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Leni Donlan Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Leni Donlan
Sponsored by Leni's friends and colleagues at the Library of Congress.
Franceska
November 3, 2020
Dear Leigh,
I know from experience the emotion of losing Mother rarely disappears, and your brilliance is in part due to the woman your mother was. Bless your heart and so sorry for your loss.
Leigh Donlan
November 1, 2019
I love you , Mom. Thanks for looking out for us.
John Puglisi
February 12, 2013
Greetings To Leni's family and friends,
Much time has passed, but I just discovered Leni passed. Some years ago I did my dissertation work on the America Dreams project. I had the opportunity to interact with Leni. Our teachers and students and I had a great and powerful learning experience through the creative vehicle Leni and Kathleen constructed for the LOC. Leni's is the spirit of great teaching. It will live in me as long as I do.
steven mcnicholl
February 7, 2011
I am so very sorry..I also know that you will not get over it,just through it..I am here if you ever need an ear!! xo
Gail
December 24, 2010
Leni - You are with me now - as always - as the holiday season is here. Know that you are loved. Our colleague, Elizabeth, died yesterday. Please take care of her as I am watching over your beloved daughter, Leigh. Gail
Molly Tately
November 7, 2010
You are have so much in common with your mom Leigh, I was so very sorry to hear of her passing. I met her only once, but she was very clearly a strong, passionate, and kind woman with many unique gifts - much like you... alththough I know you don't necessarily recognize yourself as such, but you will some day! I am honored to have have known you both. Much love; we are connected, always.
Gail Petri
September 8, 2009
Dear friends of Leni -
I can hardly believe that it is coming on to two years since Leni's passing - but I'm also so happy that her memory is alive and well among her friends and fellow colleagues. Leni, we will NOT forget you. For me - you continue to push me to be the best educator I can be. Thank you from my heart.
Gail
Tonya Jones
September 7, 2009
I am surprised and saddened at Ms. Donlan's passing. When I was just getting my feet wet with technology in the classroom, I ran across her Postcard Geography project and jumped on board because it was easy to implement and would help my third graders who thought their city was a state and didn't know who our neighbors to the north and south were. The project excited them and cemented their learning. We received postcards well into the summer.
I am returning to the classroom after a five-year hiatus and her project was the first one to come to mind. How wonderful to have had a life so amazing as to have touched the lives of so many.
May she continue to rest in peace.
Sally Bair
June 7, 2009
I was shocked to find that Leni passed at NECC in San Antonio last summer. Through the years, Leni came to mind often. I believe we joined her on the Oregon Trail project the first year it was launched. I convinced Mrs. Potts, our 5th grade middle school social studies teacher, to give it a go. Off they went following the instruction and timeline to a T. I can still see me clearly standing in the doorway of Mrs. Potts when they arrived in Oregon with her saying to me, "I don't know what to do. We've been out on the trail for some weeks now and I have no grades. What DO I do??" As I stood there and surveyed her room it was totally alive with the Oregon Trail. Dioramas. Art work. Maps. Reports. Costumes. You could hardly step into the room!! There was learning everywhere but no grades. So I said, "Anna, you have many grades. Simply grade what's around this room." You see, Anna was in the mold of many of us (teachers, adminstrators and parents) back then who thought the only grade was a test or quiz. Yet the room reeked of excitement for learning. (The kids ran to class each day. Mrs. Potts didn't even have dialup in her classroom to try to complete the online connectivity. We had one dialup connection in the computer lab.)
So, that was Leni and her impact on us. Is that not the magic in the bottle we continue to seek to catch?
Amazingly, the Oregon Trail project by Leni and Katheleen Ferenz is still very much alive at http://www.cyberbee.com/wwho/index.html
Leni was perfect for the Library of Congress. I continued to follow along with the work she did through the years following that trek on the Trail. Clearly, she is deeply missed by me and many.
What an honor to have worked with and interacted with Leni Donlan.
Robin Grainer
October 16, 2008
I am so sorry to hear of Leni's passing. :( I was one of her students way back in the early 90's and at a time when I was disillusioned with school, she was the first one to recognize and encourage my aptitude for computers. She was one of those teachers that people are lucky to have because she believed in you and inspired you even when nobody else did. In fact, she secretly submitted a project I'd done for school, to a computer conference in Boston, who then asked me (me! a 12-year-old kid!) to come and speak there. My parents didn't let me go but I'll never forget the honor and pride of being asked to attend.
