Karen Lisa Feldman

On January 9th, 2020, Karen Feldman passed away due to complications from cancer, in the comfort of her home surrounded by family. Born and raised in Baltimore County and a first-generation college student, she received her certifications in both regular and special education, a new field at the time, from the University of Maryland College Park and an M.S. as a reading specialist from Johns Hopkins University. She married in 1975 and after moving to Chicago for one very cold year, Karen and her husband moved back to Maryland and settled in Annapolis, which has been their home ever since. After returning to Maryland, she began teaching Special Education at Central Special. Following the births of her son and twin daughters, she taught first grade at The Key School for 13 years. She considered it most rewarding to see the students begin the year as non-readers and end the year sitting at their desks reading chapter books. After her teaching career, she volunteered with the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council. Along with her friend and neighbor Helena Hunter, Karen co-founded Seeds 4 Success (S4S) in 2008, a grass-roots effort that has grown into an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides children from low-income communities in Annapolis with the skills and support to achieve success in school and life. Karen shared, “I am proud of what we have accomplished. When I look around at our S4S Family Dinners with the room full of family, volunteers, and community members, I know we have made a difference.” Karen’s life was dedicated to serving others. Never one to seek acknowledgement for her hard work and achievements, she was admired by anyone who was lucky enough to know her. Karen was recognized by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County as Volunteer of the Year in 2017. While she never sought accolades, those who knew her have recently expressed the following: Her dedication to S4S kids and getting the details down pat made her our rock. She taught me that humor goes a very long way. She was a spectacular human being who had a positive impact on many, many people. Her spirit will live on through all she touched. Your good deeds will live forever in the generations of children whose lives were made better because you helped their families along the way. I know her spirit and love will continue to be felt by the many people she touched. I cannot find the words to express how deeply I feel your goodness and kindness. One of the nicest, most giving and accomplished people I know. If a heart is not judged by how much it loves, but by how much it is loved by others, you therefore have an enormous heart, Karen. Thank you for making the world a brighter place. Karen is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charles (Babe) Feldman; three children and their spouses, Jason & Jeein Feldman, Sara Feldman and Javier Segura, Rachel and Sean Curran; mother, Elenore Oppenheimer; sister and spouse, Cindy and John Crim; sister-in-law, Bridget Oppenheimer; and nieces, Kelsey, Madison and Caroline Oppenheimer. She was preceded in death by her father, Gilbert Oppenheimer and brother, Erich Oppenheimer. True to her character, Karen planned carefully to help sustain S4S after her death. In lieu of flowers, please continue her impact with a contribution to the Karen Feldman Endowment Fund for Seeds 4 Success at the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. Donations in memory of Karen can be made online or by mail: Karen Feldman Endowment Fund for Seeds 4 Success C/O Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County 914 Bay Ridge Road, Suite 220 Annapolis, MD 21403 Donate online here

Karen Lisa Feldman

June 8, 1953 - January 9, 2020