In memoriam.

Esther Morgan

We are saddened to report that Esther Morgan, a long-time member and Past President of ACEI, died on March 10th in Gainesville, Florida.

Esther received a bachelor's degree from East Carolina University, a master's degree from the University of North Carolina, and she did post-graduate work at Columbia University and Syracuse University. She taught primary grades in North Carolina and Florida for 8 years, was a teacher and principal working with physically disabled children in Florida for 6 years, and taught mentally disabled children for 2 years. She founded the first class for disabled children in Daytona Beach in the 1950s, which became a state model. She joined the University of Florida faculty as an education professor in 1962, and taught there for 35 years. When she retired, the university named her honorary professor emerita.

Esther served as ACEI President from 1971-1973. She also was active in the Florida State Branch, serving as Public Affairs Chair and as President, and in the local University of Florida Gainesville Branch, serving as Public Affairs Chair, Vice President, President, and Adviser. She also served on the Intermediate/ Middle Childhood Committee from 1999-2001 and on the Heritage Committee since 2001. On the occasion of the 1992 centennial of the Association, Esther acted as Co-chair of the Centennial Conference in Saratoga Springs, New York.

She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Education Society, and recipient Of the Gainesville Women of Distinction Award and the ECU Distinguished Alumni Award. She was former president of the Gainesville Altrusa Club and Gainesville Women's Club.

In the 1980s, Esther, spearheaded the "Save Camp Crystal" effort, which preserved a camp for children in Alachua County, and helped to secure funds to provide scholarships for children to attend. A cabin at the camp was dedicated in her name in 2002.

The ACEI community has been enriched by Esther's many contributions to the Association and to the field of education, and we will miss her.

PATRICIA R. PALMER

Longtime ACEI member Patricia R. Palmer, of Fort Pierce, Florida, recently died.

Patricia, a former kindergarten teacher, was named Florida's state teacher of the year in 1981. She also served as principal of Osceola Elementary School, and was her school district's director of staff development before her retirement eight years ago. Since retiring, Patricia served as the coordinator of the Indian River Regional Science and Engineering Fair. According to Heather Mitchell, Executive Director of the Education Foundation, which helps sponsor the annual fair, She was the heart of the science fair."

An active ACEI member at the local level, Patricia served as President of Florida ACEI. Since retirement, Patricia was a member of the Florida Retired Educators Association (FREA) and previously served as the President of the Indian River FREA chapter.