Searching for Einstein

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

A life-sized bust of Albert Einstein has gone missing from Sandpoint High School, according to its creator, Dan Shook. 

The missing sculpture of Albert Einstein by local artist Dan Shook. Courtesy photo.

The former longtime art teacher at SHS, Shook made the sculpture in the mid-1990s and lent it to a handful of science teachers over the years so it could be displayed in their classrooms.

“It started off being lent to Steve Coffman when he was teaching at the junior high school,” he said. “He moved to the high school and brought it with him.”

Shook said the sculpture moved around into various classrooms before ending up for good in SHS math teacher Cheryl O’Donnell’s room, where the piece of art went missing.

“I don’t know exactly when it went missing,” Shook said. “I just assumed it would always be there.”

Shook said his daughters, Katelyn and Laurie, recently inquired where the piece went because they are interested in obtaining it. When Shook attempted to secure the sculpture, he found out it had gone missing from SHS.

If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of Albert Einstein (other than scattered around the grounds of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.), please call Dan Shook at 208-597-5339.