She made such an impact on me that every few years since, I hunted her down through Google and we'd exchange a few emails and get caught up on each other's lives. It was about time to get caught up again so I Googled her and found this guestbook. :(
I am sorry she is gone because the world is a poorer place without her in it, but while she was here she helped and inspired so many people. <3 I'll never forget her.
Susan gaer
July 8, 2008
Leni was my first experience into the world of technology. I was teaching ESL Laotian refugees who had no literacy skills even in their native language in 1994. In a few months she changed the way I taught and interacted. The Internet became an environment for collaboration. I cry as I write these words.....I thought she would always be there.
Laurie Heikkila
February 1, 2008
where do I begin? I can't find the words to express how I feel upon learning of Leni's passing. Leni entered my life through the Postcard Geography program. That was my first experience with integrating technology in the classroom. It was such an incredible succes. Leni and I presented that year at the NECC in Atlanta, Ga. From that moment on we stayed in touch, met each year at NECC. I would not be where I am today had it not been for Leni. The world as lost an amazing woman.
Louie & Mary Pantuso
December 19, 2007
Allison,Rob and Leigh,we are so sorry to hear of your mom's passing.Thinking back to when all of you were at ST.Joseph and ST. Anthony's,I know your mom was always there for you,especially when you needed her the most.What I remember about Leni, is a very nice lady ,with a warm and engaging smile.You could not help but feel good around her.
I know Leni was well respected by her colleagues and will always be remembered for the mark she has left in the advancement of education. But, more importantly I think the greatest legacy Leni has left all of us,is the three of you and your family. She will always live on thru you.I know that this is a very trying time for you. we pray that God will easy your pain .
Always keep her in your mind and heart,then she'll always be with you .
Bless You ...
LaToya Snead (LOC)
December 17, 2007
My deepest condolences to the family. I meet Leni when she was an American Memory Fellow and shortly thereafter, worked in NDL Education Services. Leni was passionate about education and it showed in her contribution to the Learning Page. Leni was caring, giving, and had such a humble spirit. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with her and get to know her as a person. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
Leo Abramovitz
December 7, 2007
Leni and I were friends and classmates in elementry school and we lived several minutes walk from each other. The last time I saw or talked to her was the last day of school in June 1957. My family had moved out of the area three weeks earlier and I was allowed to finish the 6th grade before moving. She wrote a poem in my autograph book, gave me a hug, and wished me good luck. Several years later my dad took me with him on a visit to the old neighborhood and I went over to Leni's home to say hello. I was told her family had moved.
I have always wondered what happened to Leni, the red hair girl with the pony tail. Yesterday I came across the autograph book in a box in my garage. I opened it and saw the poem Leni had written. I have been doing family geneoology for the last several years and decided to see if I could find Leni. I found a person I thought could be Leni's brother and made a call. It was Leni's brother and he told me the sad news that Leni had died five weeks ago.
I will never know if Leni remembered me but I hope she did. I no longer need to wonder what happened to the red hair girl with the pony tail ---- I have found her.
Rest in Peace, Leni
Nancy Casolaro
December 4, 2007
I met Leni when she was with the Electronic Schoolhouse. She had such energy and was so inspiring. After my first lunch with her, she had me volunteering in a classroom, trying some internet project. When I expressed interest in Westward Ho, she invited me to find a class and join the trip.
She was generous with her time and always helpful. Leni, you will be sorely missed.
Nina Hansen
November 28, 2007
The world has truly lost one of the best. I am honored to have called Leni my friend. We met in the early 80's and worked together on-line over many years. Once Leni moved to Washington we worked less together but maintained our friendship.
Leni was one of the kindest, caring people I have known.
I especially like to remember the times she traveled to Connecticut to present at our state conference. It gave us an opportunity to "steal" away and catch up in person. We always made it a point to connect at national conferences and our conversations revolved around family (she was so proud) and work.
I cannot imagine the number of lives that Leni has touched... teachers, students, colleagues. Leni was such a humble person I pray she realized what a difference she made in the lives of so many.
