Dorothy Murdock
Gail (Jyrinki) Gillis
I first met Miss Murdock when I began 7th grade at Burbank. I was in the L7-6 class. I didn't know it at the time, but memories and friendships from that time period would last a lifetime.
Our class contained an extraordinary bunch of kids. But, I believe, one of the biggest factors in our class being so special was our homeroom teacher, Miss Murdock. She was much younger than I think we realized at the time and she was such a character! Her sense of humor was fantastic. She teased us, cajoled us, inspired us. She whipped us into shape, and all the while we were enjoying it because of her. She blended us into one. We had such a feeling of unity and it lasted our whole lives. To this day, if I see someone I knew from back then, we pick up right where we left off and never miss a beat!
High school was a major disappointment to me because of the closeness I felt at Burbank. Berkeley High was too big and impersonal. I longer for the Burbank days.
After I was an adult, I realized how important Miss Murdock was to all of us. She unified us in a way that has always remained. Her extraordinary spirit, humor, caring, and love helped mold all of us into what we are today. And I truly believe we will always be grateful to her for that.
Rebecca Sung Chan
I was a new immigrant when I started Burbank as a L7-6. What a blessing to have been placed in Miss Murdock's homeroom. I did not know the language, and I did not know another soul in the school. But Miss Murdock made me feel welcomed, accepted, and valued from the first day. At the time I was facing adjustment to life in a new country, a new school, and a new language. But thanks to Miss Murdock's love and encouragement, I fell right in. She gave me as well as others a sense of belonging. Our class was a diverse group but she managed to create unity out of diversity. She taught us not only tolerance, but also acceptance. I will always remember Miss Murdock and I will always be grateful to her.
David Iwawaki
Miss Murdock was one of my favorite teachers. She wrote speeches for Stephen Brandon and I to read at an assembly to raise money to restore the Little Red Schoolhouse in the old gold mining town of Columbia. I portrayed a professor and Stephen portrayed an old prospector. I remember him getting a lot of laughs when he pretended to blow his nose into a large red handerchief. That gave me a lot of confidence as a young boy. Miss Murdock was always very encouraging and supportive.
I also remember Miss Murdock pushing for 100% of her students to get on the good citizen ship honor roll, all A's or B's. She seemed to have a competition going with Mr. Zlokovich because his class had done it. We eventually all got on the honor roll and when we did it two times in a row, she was very happy.
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