June E. Downing

June E. Downing died peacefully at home July 20, 2011, after ten months with cancer. She was born June 23, 1950 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Downing was Professor Emerita of Special Education at CSU Northridge, where she taught from 1995-2007 and Assoc. Prof. in Special Ed at the U of Arizona from 1987-1995. A student wrote: "You pushed me to think, to ask why not, to problem solve, to make what used to be impossible, possible". June published nine books, 13 monographs andcurricula, 14 book chapters, and more than 38 articles. She presented numerous keynotes and workshops on teaching students with multiple disabilities and deaf-blindness throughout the United States and internationally, including: Canada, Australia, Russia and Abu Dhabi. June was on the Executive Board of TASH, an advocacy org. for those with disabilities and was founding member of CHIME Institute, an inclusive school. She supported adoptions through HOPE Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter. She was known for spinning on the dance floor and for rolling her eyes and joking when life called for it. June was preceded in death by her parents, Philip and Mabel Ernst. She is survived by her beloved dogs, Nick, Misty and Halle; sisters, Phyllis Brown and Barbara Ernst; brothers and sisters-in-law, John Ernst and Montharee Sone-Umpai and Michael Ernst and Jareya Nualthong; half-brother and sister-in-law, Philip W. and Mary Ernst; brother-in-law, Robert Brown; nieces, Elizabeth and Maria Brown and her many friends and colleagues. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center Heritage Room, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson. June wrote: "My hope is for a kinder world and a place where all children and animals have a safe and loving home". Donations to one of the following will further her work: Hope Animal Shelter (hopeanimalshelter.net), TASH (tash.org), CHIME Institute (chimeinstitute.org). Arrangements by UOFA WILLED BODY PROGRAM.