I send my deepest condolences to the family. Leni, I will miss your engaging smile, your encouraging words and most of all your "twinkle"
Nancy Smith (a.k.a. Aunt Goodiebags)
November 27, 2007
I am so sad. I think of Leni so often and I have no idea how to cope with the idea that she will not be out there at conferences fighting to get people to realize how exciting it is to learn new things or talking about new ideas on the LOC webpages. I have a lot of good memories and shared enthusiasm from the "old days" at AOL in the Electronic SchoolHouse and our meetings at conferences all over the country... so many memories are flashing through my mind as I write this. Leni will never be forgotten but will be sorely missed.
Jill Meadows
November 27, 2007
I am deeply touched by the influence Leni had on teachers and students across the country. Technology is the powerful tool that allowed this opportunity, but Leni had the heart and vision. I am a teacher that engaged in the Westward Ho project with my 4th grade students. It was such a memorable learning experience that students comment on it for years to come. THANKS, LENI
Robert Donlan
November 26, 2007
My mom was a terrific mother. She was always and unconditionally present for her children and family. Though the past few weeks have been very difficult for us, the testimonials on these pages from my mom's friends and colleagues have helped ease the pain. My mom loved her work, and these kind words and reflections are a wonderful tribute to her memory. Thank you.
Ragen Tiliakos
November 26, 2007
So sad to hear of Leni's passing. We met in the late '80s on AOL in the Teacher's Forums. She was truly on the cutting edge of new technologies for students. Her name is a legend in the online world and I will not forget her.
Richard Rasmussen
November 26, 2007
I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to Leni's family and friends. I first came acquianted with Leni about eleven years ago when I discovered "Westward Ho!" on the Internet when I was looking up some Oregon Trail information for my students. Since that time, I have participated in Westward Ho each year. Leni inspired me to develop Oregon Trail resources for other teachers and students, and create my own web page on the Oregon Trail.
My eighth grade class took a trip to Washington DC in April of 2007, and I was able to meet Leni in person as she guided our group to the cafeteria at the Library of Congress where we ate lunch that day. I was going to present her with a packet of dirt taken from wagon ruts along the Oregon Trail near Baker City, Oregon, but forgot the bag in my hotel room. I mailed it to her later.
Rodeo Rich aka
MaryAlice Anderson
November 24, 2007
I met Leni when I was an American Memory Fellow in 1999 and had other occasions to visit with her when I was in Washington. It is so amazing to think how much she contributed to the American Memory project and to the professional lives of all of us.
Thank you.
Kristen Shields
November 22, 2007
We only discovered her wonderful projects this past February, doing Westward HO, but it was one of the most fun educational activities I've ever come across. Miss Leni was a wonderful treasure of a person, and she will be missed. Our sympathy to her family.
Midge Frazel
November 22, 2007
Leni was a early pioneer member of our group of educators at AOL and will be remembered for her keen ability to make friends online when people said it wasn't possible. We will miss her.
Michael Colvin
November 15, 2007
I was a student of Leni's back when she was in San Francisco. She was a major influence, igniting several of my passions. It is true and genuine loss that she is no longer with us.
Judy Graves
November 14, 2007
My first visit to the Learning Page after hearing about Leni brought many memories to life. We shared several years together in User Services of the NDL, during which time we all worked on the redesign of the Learning Page, adding lessons and other content, exhibiting at conferences, and shepherding the American Memory Fellows Institutes through to their conclusion in 2001. Her contributions have been named by all here, but the contribution that ranks highest is her unceasing effort to enrich the lives of educators everywhere by providing the best resources possible for every endeavor she undertook.
Anne Savage
November 14, 2007
The thing I will miss most about Leni is her great passion: her passion for teaching and learning; her passion for doing the right thing; her passion for digging down to find “the meat” in every learning situation; and her passion for helping anyone who needed it with her totally undivided attention and a smile, to boot. Leni, your passion is still with us, and I will continue to be guided by it.
My deepest condolences go out to Leni’s family.
Uhuru Goss
November 14, 2007
Leni was the earlybird of the office and was usually the first person I would see in the morning. Simply, what I miss most is being greeted by Leni along with the rich aroma of that strong coffee she brewed everyday. I never thought it would be something I would come to miss so much. Poet Thomas Campbell wrote, “To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die…” Let these words comfort us all as we remember Leni. My deepest condolences go out to her family and loved ones.
