Mrs. Kimmel Wiki

Mrs. Dana Kimmel (November 21st, 1963 - May 22nd, 2007)

Dana Kimmel was a beloved teacher at Great Neck South High School when she passed away. She is a parent of three children, spouse and friend. She died on Tuesday, May 22nd 2007. She taught Economics and AP Psychology for two years at Great Neck South High School.

Mrs. Kimmel graduated from University of Michigan. She received a law degree from Fordham University. She met her husband, Scott Kimmel at Fordham.

After practicing law for 2 years, Mrs. Kimmel attended Columbia University Teachers College and received her Masters in Education. She pursued Education because it was what she truly loved. It was where her passion was.

Mrs. Kimmel's most important lesson was much greater than anything to do with the lesson plan. It was to follow your dreams and do what you are passionate about. Mrs. Kimmel once said "It doesn't matter what you do, it's the kind of person that you are."

She enjoyed teaching because it gave her the opportunity to spend more time with her family. A fellow Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Melissa Crotty explains "Her family was her life but teaching completed her as a person." Mrs. Kimmel had the undeniable ability to affect change. She touched the lives of nearly every student and facult at Great Neck South. She was known as intelligent, warm, intuitive, funny and kind. She was unanimously loved by her students because she treated them with respect.

Michelle Sorise, a fellow Social Studies teacher, explained "She realy was all about doing the right thing and she passed that on to the students she taught."

Senior and AP Psychology Student, Andrea Grinda explained "Mrs. Kimmel wanted to look at each student individually. She was the most honest person."

Students created a memorial for Mrs. Kimmel featured on Facebook.com, which quickly attracted hundreds of students. One student wrote, ""God has sent us an angel. Unfortunately he missed you too much... so now he took you back. I know you'll rest in peace. So, instead, please spread your love across the heaven skies, so our ancestors and loved ones can also enjoy your company."

Senior Colette Lelchuck reflected on her time with Mrs Kimmel in a poem that read, " I was never your student /
something I regret / I longed to be a part of your class / a place no one will ever forget."

Dana Macrigiane, a fellow social studies teacher, looked up to Mrs. Kimmel. She said, "As a mom, she just gives me so much hope. I will never forget any of the advice that she gave me." All the teachers, students and her friends admired her warm, positive, radiant energy. She was considered a best friend by many and to some one of the funniest people they ever met.

Dana Kimmel was an supporter of the Great Neck community and she often brought her whole family to school-sponsored events.

In the year book, the students explained, "You were a shooting star in all our lives; even if it as just for a momemnt. Your radiance reached everyone and your warmth will remain with us forever."

More than 1700 people attended Mrs. Kimmel's funeral at Temple Beth-el. At one point it was standing room only. They closed down what is now Waxman way because there wer so many people that wanted to honor the life of Mrs. Dana Kimmel.

At the funeral, AP Psychology Student, senior Seth Levine, said in his eulogy that "Mrs. Kimmel called her tests celebrations of learning because she always saw the positive in everything and everyone. She touched every single person who saw her smile."

Assistant principal Sharon Applebaum admired Mrs. Kimmel and said, "To touch so many lives in such a short
itme is a really exceptional thing."

Principal Randolph Ross explained "She was as effective with the smartest students as well as the weakest. We lost a great teacher."

Great Neck South will always miss Dana Kimmel and her memory will live on forever in her students, the teachers, her family and the community in general.

Reference: The Southerner, Cover Story by Amy Smith May Issue. Great Neck South Newspaper. (2007)

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E2D9173AF937A15756C0A9619C8B63

Mrs. Kimmel - Eulogy - May 2007

Mrs. Kimmel called her tests celebrations of learning

Because she always saw the positive in everything and everyone

She touched every single person who saw her smile

And nothing shows that more than the 500 students who joined her memorial group. 

One student wrote "God has sent us an angel. Unfortunately he missed you too much... so now he took you back. I know you'll rest in peace. So, instead, please spread your love across the heaven skies, so our ancestors and loved ones can also enjoy your company."

Mrs. Kimmel was a special teacher

I only had her for one year, but she left an impact that will last forever

It was the comfortable classroom setting, the positive outlook and the honesty.

Everybody could talk to her.

She treated us like equals and respected what we had to say

In her pursuit of teching us about pyschology she taught us how to appreciate life.

Enjoy what you have and share it with everyone.

The grades didn't matter, it was her confidence in us

She truly believed we would succeed, not for her benefit, but for ours

She let us in

She let us share her happiness

If you came into class in a bad mood within minutes you'd better

She could sense it and she would make a difference

That was the kind of teacher she was

That was the kind of person she was

She loved her kids

Whenever one of their names was mentioned immediately a smile would come to her face and you could just see the love, it radiated from her

Love radiated from her like a star

There was an auction at the school and one of the best prizes was dinner with Mrs. Kimmel, even though I lost the auction she still alway told me that I could come over for dinner anytime. I wish I had the opportunity to take her up on that promise.

There was one two week period where no matter what anybody in our class said she would respond with her classic "good for you" response.

Always positive, always optimistic, always laughing, always joking

She started saying "good for you" so many time that we started counting it.

And after the 10th time we started teasing her about it

There aren't many teachers you can joke around with, she would never get madat us, she couldn't

But she'd just respond with a smile and say "that will be reflected in your report card"

7th Period on Monday was our last psych class and what turned out to be Mrs. Kimmel's last teaching experience. It's so weird because she said how much she loved us, how much she loved teaching. She said she would teach any class to any student as long as it wasn't AP Economics.

A couple of us stayed after class talking to her about everything.

She said to us, it doesn't matter what you do it, it's the kind of person that you are

and she really meant it..

I know Mrs Kimmel loved Dave Matthews and I'll never forget her playing two step on the first day of class just because she felt like it.

Mrs. Kimmel, Dana,

It was a pleasure to spend time with you

It was a priviledge to have you as a teacher

and it was an honor to have you as a friend

I know you'd want us to leave happy and with a better understanding

You taught me more than you'll ever know

To follow my passions

and to always have a smile

and if you don't

"it will be reflected in your report card"

I'm beginning to understand that knowing Mrs. Kimmel was like seeing a shooting star. 

The most beautiful, the most brilliant, the most radiant, smiling shooting star.

You loved us Mrs. Kimmel,

but we love you

I miss you

I think about you

and I know you're smiling down at me because I'll always smile up at you

Thank you for everything. 

We will never forget you.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about the impact you had on my life

I will never forget you.

You will always be with me and the rest of Great Neck South.

Love can't even explain what I have for you

It's more than love

It's transcendence 

Thank you for being more than a teacher, more than a mother, more than a friend

but thank you for being you and teaching us that it's ok to be who you are.

Thank you for sharing your passion with us.

We love you... still

Forever and for always.

One Sweet World (DMB)

Nine Planets round the sun
Only one does the sun embrace
Upon this watered one
So much we take for granted
So let us sleep outside tonight
Lay down in our loved one's arms
For here we can rest safely
For here we can rest safely
For here she can rest safely

If green should slip to grey
And if mountains crumble away
And the rivers dry
Would it stop the stepping feet?
Take all that we can get
When its done

And here we can rest safely
And here she can rest safely
One sweet world
One sweet woman
Around a star is spinning
One sweet world
and in her breath I'm swimming
and here she will rest in peace