Christopher C. Kim

I can't believe it's been 10 years since you died, Chris. You were a wonderful friend. I admired you, and you cared enough to challenge me and help me grow. You also always made me laugh, and I'm imagining you making a joke about this post. ('A little late, no?')

I am sitting here tonight thinking of what you might have done in the time since 2009, and I feel real sadness. I will try to stay positive, though, and remember the generous way you lived.

I really miss you.

"Edwin, you can do better." Mr. Kim, these words from you to me were ever life-changing as they marked the turning point of my academic career from mediocrity to excellence.

My mother is a teacher at Newton South and was a good friend of Chris's. While he was teaching there, he would often come over to our house for dinner or just to say hi. When I reflect on those three years, I can safely say that he had an extremely profound impact on me as a young man. He was always there if I needed someone to talk to or needed a helping hand. He spent so much time focusing on bettering others, and that is what I know I will always remember about him. Chris is gone, but...

Chris is very fondly remembered for his leadership as head of the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program at Harvard. He brought me and several of my colleagues into the profession of teaching, and offered us guidance as we worked to take up his passion for teaching and learning, and to share it with our students. One of the many beauties of the work he chose to do is that his impact and his presence will radiate through those he taught, and those who they, in turn, will teach.

I was lucky enough to have Chris as my teacher for two years at Newton South. He was an incredible person, the very best of us. He could have been anything he wanted and chose to teach and mentor students. I am devastated by this news. I want to express to the family how truly wonderful he was. He opened my mind to many things and taught me more than he knew. He was inspirational.

Chris, thinking of you and missing you one month later.

Dear Cheong and Dina, Paul and I are so sorry to hear about the loss of your son. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. With deepest sympathy, Paul and Linda Babineau

I recently learned about your loss of Chris. While at Phillips Academy Chris was a PALS Community Service volunteer tutor for sixth and seventh grade children from the Leonard School in Lawrence. They loved him and he loved them. He will always be in their hearts and in mine. Julie Morse PALS former teacher

My deepest sympathies go out to your family. I first got to know Chris Kim in 2003 when I took a freshman seminar on globalization with Lawrence Summers, to whom he was the assistant at the time. Then when he bacame a tutor in Currier House, I got to know him a bit better. He was a very dedicated person, and it saddens me to learn that his life was unfortunately taken too soon. I want to express my heartfelt condolences.