Dr. Diane Marie Wolk, 64, passed away peacefully and painlessly on July 4, 2015 at the Lexington Park Memory Care facility in Lady Lake, Florida following a long journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. She left behind a lasting legacy of well-educated children and grateful educators, loving family and friends, selfless service and an exemplary model of courage and compassion. Survivors include her husband Dave of Castleton, daughters Jessica (husband Oskar) of Farmingville, New York and Laura of Castleton, sons Richard of Montpelier and Adam (wife Brita) of New York City, and two grandchildren, Hailey and Barry. She also leaves her mother Janet Imboden of Alpharetta, Georgia, brother Stephen Imboden (wife Leslie) of Santa Rosa, California, sisters Linda Hopkins (husband Mark) of Cumming, Georgia and Elaine Imboden of Riverhead, New York, her husband’s family, including Dr. Arthur and Florrie Wolk of Rutland Town, Dr. Tom Wolk (wife Debbie) of Chester Springs, PA and Dr. Brad Wolk (wife Caren) of Indialantic, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her father, Richard Imboden, in 2010. Diane was born in Mineola, New York on December 10, 1950 to Richard and Janet Imboden. She grew up on Long Island and graduated from Farmingdale High School in 1968. She was an honors graduate in Spanish and Education at SUNY Oneonta in 1972, earned a Master’s degree at Castleton State College in 1979 and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in 1989, and completed a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont in 1997. Her impressive professional career spanned 34 years until her early retirement in 2006 due to the complications of early onset Alzheimer’s Disease, about which she showed uncommon courage and candor, hoping it would no longer be a taboo topic. Diane was an acclaimed expert in early literacy. She was a gifted teacher of reading and an accomplished professor in that discipline as well as in leadership. From 1972 to 1990 Diane was a beloved teacher and school leader at Barstow Memorial School in Chittenden. She continued to teach a variety of professional development graduate courses, workshops and institutes, too numerous to mention, for the University of Vermont and Castleton throughout Vermont. She was the Principal of the Shrewsbury Mountain School in Cuttingsville from 1991-1995, after which she became the Director of Student Teaching and a Professor at Castleton. The capstone of her leadership career was at Northeast Elementary School in Rutland City, where she was Principal from 2000-2006. Dr. Wolk was a woman of service. She was a member of the Vermont State Board of Education from 1993-1999, serving as its Chairwoman. She was also on the Board of the Vermont Special Olympics. She was chosen for the state Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 1984. She was a wish granter for the Make A Wish Foundation. Even after the early diagnosis of her disease that led to The Long Goodbye, Diane served for a short time as a hospice volunteer. She benefited from hospice at the end of her own life. Knowing of her future, Diane decided to move to Florida after her retirement to enjoy the sunshine and to continue participation in clinical trials and experimental treatments for dementia. It was her wish, when the time would come, to live in a Florida nursing home environment suited to her needs and also to ensure that her former students, colleagues and friends would not see her, as she said, “the way I know I am going to be”, further testament to the courage, candor and compassion she showed throughout her life. The trials and treatments ended, and Diane would then become part of her wonderful, caring, competent and compassionate Lexington Park family for the next five years, enjoying her life in her own way, bringing smiles to all who encountered her. The profile in courage that was her life will never be forgotten. Diane earned and deserved the respect of all who crossed her path throughout her many years in Vermont and in Florida. She shunned the spotlight and deflected bountiful praise by lauding the efforts of others, never calling attention to herself. When she retired, she could not control the outpouring of love and respect that came her way, due to her unparalleled integrity and the impressive dignity she exemplified throughout her life. Nor could she control the ravages of Alzheimer’s Disease, yet her sunny disposition remained until the end. She accepted her destiny with the same class, elegance and dignity that characterized her life. Diane’s entire family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to the extended family at Lexington Park, and to all the doctors and nurses in Vermont and in Florida who lovingly helped her through this long journey. A memorial service will be held at the Lady Lake Chapel of Beyers Funeral Home on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 4 p.m. with a gathering from 3 – 4 p.m. prior to the service. It is preferred that there will be no flowers, just fond memories. If friends are so inclined, donations in Diane’s memory could be made to the “Dr. Diane M. Wolk Scholarship for Promising Educators” at the Development Office, Castleton State College, 62 Alumni Drive, Castleton, VT 05735, where several talented students, now teachers, have already benefited from generous scholarships. As a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, educator, friend and role model, the light of Diane’s life will always shine bright.