Colleen Dummitt

I was so sorry to hear of Colleen's passing. She and I both taught English in the Elmira, NY school district, she at Elmira Free Academy and I at Elmira Southside High School. During that time I had the pleasure of working on several committees with her. We had a close bond since my mother had grown up in Germantown, Kentucky (Virginia Kalb) so I knew many of the places that were dear to Colleen's heart. She was loved and admired by many of the teachers and students whose lives she touched with a keen sense of humor and an incredible amount of knowledge about the literature she shared. It was an honor for me to serve with her on committees that developed curriculum and also methods to assist students who experienced difficulty with the New York state tests. After she retired and returned home to Kentucky, we kept in touch to share what was happening with our gardens and, of course, Kentucky basketball! My deepest sympathies go to her family whom she loved very much. There are many people here in Elmira whose lives she touched and who will cherish her memory.