Rhonda Clevenson
November 13, 2007
I really appreciated the opportunity to get to know Leni a little over the past three years. She was really an amazing visionary and pioneer with bringing online resources into the classroom with students. I admire that work very much. I am amazed of how many people her worked touched in such positive ways. It seems like whenever I am at an educational conference and mention the Library of Congress someone tells a story of how Leni helped them with a project. Always, the people say how warm and helpful she was. That is a wonderful legacy to leave behind. My deepest sympathy to all of her family and colleagues at the Library who will miss her very much.
Sherrie Galloway
November 13, 2007
Leni was a sage guide on the path to knowledge and understanding; her encouragement and love of learning was appreciated as I began my work with the LOC. We shared many a journey through the maze of treasures…always looking for one more key to help students understand a time period of history. Leni always had time for my many questions and had an amazing knack of making everyone feel very valued and important. I will always remember our last visit at the hospital where we laughed and we had a chance to pamper her. I was honored to be her friend.
Donald Hardy
November 13, 2007
May it soothe your spirit to know that Leni is being gently welcomed and that you are being thought of with caring thoughts and friends and family are all around you. We all LOVE you.
Vivian Awumey
November 13, 2007
The first and last project that I worked on with Leni was the TPS online course. I learned very quickly that she shared an intolerance for intellectual inconsistency. I’ll miss Leni’s warmth and wry sense of humor. She and I had many a chuckle about some social phenomenon or other that caught our mutual attention. I was very much looking forward to getting to know Leni better during a planned work trip to New Orleans this coming March. My deepest condolences to her family.
Patricia Solfest
November 11, 2007
I was so saddened to hear of Leni's passing. I extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends. Knowing Leni through American Memory Fellows and her work with the Library of Congress has been a joy. Her laugh and sense of humor, expressed each time we chatted, will be sorely missed. But her legacy will continue in myriad ways - with so many teachers and their students - who have learned from her and have continued to spread her messages in classrooms all across the country. It has been a wonderful privilege to have been her colleague and I am most grateful for having had time to share together.
Cheryl Lederle
November 11, 2007
To echo so many of the notes: I will miss Leni. I will miss the furrow between her brow as she wrestled with an idea. I will miss exchanging instant messages until one of us giggled and stood up to finish the conversation over our shared cube wall. I will miss shared pots of coffee in the morning, and discussing whether she was going to stick with her vegan diet or add cheese to that grilled veggie panini. I will miss sharing tales of the exploits of my children and her grandchildren.
But most of all, I will miss Leni's passion, which drove her work, and often drove mine as well.
Gail Petri
November 10, 2007
Dear, dear Leni,
How I will miss you! I remember our first meeting at the 2000 American Memory Fellows Summer Institute. I knew then that our lives would continue to connect. And we surely did – first through our e-mail friendship and then through our work together at the Library of Congress. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me in this new chapter of my life. We worked together - we learned together - we laughed together - we were frustrated together - and we cried together. I will always treasure our friendship. Thank you for your wit, wisdom and caring. I find myself asking these days with a smile, I wonder what Leni would have to say about that!
We had such fun selecting just the perfect quotation to match an activity. Here’s one for you. You’ll find it on a round tablet above the west window in the North corridor of the Great Hall of the Jefferson Building.
“Memory is the treasurer and guardian of all things.” (Cicero)
I thank you Leni for the wonderful memories. You will be missed and you will be remembered!
My heart goes out to Leigh, Rob, Allison and the rest of your family and friends.
Ken
November 10, 2007
Leni,
Thanks for everything! Thanks for being so kind and beautiful! Thanks for helping those in need. Thanks for being so supportive.
See you soon... I try to pick up dinner for us on the way.
Ken
Danna Bell-Russel
November 9, 2007
I am finding it so hard to put my nearly ten years of knowing and working with Leni into a few words. We had our ups and downs. We had lots of laughs and a few tears. I learned much from her about the needs of teachers and I hope that I taught her what archivists do and how we can support teachers in their activities.
She was really excited that I was taking education classes so I could learn to "talk teacher" and during our last visit together she laughed as I complained about my Social Studies methods course and how it was driving me nuts.
I will miss our early morning talks when we were the first ones in the office and we would talk about the things that frustrated us and the things that gave us joy. I will miss her glow as she shared the latest pictures of her grandchildren. I will miss her wise counsel. I will miss her smile.
Bright Blessings Miss Leni. I will never forget you.
