As a youngster on the family ranch in Washington state, Neace spent his childhood outdoors, thanks to the influence of his parents, Lawrence Neace and Anna Belle Edmonson, and his maternal grandparents, Harold and Della Hopkins. He graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma in 1968, with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in biology, but "never, ever considered education," he said of a possible career choice.

While at UPS, Neace did become interested in philosophy.

"There was lots of social activism," he said of the 1960s and his admiration for individuals such as John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Kennedy's brother, Robert. "It looked to me like there was enough unrest in the country and I thought I'd serve another way."

That "way" was as an American Peace Corps volunteer. From 1968-1970, Neace served as an agricultural extension agent in West Bengal, India, a "life changing" experience that awakened his love of science and a hunger to teach.

"My father was a mentor to me," he said of Lawrence Neace, who fought on Attu during World War II and returned home a wounded veteran. After a visit to the Grand Canyon, Neace's father fell in love with geology and taught himself everything he could find on the subject.

Neace described his mother as a "horse whisperer-type person" to whom others brought their animals.

"She was an amazing horsewoman," he said. "Through her, I developed a relationship with the world of nature. I am lucky to have the parents and grandparents I had. It all sort of directed me."

Returning from India, Neace reacquainted himself with the United States by becoming immersed in the outdoors, honing his skills as a mountain climber and scaling the Cascade Mountains. He enrolled in Portland State University from 1972-1974, working on graduate studies in biology and teacher certification. In 1981, he received his masters in biology-marine biology studies at the University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology. Through the University of Alaska Southeast, Neace completed an administration certification program through the school's department of education in 1996-1997.

In 1976, after a stint teaching at St. Helens Junior High School in St. Helens, Ore., Neace accepted an offer at Susan B. English School in Seldovia. That small community became home for the next decade.

"He was an energizer with students," said Rod Hilts, who taught with Neace during part of that time. "He could inspire them to things they otherwise couldn't do."

Combining science and the environment, Neace's "Project Adventure" class invited students into the outdoors. They camped and skied into Denali National Park. They hiked Resurrection Trail. They canoed Swan Lake and Moose River. They climbed Seldovia's "Graduation Peak" the morning of high school graduation, marking the day with a cap-and-gown photograph and returning to sea level in time for commencement ceremonies.

"When you talk to kids today they just kind of get a special look, you can hear it in their voice, see it when they talk about those experiences," Hilts said.

Hilts son, Peter, the principal of Classical Academy, a charter school in Colorado Springs, Colo., told of Neace's long-reaching impact.

"We take a day, shut down the school, and send all the students and teachers into the community to do community projects," Peter Hilts said of Classical Academy. "I'm certain if it was not for seeing Mr. Neace take on these big, complex projects, I would have not had the confidence to say this is possible. He proved over and over again that with good planning and with a good amount of energy, pure energy, the classroom is as big as you want to make it."

Seldovia resident Keith Gain also had Neace for a teacher.

"He was the best school teacher of the entire planet," Gain said. "He took kids that were failing in almost every other subject and got them so involved in hands-on science and marine biology that they just picked it up."

Neace's influence spread with his transfer to Homer Middle School, where he taught science from 1986-2009. In her introduction of Neace as this year's eighth-grade commencement speaker, student Amelia Tyrer recalled hearing a conversation about science between Neace and Margie Blanding, another HMS science teacher.

"The way you got all giddy and excited, then serious and thoughtful told me one thing: I was going to have a blast in your class. And I was right," Tyrer said.

Drew Turner, also an HMS student, put his appreciation of Neace in writing.

"I'm glad that I got to have you for your last two years of teaching. I will always miss you, and never forget you throughout the remainder of my life," Drew wrote.

Neace's list of awards and recognitions is lengthy. He was one of four finalists for the 2006 Alaskan Teacher of the Year. He was honored as the 2003 British Petroleum Teacher of Excellence and received the 1986 city of Seldovia award for outstanding service to the community, a 1986 National Science Teachers Association "excellence in science education" award and a 1985 state presidential award for excellence in science and mathematics teaching, to name a few.

Visiting Neace's classroom, KPBSD Superintendent Donna Peterson witnessed his influence.

"His impact was one of a curiosity for all things of this earth," she said. "He was able to tie science to current events and controversies and students were given enough information to want to 'check things out' on their own."

Although Neace's departure is a loss for HMS, Principal Lisa Nissly said his career change means more will benefit from Neace's approach to education.

"Now he will have the opportunity to make a tremendously positive impact on teachers and students throughout the state of Alaska," Nissly said.

Judging by his experience in Neace's Seldovia classroom, Gain said teachers with whom Neace will work are in for a treat.

"He's unmatchable. He has such a positive energy, you can't get away from it," he said.

Peter Hilts agreed, adding a word of caution.

"His gifts are so unique to him that some new teachers might be intimidated by his strength," Peter Hilts said, "What he is more than anything else is an active educator. He wants kids to be active. He wants himself to be active. That would be a good thing for new teachers to be really active and energetic."

For Neace, leaving the classroom isn't an end.

It's another step in a lifelong process.

"I decided to make my leap into retirement a stepping stone," he said.

"And who knows how many stepping stones there are?"

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibbenjackinsky.@homernews.com.