DANIEL P. KUNITZ

About 10 years ago, I sent a postcard out of the blue to Dan thanking him for his teaching. He taught me at Day Jr. High in 1978-79, and I will always remember the curriculum in which students got "married" to learn about the immigration experience. That card led to several connections I had with Dan and Joan in Silver Spring, MD, where I live (they came here to visit one of their grandchildren.) It was so great connecting decades later and getting a chance to tell him how much I appreciated...

I was so sorry to hear of Dan´s passing. He was a great teacher, an excellent colleague, and, most of all, a fine man. May he rest in peace.

Our birth sparks a point on a timeline that extends to our past, builds through our lives and extends to our future generations after we are gone... Along that line, we intersect with 100´s of 1000´s of others. It is the truly impactful that shift our course for better or worse... sometimes for a short time and sometimes a lifetime... That was a lesson I learned at just 13 years old while sitting in my social studies classroom. Our teacher, Mr Dan Kunitz, called it a miracle how so...

Mr. Kunitz was my AP U.S. History teacher in 1988-1989. He made the class super fun with his dry witticisms. I learned a ton and later taught U.S. History to highschoolers. There is a method to my madness!

Fred and I are very saddened by Dan's passing. We looked forward to the trips he and Joan made to Chicago to their roots. Following Joan's passing, Dan still made his trips to see family and others. We were fortunate to have shared his company and many stories. You will be missed dear Dan. Fred and Donna Gruenberg

Where to start? Much of my approach to teaching, at least the good stuff, comes from Dan. I try to be positive like he was. "Terrific," I find myself saying, and thinking of him. I try to be welcoming to everyone-including (especially?) strangers-like he was. I listen to "Abiyoyo" at least once a year to try to summon him as a storyteller. "I need your help," I tell parents of my students because Dan advised me to do so. I think twice about how the ending of The Awakening will land. He was...

In 8th grade we took a hiking/overnight field trip in NH. Wa Dan was one of the chaperones. On the way up the mountain he encouraged us to keep going even when we were tired, to look out for our peers, and to enjoy the climb. Shortly before arriving at the the cabin at the top of the mountain it started to snow. I mean, REALLY snow. When we woke the next morning we realized that we were snowed in and would be staying longer than we planned. Dan, armed with a guitar, amazing storytelling...

Such a dear, sweet, gentle man. Lynne and I have many wonderful memories of evenings spent with Dan and Joan at Judkins Street-self-effacing, a wry set of humor, and always willing to help when needed. In my mind´s eye, I will always remember him at Day Junior High or Newton North, in his white shirt with sleeves rolled up, wearing khaki pants, nodding off during a late afternoon meeting. It was understood by all not to wake him, that it was a well-deserved respite.

Dan was my mentor and friend. He taught his students the joy of knowing. He taught me that's what teaching was all about. He lived a long and prosperous life and the the world of education has lost a GIANT! RIP my friend and mentor