Nick Glass
November 9, 2007
Leni's enthusiasm for finding ways to bring books to life for readers (and particularly educators) inspired me. She gave me tours through the phenomenal American Memory resources. She shared lesson plans that contextualized a book. And she showed tremendous respect in my tireless drive to build an online resource for educators about books and authors. I loved our numerous phone conversations, and finding her at a conference was a special treat. It is shocking and sad for me to learn of her passing, but tremendous to learn how the generosity and hear of this special person touched so many.
BJ Berquist
November 8, 2007
The staff and members of Tapped In extend their deepest sympathies to Leni's family. Leni was a dynamic participant in the development and support of the TI online community and was a friend to many of the members who admired her vast wealth of knowledge and experienced her generosity and kindness. We hope that a retrospective of Leni's contributions will be the topic of a future discussion and welcome input from her many friends and colleagues.
Leni with Grandson Charlie
November 8, 2007
Leni with Grandson Charlie
November 8, 2007
Patricia Carlson
November 8, 2007
Leni was sort of a coach to myself and my partner during the American Memory Fellows program of 1999. I remember how encouraging she was regarding our lesson and our lack of technology skills at the time. Over the years I've run into her at conferences and spoken with her on the phone and that gentle encouragement and passion for the Library was always present. My deepest condolences to her family and may her educational legacy live on just like her warm smile.
Laura Graham
November 8, 2007
Many of us who worked in the NDL remember Leni from when she was working in the adjacent office here in the Adams Building. It was a pleasure to run into her and stop and chat. She was a sweet person.
Veerle Pieters
November 8, 2007
Geert and I are very honored to have worked with Leni over the past few years on projects of The Learning Page. She made us very proud of our work since she always believed in us and our creativity. She was far more then a client for us, she really became a close friend. We had a lot of good laughters and conversations over the years. God we really miss that. Even tough we only met her once in real person, I got the feeling we knew each other very well. We got this good connection and sometimes it was almost like we could read each other minds when we discussed the project we were working on. The more I got to know her through our working relationship, the more I admired her in who she was as a person. She was very warmhearted and always very dedicated to her work. She has a special place in our heart because she is a wonderful person. Rest in peace, your friends from overseas Veerle and Geert
Martha Callahan
November 8, 2007
I met Leni during the AMF institute in 1997. She was always full of life and laughter at the institute. I can not remember seeing her without a smile on her face. Thoughts and prayers to her family.
Kathleen Ferenz
November 8, 2007
Yeeha! Leni, oh great Wagonmissress of the amazing digital frontier! We met in the early 90's and created, managed, and collaborated in WestwardHO! a virtual wagon train. We applied to the LOC as '97 Fellows, and were online and face to face friends together for so many years. We invented so many things together. I can hear her voice - "hi Kath". She is the mother of America Dreams
Hope O'Keeffe
November 7, 2007
I met Leni in another life, through Bonnie Price and other teachers on the online MetaNetwork. I recall visiting her in her cube here at the Library and being bowled over by her warmth, enthusiasm, and welcome. She sent me home with posters rolled up under my arms and the sense that this must be an amazing place to work if it attracted such people. Knowing that people like Leni were at the Library is part of what eventually brought me here.
Colleen Byrne Wallace
November 7, 2007
I was privileged to work closely with Leni for several years on the Learning Page. We shared a love of good coffee and had many work sessions fueled by that and by her energy and sense of humor. I will always remember laughing and arguing and compromising and laughing some more. Peace be with you, Leni.
Rebecca Amerson
November 7, 2007
I met Leni at a LOC summer institute and was instantly aware of her passion for using the vast resources of the Libray of Congress to get students excited about history. She was never too busy to answer an email and was always glad to help me with resources. Thank you, Leni, for sharing your 'spark' with me.
Bonnie Price
November 7, 2007
I first knew Leni as a local teacher in Whittier, California, quite bright and inventive, who was just getting into technology when I was already riding the first wave of telecommunication. A bright star who foresaw many more applications than I could, she soon surpassed my skills, and for a few years, I was able to send my graduate students in educational technology (Whittier College) out to her classroom for observations. They returned dazzled by the variety of applications she found for various media- claymation movies (stop action with video cameras), MIDI music creation, plotting software for the archaeological digs she made in a homemade classroom sandbox. She was incredibly interesting.
