Obituary of Steven W. Olson

Steven W. Olson, 70 of Pembroke. Born in Pasadena, CA, he was raised in Quincy, Hingham, and Wollaston, graduating from N Quincy HS in 1962. He continued his education at Bridgewater State College, in Bridgewater, MA earning his Bachelors of Science in '66 and his Masters of Education in '72. Mr. Olson began what would be a 43yr stay teaching mathematics at Hingham HS in Hingham, MA, in 1967 following a year long Fellowship in Education at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. At the start of the new school year in 1970, Mr. Olson took the reins of the AP BC Calculus Program, not relinquishing them until his health demanded so in Jan. 2010. In 1980, Mr. Olson began a fruitful relationship with ETS, the Educational Testing Service, at the annual "Reading", where each years AP Calculus Exams are corrected and graded. Over the next 30 years he would serve in many capacities, as a Reader, Room Leader, Question Leader, and Assistant to the Chief Reader. From '95-'97 he was also 1 of an extremely select few who who actually wrote the questions for the AP Calculus exam. Mr. Olson also taught at the college level at Bridgewater State from '83-'88, UMass Boston from '86-'97, and Northeastern Univ. from 1989-2010. Some of Steve's greatest educational contributions came thru his work at the College Board's Summer Institutes at various locations around the country, primarily at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, VT, at Hingham HS in Hingham, MA, and for the Bellvue WA School District in Bellevue, WA. At each of these 1 week sessions he essentially taught prospective AP Calculus teachers how to most effectively teach AP Calculus. In over 25 years of teaching anywhere from 3-8 of these around the US he will have an impact on and shape how AP Calculus will be taught for the next 5 decades and beyond. Mr Olson recieved numerous awards and accolades for his work over the course of his career, including: 4 consecutive Presidential Awards for Excellance in Teaching Secondary Math - State Level, from '90-'93, The Siemens Award for Excellence in Teaching AP Mathematics - 1 of 6 awardees nationally in the 1st offering of this award in '98, and in 2001 he was selected as an outstanding AP Calculus Teacher in New England. Loved by so many colleagues and students, alike, he will be greatly missed. A devout Christian, Mr. Olson was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Duxbury, MA and then North River Community Church, Pembroke, MA, each for 20+ years. Mr. Olson is preceded in death by his parents, George Leonard Olson, Sr. and Miriam (Hamblin) Olson, and his son, Erik Olson. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jo Anne (Semino) Olson and daughter, Kristen Olson, both of Pembroke, his sister, Drinda Olson, of Quincy, his brother, George L. Olson, Jr., and his wife Dang of Thailand, and his Brother-in-law, Thomas J. Semino and his wife Paula of Winthrop. He also leaves behind 3 neices and 2 nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, August 29th from 4-7:00 PM at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 7 Mattakeesett St, (Rt. 14) Pembroke. In lieu of flowers, we highly recommend making a donation in Steve's name to the Hingham HS Math Dept. for the Betterment of the AP Calculus Program c/o HHS at 17 Union St. Hingham, MA, 02043.