Pamela Harmer Korbel, a long-time resident of Cleveland Park, passed away on September 25, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina. She was born on November 2, 1946 to Delzorah Louise Dawkins-Harmer and Harold Francis Harmer Sr. She married John Joseph Korbel, her high school sweetheart, in 1968. They moved to Washington, DC in 1975 and were happily married for 55 years until John's passing in April of 2023.

Pamela was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy and the University of Colorado Boulder and became a life-long teacher, educator, and mentor to many young people. She taught at Broomfield Jr. High School in Colorado and continued her career in Washington, DC including at Beauvoir School and John Eaton. After retiring, she privately tutored students, including children of prior tutees, and took a special interest in students from disadvantaged communities volunteering her time teaching and mentoring students. Many of the children Pamela mentored were the first in their families to attend college despite challenging circumstances.

Pamela was also a life-long student, taking classes in history, literature, music, and art in her free time. She adored gardening, was a phenomenal cook, and loved reading, movies, and following current events. Her many friends and family will miss her wonderful dinner parties, book discussions, and wise counsel. In the past few years, Pamela took up painting emulating her mother who was a well-known Denver artist.

Pamela will be dearly missed by her sons, Josef H. Korbel (Magdalena) and Peter A. Korbel (Kristina), and adored granddaughter Isadora A. Korbel who is grateful for the extra year of memories with PamPam. She was the eldest of five siblings and is survived by sisters Diane Kullman of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and C.L. Harmer and Sara Harmer of Denver, Colorado, and sister-in-law Kathy Silva of Washington, DC. Her brother Harold Jr. predeceased her. She is also survived by nephew Caleb Kullman, and nieces Allison Elliot, Anne K. Albright, Alice P. Albright, Katie Albright, and many grandnieces and nephews. A service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at the St. Alban's Parish in Washington, DC. Donations in Pamela's memory may be made to Friendship Place (https://friendshipplace.org) or to a charity of your choice.

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Published by The Washington Post on Oct. 6, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Pamela Korbel

4 Entries

susan eastman

Earlier today

I taught with Pam at John Eaton. Her room was kitty corner to mine, on "the west wing" of the original John Eaton, before the renovation. We both had teenagers and we worked late as we wanted to prepare ourselves for dealing with interesting but challenging teenage years. When she left Joh Eaton, I missed a dear Friend. However, a decade later my computer lab was downsized, now called DOGED à la Musk, , and moved to her room. I now channeled Pam and tried to recreate the warmth she showed her students, amidst a room full of laptops and iPads. Occasionally we met again at the Chilmark store on the Vineyard, and again, another moment of gaiety. I miss her, and I hope the Korbel family keeps,sharing stories, as these narratives keep,them in our hearts.

susan eastman

April 17, 2025

I taught with Pam. Her classroom was kitty corner to my room, in the West Wing...of John Eaton School. She had a wicked sense of humor, and there was not a day we did not laugh about life, family, our own teenagers and their exploits, and about ourselves. Both of us loved the Vineyard , and ran into each other at the Chilmark Store. I will miss her being on our fragile planet but she will be added to all the incredible women who have made me a better person.

Andrew Glass

October 9, 2024

A great loss of a special person. Ellie and send our condolences to the family.

Margaret

October 7, 2024

I miss dear Pam and John everyday as wonderful friends and neighbors. Pam was always beautiful, considerate, fun and a really great cook.

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