Michael Fleishman, 61, longtime teacher in Phila.

Michael Fleishman, a teacher in Philadelphia public schools for more than 30 years, died of pancreatic cancer at home in Bensalem on Tuesday, March 27, his 61st birthday.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Fleishman graduated from Overbrook High School in 1968 and earned a teaching degree in mathematics at Temple University.

Mr. Fleishman began his career in 1974 at the former E. Washington Rhodes Middle School, taught at Horace Furness High School, and retired from Woodrow Wilson Middle School in June 2011.

In 1985, he earned a Rose Lindenbaum Improvement of Education Teacher Award, a son, Matthew, said in a phone interview.

Lindenbaum, who retired in 1972 as a Philadelphia School District vice principal, set up a $100,000 trust fund in 1978 to finance 10 annual cash awards for teacher classroom excellence.

During Mr. Fleishman's career, his son said, he taught after-school classes for those needing help and was a roster coordinator who assigned students to classes.

Mr. Fleishman also ran Mike's Reptile Rescue through his website, accepting unwanted pet snakes, iguanas, and salamanders and finding them new homes.

The exchange started "about four, five years ago, out of his house," Matthew Fleishman said, "and three, four days a week somebody was coming to his house" to give or receive a pet.

In addition to his son Matthew, Mr. Fleishman is survived by his wife, Jodi; another son, Lee; and a brother.

The funeral was set for 11 a.m. Friday, March 30, at the Joseph Levine & Sons funeral home, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose. Burial will be in Mount Sharon Cemetery, Springfield, Delaware County.