-mission.html|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=Miami Herald|date=August 28, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219012714/http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/08/28/2971722/man-on-a-mission.html|archivedate=December 19, 2013}} NBC,{{cite news|last1=Reeves|first1=Jennifer|title=Former South Florida Teacher With Brain Cancer Is Raising Money For His Vision Quest|url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/South-Florida-Teacher-With-Brain-Cancer-Is-Raising-Money-For-His-Vision-Quest-165791386.html|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=NBC Miami|date=August 10, 2012|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129221836/http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/South-Florida-Teacher-With-Brain-Cancer-Is-Raising-Money-For-His-Vision-Quest-165791386.html|url-status=live}} USA Today,{{cite news|last1=Toppo|first1=Greg|title=Dying teacher's quest: Did I make a difference?|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/23/inspirational-teacher/1785739/|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=USA Today|date=December 23, 2012|archive-date=March 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310141838/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/23/inspirational-teacher/1785739/|url-status=live}} and CNN{{cite news|last1=Menasche|first1=David|title=Why I'm not afraid of dying|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/08/opinion/menasche-teaching-life/index.html?hpt=hp_c1|access-date=November 21, 2014|publisher=CNN.com|date=January 10, 2014|archive-date=November 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129103252/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/08/opinion/menasche-teaching-life/index.html?hpt=hp_c1|url-status=live}} then quickly picked up the story of Menasche’s Vision Quest and struggle with brain cancer. Menasche died on November 20, 2014, aged 41.{{cite news|last1=Veciana-Suarez|first1=Ana|title=Beloved Coral Reef teacher dies after battle with brain cancer|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article4037856.html|accessdate=November 21, 2014|publisher=Miami Herald|date=November 20, 2014|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211161131/https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article4037856.html|url-status=live}}