Diane Gold Koenig

March 23, 2022

Diane Gold Koenig, a founding faculty member of Columbia-Greene Community College, passed away early Wednesday morning, March 23, 2022 with her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Julie Koenig, by her side. She was 81. Diane was a native Hudsonian through and through. She was born in Columbia Memorial Hospital, graduated from Hudson High School, and returned to Hudson after college at the University of Rochester and receiving her Masters in Education at Columbia University. In 1967, she began her 35-year career as an English professor when Columbia Greene first opened its doors. First and foremost, Diane considered herself a teacher, not of English, as she would say, “but of students who happened to be taking English.” She received numerous awards for her teaching skills, including the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition, she served for many years as Chairperson of the Arts and Humanities Department, and led the opening of the College’s Arts and Science Building. An illness forced her to prematurely retire in 2002, after which she was granted Professor Emeritus status and continued to proudly lead the faculty procession at graduation until Covid hit. Other than teaching, the love of Diane’s life was her family. Her husband Edmund, a beloved teacher and later vice principal at Hudson High school, sadly passed away in 1971. With determination, strength and toughness, Diane raised her then three-year old son, Michael, on her own. Her family life took on renewed meaning when Michael married Julie, and even more so with her three grandchildren, Emily (22), Sam (20) and Callie (16). Anyone who ran into Diane over the past 20+ years would know all about her grandchildren, including activities, grades, and pictures. She loved her grandchildren in ways words cannot describe, and the feeling was mutual. Diane was the daughter of the late Toby and Irving Gold, and was particularly close with her sister and brother-in-law, Carole-Beth and Lewis Goldberg, and her nephews, Eric and Jeffrey Goldberg. Diane was active in many community organizations, including Congregation Anshe Emeth, where she served on the Board for a period of time; Sisterhood, including on its Board and as a past president; Hadassah; the American Cancer Society; and the Hudson Area Library Association. Diane loved baseball (including the old Brooklyn Dodgers, Reggie Jackson, and Shea Stadium) and tennis (including Jimmy Connors, Chris Evert, and the US Open). Her favorite hobbies were reading, reading, and reading, and she loved watching NCIS and classic movies on television. After mom’s illness in 2002, she moved into the Massry Residence in Albany. She hated leaving “her Hudson,” but with the care and help of an outstanding Administration and staff, she made the Massry her home for almost 20 years. A special thanks to those incredibly dedicated and compassionate people. Diane lived her life by the words on the necklace she wore every day: “Live, Love, Laugh.” She also proved her favorite poet, William Faulkner, correct when he said in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech that “Mankind will not merely endure, it will prevail.” When faced with challenges at points in her life, Diane did not merely endure, but she prevailed. Funeral services will be held at Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home , 110 Green St. Hudson, NY 12534 on Friday, March 25th at 11:00, followed by internment at Cedar Park Cemetery, 20 Columbia Turnpike, Hudson, NY 12534. The family will be observing the traditional Jewish Shiva period, with family and friends welcome, on Friday following the internment, and Saturday and Sunday between 5:30 and 8:30 at the home of Michael and Julie Koenig, 4 Joshua Road, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Daughters of Sarah Jewish Foundation at www.daughterofsarah.org/donate, or the Columbia-Greene Community College Foundation by visiting www.sunycgcc.edu