She served with me as a consultant to Los Angeles Unified School District in the early 90s for some of their technology integration projects. We got to know each other much better on these trips downtown.
After a time as tech support for a private school in San Francisco, Leni took a position at the Library of Congress, working as curriculum support for the American Memory Collection. In that job, her leadership influenced a large number of teachers she guided through the process of developing online curriculum that uses data from that collection. In this way, she provided an invaluable support for opening up the digital holdings of the Library of Congress to the classroom teacher.
Leni also conducted a very popular onlne simulation game for pioneer curriculum-" Westward Ho!" in which she and a friend, Kathleen Ferenz, from Half Moon Bay, California, coordinated a yearly simulation of the trips that pioneer families made across the Wild West in Conestoga wagons. Leni's name still appears as the signoff signature for the invitation for the fifteenth season of this project in January '07. http://www.cyberbee.com/wwho/
She is sorely missed.
Leigh Donlan
November 7, 2007
Dear Gail, Elizabeth, Sherry and all of my mom's office mates. My last entry was so bleary-eyed written that I wanted to re-write and thank you ALL again for being there for my Mom and I. I have uploaded a photo from June, and will find more. I will also bring many on the 14th.
Love,
Leigh
Mom and Leigh
November 7, 2007
Michelle Rago
November 7, 2007
Leni was dedicated, passionate, and caring. It is wonderful to be reminded how extensive her influence was through these entries. I was fortunate enough to travel with the Educational Outreach team to several conferences. I noticed that Leni knew so many people and she had established meaningful connections with them. I offer my sympathy and best wishes to Leni's family.
Emily Vartanian
November 7, 2007
It was always a pleasure to work with Leni as legal counsel on the many educational projects she supported for the Library of Congress. My sincere condolences go to her family and friends.
Gigi Lincoln
November 6, 2007
Leni continued to reach out to many American Memory Fellows over the years, sharing her knowledge, expertise and passion for her work. It was a privilege to know Leni as a friend and colleague.
Peggy Walker
November 6, 2007
As a participant in the 2001 American Memories Fellowship program I was privileged to have Leni facilitate the workshop “It’s All in the Design: Making it Work Piece by Piece.” The visual for her lesson was a patchwork quilt. How appropriate. Like a quilt, Leni gave us warmth and comfort. She creatively stitched a beautiful quilt, touching so many of us with her sincerity and willingness to give of herself and her many talents. If life can be measured by what we give to others, her’s was a life well lived.
Linda Joseph
November 6, 2007
Words cannot express the sadness I feel for the loss of a dear friend. I met Leni online many years ago when the Internet was in its infancy. We shared the same philosophy and our work together was complimentary. We were buddies first as American Memory Fellows, then as colleagues at the Library of Congress. Later, Leni's projects were hosted on Cyberbee. We spent a lot of time keeping the projects free by using open source and the technical expertise of Iwaynet.
Leni was one of the few people who understood my dry sense of humor. Every few months we would spend time on the phone catching up on our personal and professional lives. I could always trust her with my thoughts. I will miss those phone calls and I will miss her “ah Linda, I so understand.” Leni was a kind and gentle soul who had a dramatic impact on my life.
Guy Lamolinara
November 6, 2007
Leni,
I will miss you and all the help you gve me over many years here at the Library. You were one of the early pioneers in the field of electronic resources in education, and your legacy will always live on through the educational programs of the Library of Congress.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have called you a friend and colleague.
Charlotte Bruce
November 6, 2007
I met Leni through the American Memory Program at the Library of Congress. What I remember most about her is her zest for learning and delight in sharing what she learned with others. To this day, I think of her when I work on my library web pages and what she taught me about clarity, design, and simplicity. I feel privileged to have made her acquaintance and to be able to carry lovely memories of her with me always. She was a tremendous inspiration for so many people, and what a treasure for the Library of Congress staff.
George Coulbourne
November 6, 2007
My deepest condolences to Leni's family. During the time I worked with Leni at the Library of Congress, I always found her to be caring, gracious and dedicated to the mission of this great public institution. Leni's physical presence will be sorely missed but her memory will live on in our hearts and will never be forgotten.
