Marblehead principal loses cancer battle

MARBLEHEAD – Former Marblehead High Principal John Ziergiebel – “Mr. Z.” – lost a courageous battle with cancer early Wednesday morning.Tentative funeral arrangements include visiting hours at Greeley’s Funeral Home, Gloucester, from 4-8 p.m. Friday and services at Our Lady of Good Voyage Church in Gloucester Saturday at 9:30 a.m.Overflow crowds were expected.Last spring a record-breaking 200 Marblehead students participated in a Salem cancer walk in Ziergiebel’s honor and “Mr. Z.” himself walked with them.If they walk next spring, he will walk with them in spirit.Ziergiebel left Marblehead High June 30 to enter treatment. Principal’s secretary Margo Ivers, who became a friend of the family during Ziergiebel’s three years at Marblehead High, kept the school updated on his progress this fall.He had been “in and out of the hospital” for the past two months and entered a hospice Friday, according to school officials, who received the devastating news of his passing shortly before 7:30 a.m., as classes were about to begin.Interim Principal Sue Gee pulled together the crisis intervention team that was organized last spring to respond to such an emergency and prepared an intercom announcement for the school, in which she reminded her audience that “He touched many of our lives with his kindness, his enthusiasm for his work and his joy for life,” told them counselors were available and asked the school community to offer support to all who need it.Following her announcement, Marblehead High observed a moment of silence for one of the school’s most popular administrators.”He was a very caring educator,” Gee said Wednesday afternoon, after a staff meeting. She first met Ziergiebel and his wife, Annie, 15 years ago in the Gloucester school system.”He was very enthusiastic in his love of learning and his engagement with the students at Marblehead High. They all have little favorite stories about him,” she said. “He was very giving and very kind, especially to students experiencing hurdles in their teen years. He will certainly be missed by the students, faculty and staff at Marblehead High.”