Bob & Family, getting to know you and Karen at pickleball was such a pleasure. Hank and I are holding you in our thoughts and sending you our deepest condolences. ❤️
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Dearest Karen.
I’m just going to say this as if you were right here to hear me. You know that I believe you are. I have such fond memories of you and our Poughkeepsie days from 1972 and the next few years. Those meandering drives through Dutchess County the autumn that Maggie May played every third or fourth song. You were smart, curious, and full of fun. You helped me get an office from Father Fred who was dubious that I really represented a new community organization. That organization would quickly flourish. You helped me get it there by knowing everyone in town. I didn’t.
I was 22 and just doing trial and error. We both had chutzpah. But you taught me kindness and generosity. Perseverance. We were close friends.
I’m so glad we shared some messages back and forth in these much, much later years. I was thrilled to learn what a successful teacher you’d become (of course you did!). I wish I could have told you of my ventures and wonderful journeys.
Stories. We missed a lot of each other’s later life stories. But that’s ok. Your spirit is very much with all who loved you. You’ve been in my heart for more than 50 years and always will be. God bless you and protect you.
My heartfelt condolences to lovely Lucia and to your Bob.
David
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Karen was such a great friend to me when we lived in KL. She was so practical and thoughtful, our girls Lucia and Victoria, were great friends too at that time and she was always great at organising activities. Will never forget her coming to the hospital when our son was born with the hugest bucket of flowers. I lost contact once we left Malaysia but she has a special place in our hearts.
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My deepest sympathy to Bob and family. Karen was a special person and touched many lives. She will definitely be missed at the bridge table.
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I loved seeing both Karen and Bob at bridge and playing with them as well. She was always smiling and pleasant to every one and seemed to me to be loved by everyone as well. I can really see why she was so popular as a teacher as well as I always felt welcomed by her. She was just a warm person by nature. I have already greatly missed seeing the Whelans! Love, Sandy Baker
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These days, more than ever, I am grateful for the women in my life who showed me how to unapologetically take up space. Karen Minervini Whelan was absolutely one of those women. She taught us not to apologize for ourselves or shrink to meet other people’s expectations. On day one in her classroom she’d say, “Don’t be sorry. If you want to change, then change. But don’t be sorry. Not in my classroom.” She always had time for us to express ourselves and welcomed creativity in all forms. We were all lucky- she raised thousands of us. Her influence and memory lives on in so many. Thank you Mrs. Minervini for the spectacular education and thank you Karen for the friendship we got to have in the years after.
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Many years ago, Karen and I worked together in a general store, and became good friends. We shared many interests over many years ; She will me missed!
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Lucia and Family,
We were saddened by the news of the passing of Karen. Many of us remember her fondly, and she certainly made a difference in the lives of countless students, families, and colleagues. Our deepest condolences.
~The Roy C. Ketcham Social Studies Department
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My sympathies to Bob and his family. Karen was a lovely person - always smiling and very complimentary. When I asked her who cut her hair, because it always looked so nice, she told me, and said it was a wash and wear style. That comment always makes me smile. I so enjoyed playing bridge with her and Bob. She will missed at the bridge table.
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As in all high schools during any of the generations, you had teachers who cared and ones that did not.
As a Gen X attending RCK in the late 80s early 90s there were teachers and admins that made it known they care. There were standouts like Mary-Alice Goodall, John Calogero, Jack Marguglio, William Pauldine, and Karen Minervini.
Mrs. Minervini had the passion to not only teach, but educate in way that would stick with you for a life time. I still, to this day, 35 years later, plagiarize her iconic saying.... DON'T BE SORRY... CHANGE!
Mrs. Minervini's teachings and the humanitarian and realist she was, guided many including myself and she is included in the many that had helped me during my high school years that defined me into the man I am today.
Learning of her passing the world definitely seems a little less bright. She is somebody that could never be replaced or even replicated.
Thank you for being who you were when you were amongst us. Till we meet again.
Rest in peace.
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I loved her like an adopted Grandma. She always had my back and encouraged me to do the right thing. No exceptions. I'll carry her lessons with me forever. <3 May her memory be a blessing to everyone who had the joy and honor of loving her.
