It is with heavy heart that the community of SUNY Old Westbury announces the passing of Dr. Jeanne Shimizu, an associate professor and coordinator of Graduate Programs in Mathematics Education. Shimizu was battling a long-term illness and despite treatments, she was met with an untimely passing last week.

The voices of the Panthers Community share their deep-seated consensus on Shimizu’s sudden passing.

An accomplished mathematician, doting aunt, steadfast friend, esteemed colleague, professor and mentor are all roles people have come to identify with Shimizu. The Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Science Education and fellow professor, Dr. Fernando Espinoza, recalls fondly that day he hired Shimizu to be part of the graduate coordinators committee.

“She understood the research base where student’s difficulties are well known, and her teaching was well grounded in mathematics education research…that is a rare combination to find in faculty at schools of education,” said Espinoza.

He also said that Shimizu was planning to undergo treatment for illness once more around the spring of 2025. Shimizu was hopeful, lacking any signs of doubt or uncertainty in her ability to overcome this.

“What a kind soul,” said Espinoza.

He said she will be missed dearly.

Meredith Bernstein, the Math Redesign Lab coordinator, agreed.

“She was always easy to work with, she’s a hard worker and she was always happy,” Bernstein said.

The pursuit of Shimizu’s doctoral degree began at Pennsylvania State University’s Mid-Atlantic Center for Mathematics Teaching and Learning. Shortly after, the suns of California smiled down at her work as she launched her career in the Gold Rush state as a high school teacher for about 20 years.

Shimizu was established in the community of SUNY Old Westbury in the verdant year of 2012 and she earned a subsequent tenure. Shimizu’s vocations in the Mathematics and the Computer Information Science Department, and most importantly, her work with School of Education as the coordinator of the mathematics master’s program. She was devoted to working and learning about her student’s interests, experiences and talents, regardless if math was an obstacle or a pursuit.

Shimizu was acutely aware of the ever-changing nature of the academia, and took it with stride and delicate concern as seen in an interview titled Thankful Thursday: Jeanne Shimizu.

She served as the Chair of the Academic Review, Promotion, and Tenure Committee. Her devotion to her student-teachers was unmatched as she annually nominated them for Mathematics Student Teacher Award from Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association.

Maureen Dolan, an Associate Professor of Mathematics, worked with Shimizu. She said that she “especially appreciated Jeanne’s commitment to completing the task at hand, even if that meant “burning the midnight oil.”

Lilian Park, an Associate Professor of Psychology, said she will miss her irreplaceable bond with Shimizu.

“I’m grieving over Jeanne’s passing,” said Park. “She was judicious, scrupulous, kind, and caring. She cared deeply about her students and Old Westbury. This is a tremendous loss to our community. Jeanne and I bonded over being Asian American and from California.  I will miss her greatly.”

Nicole Sieban, an associate professor in English education, said that a void is forming without Shimizu being present to continue the shared mission of the university. When Sieban met with Shimizu’s students and teachers-in-training, they all expressed hope that she’d return to campus soon, a sentiment she wholeheartedly shared with them. It was a trait of her to keep her office door open, both metaphorically and in a literal sense.

“I know there is still much we can continue to learn from Jeanne,” Sieban said. “even in her physical absence from campus.”

At this point in time, we are grieving with and giving the Shimizu family our deepest condolences. We ask to keep the Shimizu family in your thoughts and prayers and respect the decisions in how they choose to mourn and commemorate the life of Shimizu, be it privately or publicly.

From all of us at SUNY Old Westbury, we thank you, Dr. Jeanne Shimizu, for your existence and efforts alike. You’re more than a story; your legacy lives on in all the lives you’ll continue to impact in this life and beyond.