JOEL PACKER

Very sad for you your daughters Carolyn Condoleances Richard from Bordeaux +33607265243

Joel was a mentor and guiding light for those who cared about public education. He was such a warm and caring person that he also helped build a movement community. He had particular impact on rising young leaders--with the United States Student Association--supporting organizers for the future to carry on the values he lived. He is missed.

It is now that I read of Joel's passing. I am sorry to hear that he is gone from your life Carolyn as well as from his family and friends'. I also just read of the passing of another friend from the USSA days, Andre Burnett. Joel and Andre did so much for students and for higher education. I hope they are commiserating somewhere. Remembering Joel. Un abrazo.

So sorry to hear of Joel's passing. My condolences to his whole family. As so many have said, Joel was an amazing leader, advocate, and colleague. Gone too soon, but never forgotten.

Carolyn-My condolences to you and your daughters. I read John Kelly's column this morning. It also made me laugh, then saddened me to read of Joel passing in January. You may not remember me, but he and I were part of the Americans for Democratic Action group of friends in our early 20s when we were committed to economic and social justice and finding direction for a careers. He was indeed "very funny, smart and creative"--a bright source of cohesion for us. I last saw and talked with him...

I was so sorry to hear about Joel. My thoughts and prayers are with Carolyn and their family. I always enjoyed and learned from Joels and my meetings on education, and enjoyed even more just running into Joel and talking baseball (as he morphed from a Mets to a Nats fan over the years). I will miss his kindness and good humor.

It is still hard to process that Joel is no longer with us. He was a great planner, always coming up with the next fun thing to do and making sure our small group of friends stayed connected. He impressed me with his incredible knowledge of just about everything, and mostly for his zest for life and great love of his family. I will sorely miss him. Sandy Gordon-Salant

To all the accolades should be added Joel's significant contribution to enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The FMLA was an NEA priority, and Joel led the "Direct Lobbying Committee" of the FMLA Coalition for a number of years in the late 80s/early 90s. He brought to that effort his unflagging energy, reliable work ethic, and constant upbeat-ness. More important, Joel was never too busy to explain things to people or to loop them in. Like so many others who've posted entries...

Joel would be shutting down all these accurate accolades about him with a wave of the hand, a chuckle and a ok thats enough, we have work to do. The moment Joel agreed to the crazy idea of joining us at Raben was a turning point for us; he brought a joy to passion. From making sure everyone had what they needed, to bringing the vision and strategy and leadership to the most complicated things, Joel lit us all up. We were very lucky to have him for the time we did, I wish for more.