Debbie Abilock
November 6, 2007
When Leni worked at Town School in San Francisco, she and I moderated the BAISL listserv (Bay Area Independent School Librarians) together. Later, after many e-mails, we presented together at Internet Schools East and had a blast sharing a room, giggling, and figuring out who would go first, and who ought to say what. When I was totally zonked, ready for bed, Leni logged on to her computer to moderate the westward migration of kids in an early project-based learning experience - she had amazing late-night stamina!
I'd like to think I was the one that tipped her off to the American Memory job, but I suspect she had tips from many of the people who knew her work. In any case, I can't count the times I asked her questions about resources, got advice about my hairbrained technology ideas (she never said they were crazy!)
I will miss her humor and her thoughtful approach to using technology in education. She was always "for the kids," from those early moments with her tech crew in a school for boys, to her impact on America's kids. A major light, a major loss.
Laura Wakefield
November 6, 2007
Leni was such a warm and approachable person. I met her in the first American Memory Fellows program and was in awe of her creativity and abilities. It wasn't a surprise to me when she joined the LOC. She always made things look easy, even when they weren't and her warm smile was a gift. As an educator, I will miss the opportunity to work with her more. I imagine her now figuring out a more creative and efficient way to organize things celestially.
Laurie Williams
November 6, 2007
I only knew Leni for a short time but she was always so helpful and excited about students, history, libraries and helping others. She will be missed.
American Memory Fellow 2000
Steve Olguin
November 6, 2007
Leni Donlan was one of the nicest persons I ever met. She treated everyone with respect and dignity. It was my privilege to have known her through the Library of Congress' American Memory educator program. I will miss her immensely. May God bless Leni and her dear loved ones. Leni will always live in my heart and mind. ~Steve Olguin
Chris Jennings
November 6, 2007
Leni provided a spark that was missing in many corners of education. Her ideas were grand and her dedication to understanding how new approaches with technology would help make a difference in education made an impact on me. Her legacy will live on at the Library and it was a great blessing to have had the opportunity to work with her on projects that will carry on in educational outreach. I learned a great deal from the experience. Thank you, Leni!
Susan Mordan-White
November 6, 2007
Leni,
You made such a positive and amazing impact on thousands of educators and students. Your creativity, love of learning, and incredible knowledge you so generously shared with us all. We all had the big picture, but you would come in and make the picture bigger, brighter, and more exciting with your special touch and grace.
Thank you for sharing your talents with me, you made me a better educator and person.
Qun Lai
November 6, 2007
I will always remember your smile, your love of work, your motivation and creativity.
Peace
Leigh Donlan
November 6, 2007
Thank you Gail for everyone at the Library for your support. You have been a pillar of strength and support.
Love to all,
Leigh Donlan
Bavelyn VEGA
November 6, 2007
My deepest condolences to Leni's family. In the brief time that I worked with Leni, I remember her as being gracious and always willing to help especially with space issues in LM-629. I always approached her first as she sat on the first cubicle as one enters the office. Her quick demise came as a big surprise to me. May she rest in peace and enjoy eternity with the Lord.
Stephanie Ruvinsky
November 6, 2007
I was saddened to hear about Leni. I will miss her warm smile.
Jan Wood
November 6, 2007
In the early years of the Electronic Schoolhouse at AOL, I had the special privilege and joy of working with Leni as volunteers to help other students and instructors as they would weave their way through the schoolhouse to help students learn more about sending their various writings to other students from other schools. Leni was a leader, a pioneer, and a gracious friend who was always there to help me personally with making my students welcome in sending their writings and works to her students and to many other writers across the spans of where the Internet would take them. Never having met Leni personally, the dream came true when I got to meet and interact with her during my time with the American Memory Fellow project in 1999. Without a doubt, Leni has touched many lives, as she did mine, and her legacy will thrive through the numerous people who have had the joy of working with her over the years.
I know the Iowa students are better off through their experiences they had and continue to have through the indirect learning basis Leni contributed to through myself and my co-partner Norma Thiese as American Memory Fellows.
Elizabeth Ridgway
November 6, 2007
Leni was a wonderful friend, colleague, and never ending source of creativity. She has touched the lives of students and teachers around the world through her tireless efforts. We all will miss her compassion, ingenuity, and strong drive to make a difference.
Norma Thiese
November 6, 2007
I met Leni during the American Memory Fellows program in 1999. I will always remember her great smile, friendliness, and willingness to help. I will certainly miss her!
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