Here we are at my last birthday party. My health was poor but she insisted on wearing a mask so she could hug me. "No exceptions". She was the best role model. <3
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2023, Wappingers Falls, NY, USA
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Karen worked at RCK when I went there but I never had her as a teacher. When I became teacher and started to work at RCK she was stuck sharing her classroom with a newbie. Needless to say she was not thrilled and made no bones about it. When I was no longer in her classroom teaching that one period, she stopped me in the hall and told me to visit anytime. I felt like Steve Urkel when Carl finally told him he enjoyed his company! She was hard on me but taught me a lot about teaching, navigating the world, and being fearless in a system that liked it better when I was fearful and complicit. I am grateful that I had that second chance to be her student and have held her in my heart all these years later. ♥️
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Mrs. Minervini was a person I molded my education philosophy on. I will always carry her fierce spirit and compassion with me always.
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I am so very sorry for the loss of an incredible human, mother, wife, friend, teacher and social justice advocate.
It’s hard to put into words how much Ms. Minervini meant to me and the impact she has had on my life. When I was struggling in high school, I would start my day in her classroom. She was one of the first people who knew about my eating disorder and made it her mission to help connect me to support.
She taught a semester long class on the Holocaust/genocide and opened my eyes to the many injustices of the world. She encouraged us all to stand up for what we believe in, use our voices and protest for the betterment of all.
She was someone who even after high school attended my celebrations and remains a pivitol part of so many people’s stories. I will remember her tenacity, passion, kindness and care that inspires me always to be and do better. 💓
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Karen Minervini Whelan meant a lot to me. She always gave me a ride home from debate team because I was the only freshman after she saw me waiting for the late bus. When I graduated from high school we wrote letters. She started coming to my parents' July 4th party when I was on the debate team and kept coming even to a couple years ago if she was in NY. She used to write me hall passes because she said I needed more time for "deep thinking and getting into mild trouble"... until she found out I got a c- in geometry. She said I needed to know angles in college to beat frat boys playing pool. She taught me how to volunteer and get involved in my community and social justice spaces. I think she was the first adult woman I saw who didn't comfort other people or apologize for being angry in professional spaces if there was a reason to be? I'm going to miss you, Minervini.
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Mrs. Minervini was my favorite teacher among all of the wonderful teachers that I have been lucky enough to have. She helped cultivate in me fundamental values of compassion, tolerance, and care, and I learned from her how to critically think and to view history and current events jointly so we don't revisit the horrors of last. I can safely say that I would not be the person, researcher, or teacher that I am without her.
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Dear Mrs. Minervini,
I want to thank you for being such a wonderful teacher, a loving soul, and being so kind to me in high school.
I am so happy we had a chance to reconnect after so many years. I am gratefully our paths crossing through our different phases of life.
I love that you enjoyed your life in NY living along the river and embracing the nature and sharing it with us. ♥️.
Thank you for not being afraid to share your thoughts, regardless of having the fear of how some may react to you. You are strong and brave. The culture we are in now, i think we are too close minded and afraid to disagree with others. I love your bravery in that and trying to foster a healthy dialogue. You were still teaching us something.
You are beautiful inside out. What I wish for you in your next phase is happiness, love, light, freedom and joy! I want you shine ever so brightly ♥️ forever and ever. ♥️
Love you,
Niha
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I'm so sorry and sad to hear this. She was a radiant firebrand and we adored her as a teacher. She talked to us like we were her peers and she'd make us giggle by saying what she really thought about historical events. She encouraged people to share their opinions. Her sense of humor and beautiful smile made us feel safe. I was her neighbor in Port Ewen for a few years and we'd sometimes kayak, go water chestnut cutting, or take a walk. She always asked about my brother, Tim, and other former classmates to see how they were doing. She was generous; offering for me to use her kayaks and she gifted me a large beautiful rock from her deck before she moved. (Thank you Bob for letting me take that one!) I think of her mentality as being one of "Go for it!
Take that adventure. Who cares if you screw up." She was happy and so very proud of you, Lucia. She appreciated the beauty of the world. She is missed, but her spirit and influence lives on.
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Mrs. Minervini was one of the best teachers I had as a high school student. She inspired and encouraged me to learn about the world, travel, explore, and challenge myself. She made me feel confident. Her time coaching our quiz bowl team and leading us to the national competition in DC will always be one of my fondest memories from school.
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Karen was an awe-inspiring colleague at RCK and I forever feel blessed to know her spirit, guts, life-long yearning for learning, and her wonderful kindness. I really had a chance to get to know her on a plane trip! What a fantastic seat companion she was! She kept in touch through Facebook for quite awhile and I always looked forward to her post. May all her beloved ones know how she was respected and loved.
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