Karen was my roommate all four years. I can remember where I was standing when I opened the letter from her husband telling me that she’d taken her life. Karen and I had stayed in contact after Carleton and she sang at my wedding (she sang like an angel) but we’d been out of touch for a while (I was in Iran for a year). I’m angry with her for making that choice without consulting with me first. I miss her.
After graduating from Carleton, Karen taught English in Austin Texas. She soon got involved in the teacher movement, which was just then beginning, and was recruited to be a field representative for the Texas Education Association. After working for them for several years, she became the Asst. Executive Director of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. In 1978 she was hired as the Executive Director of a suburban Denver education association representing several school districts where she negotiated master agreements protecting teacher rights and obtaining sizable salary increases for her constituents.
Judy Meadows Gabriel ’66
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I too, was informed that Karen took her life. In my case, the information came belatedly and indirectly. Years later I learned that some of the people closest to Karen at the time of her death do NOT believe it was suicide.
I was with Karen for three years at Carleton and engaged for one year while she finished her studies. After being married for four years while I was a graduate student at Northwestern University and two years while an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, we divorced. Karen taught English at middle schools while we lived in Illinois.
There is some misinformation in Judy Meadows Gabriel’s submission above. In Austin, Karen did not teach. Sometime during 1972 she took a job with the National Education Association. After a year or less in that position, and shortly after our divorce she accepted a position as #2 in the hierarchy of the Colorado NEA. She moved to Denver late 1972 or early 1973.
Karen was talented even compared to the universe of Carleton students and she was ambitious. We had marvelous times together! She wanted a career of her own. She died six years after moving to Denver.
Information on Karen’s family (as of May 2016 but maybe not completely up to date): father Paul (deceased), mother Melba of Paducah, KY, younger sister Rita (professor at Wayne State, Detroit, MI) and younger brothers Mike (Michael Wilson Casey deceased), Shaun of Fairfax, VA and Neil of Cape Girardeau, MO.
Donald Raffety ’66 until I graduated ’65
Like others, I was stunned and dismayed to hear of Karen’s death. She was a good friend and a caring and insightful conversationalist. Being a Midwesterner myself with cherished friends from Peducah, KT, I always found her light Kentucky accent remarkably calming.
Paul Grawe ’66
Comments
Karen was my roommate all four years. I can remember where I was standing when I opened the letter from her husband telling me that she'd taken her life. Karen and I had stayed in contact after Carleton and she sang at my wedding (she sang like an angel) but we'd been out of touch for a while (I was in Iran for a year). I'm angry with her for making that choice without consulting with me first. I miss her.
After graduating from Carleton, Karen taught English in Austin Texas. She soon got involved in the teacher movement, which was just then beginning, and was recruited to be a field representative for the Texas Education Association. After working for them for several years, she became the Asst. Executive Director of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. In 1978 she was hired as the Executive Director of a suburban Denver education association representing several school districts where she negotiated master agreements protecting teacher rights and obtaining sizable salary increases for her constituents.
I too, was informed that Karen took her life. In my case, the information came belatedly and indirectly. Years later I learned that some of the people closest to Karen at the time of her death do NOT believe it was suicide.
I was with Karen for three years at Carleton and engaged for one year while she finished her studies. After being married for four years while I was a graduate student at Northwestern University and two years while an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas, we divorced. Karen taught English at middle schools while we lived in Illinois.
There is some misinformation in Judy Meadows Gabriel's submission above. In Austin, Karen did not teach. Sometime during 1972 she took a job with the National Education Association. After a year or less in that position, and shortly after our divorce she accepted a position as #2 in the hierarchy of the Colorado NEA. She moved to Denver late 1972 or early 1973.
Karen was talented even compared to the universe of Carleton students and she was ambitious. We had marvelous times together! She wanted a career of her own. She died six years after moving to Denver.
Information on Karen's family (as of May 2016 but maybe not completely up to date): father Paul (deceased), mother Melba of Paducah, KY, younger sister Rita (professor at Wayne State, Detroit, MI) and younger brothers Mike (Michael Wilson Casey deceased), Shaun of Fairfax, VA and Neil of Cape Girardeau, MO.
Donald Raffety '66 until I graduated '65
Like others, I was stunned and dismayed to hear of Karen's death. She was a good friend and a caring and insightful conversationalist. Being a Midwesterner myself with cherished friends from Peducah, KT, I always found her light Kentucky accent remarkably calming.