Shirley Kolkebeck Remembered as Passionate, Gifted Educator
The Hawes Elementary School teacher died of heart failure on Feb. 18 while on vacation.
A beloved Ridgewood teacher who overcame breast cancer 12 years ago died on Feb. 18 as a result of heart failure, according to her family. Shirley Kolkebeck, 60, of Harrington Park, passed away in her sleep while on vacation with her husband of 39 years in the Cayman Islands. The educator worked in Ridgewood for nearly 23 years, many teaching kindergarten through second grade, said her husband, Ken. Colleagues named her the Hawes Teacher of the Year in 2011. "She loved the kids, and especially little kids," Ken said Friday. "She just liked helping kids and bringing them along. That was what her passion was." The Hawes Elementary School teacher moved into education later than most educators, starting as a teacher's aide to autistic children…
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Jill Feeney
6:18 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
She was a fabulous teacher and a wonderful person. My prayers go out to her family. I'm trying to understand the quotes around unexpectedly dies. " A shocking loss to our community" might have been a better headline. more ›