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MAXINE GREENE Obituary

GREENE--Dr Maxine. The Board and Staff of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and its educational cornerstone, Lincoln Center Education, mourn the passing of Dr. Maxine Greene, a towering figure in the field of education and a pioneer in arts education. Maxine was a member of the visionary founding team of Lincoln Center Education's precursor, the Lincoln Center Institute, in 1974, and served as its Philosopher in Residence and later its Philosopher Emerita. Through her dedicated and passionate work with Lincoln Center, educators worldwide incorporated her philosophy in aesthetic education which encouraged students "to see the world as if it could be otherwise." We join the education community in extending our sympathies to her family and friends, and to the legions of lives she influenced, informed and changed through her many contributions. Katherine Farley, Chair, Lincoln Center Jed Bernstein, President, Lincoln Center Ann Unterberg, Chair, Lincoln Center Education Russell Granet, Executive Director, Lincoln Center Education

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Jun. 1, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for MAXINE GREENE

17 Entries

John Gulino

June 20, 2014

I wish that I had made the effort to contact Dr. Maxine Greene a few years ago. I have more than one connection to Dr. Greene: she was the dissertation adviser of my mother, who did her Ed.D. dissertation on the topic of "Existentialism in Nursing" at Teachers College. My mother was Dr. Claire Gulino. She was a Nursing Professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College, University of San Diego, Clemson University, and San Diego State University. I know that my mother thought very highly of Dr. Greene. She always had the highest words of praise for the faculty at Teachers College.

June 7, 2014

Maxine Greene was the exemplary teacher who, after her course ended, continued to meet with us in each her student's homes for monthly discussions.
Lee Elliott Fleischer, Ed.D.

William Vericker

June 6, 2014

Maxine Greene literally changed my life and inspired me after a successful business career and a tough divorce to teach college in an urban environment at Monroe College in the Bronx. I hope I am carrying her spirit. We talked outside often, both dealing with the loss of child before. My clearest memory of her was standing on 120th St, in tears, on her daughter's birthday, and Dr. Greene remarking it was her birthday and no one but she remembered. That was in 1990 and I knew that experience with two babies my late wife and I lost.

The world, her students and TC would never have had that impact without her. I once had the honor of driving her home. I will never forget our conversations or her classes.

Ira Hayes

June 4, 2014

Maxine was THE teacher in my life. She gave me the gift of feeling like an insider--in her classes,in our conversations, in dinners at her home. I loved talking to her and listening to her. She also did me a great favor in being on my dissertation committee. I think of Maxine with great affection, an honor to have known her.

Miriam Marecek

June 3, 2014

A luminous light remains where a beautiful soul has passed. --Antoine Boveua

When I first took a course from Maxine Greene in 1963, I was petrified that I wouldn't be able to read all the books and write the papers. Her classes were large, but as a professor, she made us all feel that we were inportant. She reacted to every paper we wrote with comments, questions, and encouragement. As we tried to do our best for her, she listened to us as well.

Once, I invited her to lunch at my small apartment around the corner on 122nd St. I was so honored that she came, and she bought me a sculpture of a little wise owl, which I cherish to this day. I pursued my graduate work part-time, and Maxine led me through my dissertation--the first one in Film as Story. She was also interested in my family and made an effort to meet my mother and father, who was once a prominent Czech diplomat before our escape from the Communists in 1948. Once, she made a touching visit with my grandmother and family in Prague, although I was not allowed to travel there myself. She also came to my wedding on Long Island and followed my career and family in the Boston area. My own children were so fond of her too.

What brings me comfort is knowing that her light shines through all of us that were touched by her. I will try for the rest of my life to see the possibilities, to be fully present in each new day, and to follow her luminous light. Her gifts are treasured by all of us.

Doris Fiotakis

June 3, 2014

What a treasure! And what a joy to remember the extraordinary experiences with her. Truly a life well-lived.

Joan D Firestone

June 3, 2014

Maxine, I am one of so many for whom you opened up endless new possibilities and you will always be part of each of them. With enduring love,
Joan

June 3, 2014

Her philosophy will remain and continue her legacy. Berta MacGregor, Mexico City

Classroom teacher and teaching artist dance a poem together

Dafna Soltes Stein

June 3, 2014

So much
depends upon
a red wheel barrow
glazed with rainwater
beside the white chickens.

I loved this william carlos williams poem for years. maxine you gave me the understanding of how to take the essence of what this poem teaches and teach students and myself how to see the endless possibilities in how we view the world and every moment in it with the eyes, ears, touch of an artist, sniffing the possible and seeing it integrate into being.

Mary Nell Hawk

June 2, 2014

Maxine Greene's 'Aesthetics & Education' was the first TC course I took, September 2011; our second class was cancelled when the college shut down following 9/11. After that, most every class evolved from discussions of its significance, how the world had changed, and ways artistic literacys express, bear witness, and help process. Living not far from each other, we shared cabs home, and I was amazed at Maxine's empathy and interest in me, a first semester student. So many others had that same experience - she was interested in students and our perspectives! As I listened, read, and re-read, worlds of possibility unfolded, regarding awakening to significant experiences of literature, visual art, music, and dance. Maxine, you will be missed -- May the seeds of your conversations, philosophy, and writing continue to move beyond, activating, informing and empowering the generations!

Mark Phillips

June 2, 2014

I read her always. I once had a lovely breakfast with her, which she initiated even though I was a young and very much unknown educator.

She was one of the three or four educators who most influenced my own work.

She was an incredible thinker and a wonderful person.

Cynthia Gray

June 2, 2014

Maxine is Irreplaceable! I'll be forever grateful for her powerful insight and writings. May her legacy be the steady reinvigoration of her ideas in our work as educators.

Harris Sokoloff

June 2, 2014

Maxine's passion for learning and understanding, her empathy as a teacher and her generosity of spirit will shine for generations through her students and her students' students.

Nancy Schmitz

June 2, 2014

Maxine's joy for the arts and belief that the arts are powerful and meaningful modes of learning will live on in those she inspired through her lectures, conferences, workshops and writing. She touched so many. Words can't express the gratitude that I feel for having known her and learned from her as a colleague.

Martha Eddy

June 2, 2014

Your light shines onward with memories of your smile, your wit, your sharpness of thinking, your sense of the possible, your writing, your institutional achievements, your family, your students, and all the children that each of the above touches. Thank you for being feisty, challenging and generous all at the same time. Condolences to the family. Thanks for sharing Maxine with so many thousands of adoring colleagues, friends and students.

Caroline Elizabeth Babson

June 1, 2014

"to see the world as if it could be otherwise."... XO CEB

Terry Greiss

June 1, 2014

She was one of the true heroes of our field. All of us who have tried to make a difference in the lives of kids, teachers and families through the arts owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude. Thank you, Maxine for being with us for as long as you were. We will honor your memory by continuing the work.

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