Miriam Folk, Professor at Florida State College at Jacksonville, died suddenly on Monday February 10, her 80th birthday. Mimi, as she was know, was often described as a woman with the biggest heart in the world, and was a woman of many interests, reading, world affairs, the arts and travel – one of the few people who could do a NY Times Crossword puzzle in pen … but at her heart was her love for teaching.
She was passionately devoted to her students, caring intensely for each of them to discover success within themselves, and she spent countless hours making sure she could find the absolute best ways for them to both learn the material she was teaching, and have the confidence to take what they learned and be able to apply it moving forward.
The passion she had for her students carried over to her family – her daughters Rachel (Patrick) Dorrian and Debbie (Jay Morgan) Young spoke and saw her often – but her true loves were her grandchildren Cadence and Naia. Everyone who spoke with her knew their projects, activities, achievements and what they were up to.
She also had great love for her brother, Robert Schiff, cousin Joy Aaronson and a wonderful collection of dear, dear friends she’d collected, cherished, and kept in touch with through the years.
A celebration of life was at FSCJ – downtown campus, Advanced Technology Center (room T140/141) on February 24.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that people perform random acts of kindness, hug your family, tell them you love them and if you feel so inclined to volunteer or donate to a charity you believe in. Mimi loved the Humane society, Hospice of NE Florida and Hubbard House.