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Westfield Leader- January 16th, 2003
Karen Citrin, 54, Mathematics Teacher; Had Retired From WHS After 25 Years
Karen Citrin, 54, of Westfield died on Sunday, January 12, at Daughters of Israel in West Orange.
Born in New York City, she was a resident of Westfield for 29 years. Mrs. Citrin had been a mathematics teacher for 25 years at Westfield High School prior to retiring in 1995. A 1969 graduate of City College of New York, she earned a master’s degree from Rutgers University in 1972.She was a member of the National Education Association, the New Jersey Teachers Association and the National Council of Mathematics School Teachers.
Surviving are a daughter, Lisa Citrin; a son, David Citrin; her parents, Evelyn and Nathan Cooper, and a sister, Barbara Azar.
Services were held yesterday, Wednesday, January 15, at Temple Emanu-El in Westfield. Interment was at the Beth Moses Cemetery in Pinelawn, Long Island, N.Y. Shiva will be observed at the Citrin residence through tonight, Thursday, January 16.
Arrangements were under the direction of Kreitzman’s Memorial Home in Livingston. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s disease research
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Jennifer Anderson
It was right near the end of the school year, and us kids were getting really bored, and anxious to get out into the beautiful weather. We were ready for summer vacation NOW.
Well, being the most AWESOME and FUNNY and FANTASTIC teacher that she was, Karen Citrin told us that day that she was going to read for us, from a book as our lesson, instead of using standard teaching methods. A confused class erupted into giggles, when, with a straight face, Mrs Citrin opened up the Sesame Street Book on "Circles" and proceeded to read it. It was a riot!
Karen had a way of keeping learning fun...especially geometry. WHS was a better place because of her. She loved teaching, and loved the kids she taught. Karen was one in a million. When she had her first baby, Lisa, I was one of her babysitters (I didn't know of any others, but am sure there must have been others.) When I moved away, we kept in touch.
And then suddenly she stopped writing to me...I didn't know why, but I figured she was too busy to write....or whatever.
I didn't know any more until my mother handed me her obituary in January of '03. I'll never forget that day; the guilt I felt was unbearable. The loss I felt couldn't be measured it was so deep. I kept wishing I could have had that one last chance to see her.
During my WHS days, I missed a whole lot of school. One day she showed up in my hospital room with stacks of school books and papers. On her own time, she came whenever she could and tutored me...not just in geometry, but in other subjects as well....
Karen Citrin was the most influential person in all my high school years. Karen Citrin gave me all she could give of herself, in order to help me get through those troubled years. Had it not been for her, I'd have never graduated.
Thank you KAREN, GOD BLESS, AND REST IN PEACE...
and never forget how much I love you and miss you!!