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Show Reese honored by Jazz as fantastic fan i had a big smile for everyone," he recalled. Reese taught first grade at Adelaide for 18 and a half years before her retirement last spring. Today, she said, she tutors at Meadowbrook Elementary, ;.iays home and, of course, attend 7azz games. "It's been a big adjusts .id. I really miss the kids and sch' ol," Reese said. Her fellow teachers, past principal prin-cipal and parents miss her, too, and wished her all the best. ' 111 I I! ! ! 1 1 '1111 i : j ! I ' 'V " i I I ; Bill , ' !, M .: i III - , ft l j !' I j I J j ' ( J . Mi I'M 1 III 11 III ! A 0 31 . J By JENNIFER PETERSON Staff Writer Joyce Reese is a Jazz fanatic. She goes to every home game and has been known to drive as far away as Denver to watch them play. So when this Adelaide Elementary Elemen-tary school teacher retired from school last year, one parent's wheels started turning. "Last spring I went to school and she was wearing a Jazz sweater. I thought it was rather curious that this older lady was wearing a bright, loud shirt. When I asked her if she was a Jazz fan, she just got this big, bright smile on her face. She told me, 'Oh, if I could sit on the edge of the court and Kail Malone would fall on my lap, my life would be complete,' " George Watanabe explained. ex-plained. In fact, Reese said she and her family began attending Utah professional pro-fessional basketball games when ths Utah Stars were the team to see. Since the Jazz came to Utah, Reese said she has never missed a game. Such a faithful fan and fantastic teacher deserved a little recognition and Watanabe, a member of the Adelaide Development Program and a parent of a couple of Reese's students, had the connections to do something about it. A meeting between Karl Malone and Reese was arranged due to the kindness of the Jazz and Malone. But this was no simple handshake meeting. The Jazz arranged seats for Reese at the VIP dinner, photos and Malone presented Reese with a signed poster, among other awards. Watanabe explained that Reese was never an average teacher. 'She never taught for the money," Watanabe explained. "She was a real special person who enjoyed a reputation as someone who really cared about the children and education." Former Adelaide Elementary Principal Verlan Terry worked at Adelaide for three years with Reese and said she was an outstanding teacher. "She was an excellent teacher who showed lots of love and concern con-cern for every child. She always i Joyce Reese recently met Karl M&lone before a Jazz home game. Reese, a longtime fan of the Utah Jazz, also received special treatment at the VIP dinner, photos and Malone presented Reese with a signed poster, among other awards. i |