12 When I started in 2007, Karen was the college counselor, scheduler, academic support person, unofficial school psychologist, and many other roles. You could often find Karen working late in the evening in her office. The only reason I knew she actually went home and didn’t sleep in her back room was because she was also part of the carpool that brought students in from East Aurora. Despite how busy she was, Karen always made time for others. When I would stop by to discuss something academic related, I often left with support for myself. Karen was really good at giving advice, sometimes it was advice from the perspective of a colleague, other times it was advice as a friend and/or mother. I could always count on Karen, just like all of the US students, faculty and staff at Park. Karen was a very kind hearted woman, she will truly be missed. -Adrienne DeGroat, Park Science Teacher So much of what I learned about Park came from Karen. When I started at Park I was teaching English classes in the Middle School alongside Karen. Together, we planned books to read and lessons to teach to the 6th grade students. Karen’s passion for reading, writing, and working with students was contagious. I remember often chatting with her about the books - always with a cup of tea in her hand. Though my role at Park changed, Karen remained a person I could count on for advice or a happy chat. Each year, when Karen heard we were learning about owls in Kindergarten, she would invite the friends to come to her office to see her collection of owls. I will cherish the memories I have of Karen and am grateful to have known her for so many years. -Cheryl Benzinger, Park Kindergarten Teacher I came to Park and was experimenting with some math-art fusion projects which led to an invitation to present at a Jonathon Kozol conference at UB. I knew Karen as the College Counselor, but I didn’t know more about her except that her name came up often and seemingly everywhere. When she heard of the conference, she was the first and only person to express a level of enthusiasm that a figure like Kozol deserves. She shared that she had been inspired by his work throughout her career and it was then that I realized Karen’s depth as an educator in the most complete sense of this title. She felt deeply about the inequalities Kozol had fought against, and she took the time out of her endless school duties not only to attend the wider conference at UB, but also to attend my small talk. Her attendance and her words of support and encouragement meant the world to me and gave me renewed momentum as a journeyman educator aspiring to meet Karen’s levels of dedication and service. -Bill Fedirko, Park Math Teacher Karen was one of the kindest, smartest, most selfless people I've ever had the pleasure of calling a friend. She was also never afraid to tell it like it was, especially if that meant getting a student whatever they needed to be successful. She was a fierce advocate for her students–all of her students–and she gave so much of her time, energy, and love to Park. Karen was one of the people who taught me when I first arrived what it meant to be a Park teacher, and I'll never be able to thank her enough for that. She leaves behind an immense and beautiful legacy, from her own children and grandchildren to the hundreds of kids and adults whose lives were made immeasurably better by working with her. I know she'll be dearly missed by us all. -Charles Hartney, Park Head of Upper School Karen was the most gentle, kind, caring, and selfless person that I have come to know. I had the pleasure of working with Karen at Park for almost 23 years - from the time of my hire back in December of 1997 to the time of her retirement in 2021. Throughout those years, Karen mentored me professionally and personally, offering her words of wisdom without any judgment or bias. She did the same for countless students throughout her tenure. Her office door was a revolving door of sorts, always open for anyone seeking advice or guidance, despite how busy her day was. Karen made physical and emotional space for everyone, young and old, and she had the keen knack of making them feel a sense of relief and calm after their time spent with her. Karen was always quick to lend others an ear or a shoulder to cry on when they needed it, myself included, which was always accompanied by a warm cup of tea. Karen dedicated herself to Park and to her students, spending weekends and late evenings returning student emails and parent phone calls, hosting college app parties, working on recommendations and transcripts, coaching students on metacognitive strategies, and presenting her Road to College seminars. Karen believed in the success of every student and did anything in her ability to ensure that they were poised to do so. Karen was an amazing individual who never tooted her own horn, so I was delighted when asked to present Karen with the Park Pioneer Award during the Class of 2021 Commencement ceremony, an honor awarded to only those who have truly gone above and beyond for Park for a significant number of years. Karen left an indelible mark on Park and on all those who have shared her company, and will be sorely missed. Until we meet again, my dear friend. -Angela DiSalvo, Park Staff
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