ELLENVILLE – Members of the Ellenville Central School community, as well as the whole Wawarsing area, are mourning the loss of a beloved lifetime resident, Carolyn Kuhlmann, who passed away Sunday night, November 8, at Vassar Brothers Hospital after a heart attack Friday. She was 83, and president of the ECSD school board for years.

"Mrs. Kuhlmann will be missed by all of us. She was a dear friend and a dedicated advocate for the Ellenville schools and community," said Karen Osterhoudt, vice president of the Ellenville board of education

Kuhlmann taught in Ellenville schools for nearly four decades before retiring in 1995 and becoming an ECSD board of education member in 1996. For the past fifteen years, Kuhlmann has been serving as president of the board.

"She built a solid reputation as a devoted, diplomatic and savvy leader with a keen knowledge of education procedure and policy," ECSD superintendent Lisa Wiles said in a released statement. "Above all, she was an advocate for the students."

Wiles added that Kuhlmann brought a rare combination of expertise, energy and compassion to the board.

"She was a great leader," she said. "She was one of a kind and it was an absolute privilege to work with her."

Kuhlmann was a class of 1950 Ellenville High School graduate before going on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and her Master's degree from SUNY New Paltz.

"It is a sad occasion for our whole community. Mrs. Kuhlmann was involved in many facets of our community and will be greatly missed," said Ellenville mayor, Jeff Kaplan. Beside being the ECSD board president, Kuhlmann was actively involved with the Shawangunk Garden Club and the Ellenville Regional Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a member of the SUNY New Paltz College Council, Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Kappa Gamma educational sororities and the Ellenville Methodist Church.

"It is certainly unexpected and sad and we all mourn for this Ellenville icon," noted Ellenville Police chief and ECSD board trustee Phil Mattracion. "She was very community minded."

Mattracion recalled the many times Kuhlmann's gentle, calming ways helped to redirect heated BOE executive sessions. She didn't have to say anything, Mattracion said, she'd just place a hand on your shoulder.

"She was a great leader and taught all of us to be leaders," he continued, noting how he and Kuhlmann both ran for board seats in 1996, and won. It will be hard to go into executive session now, and see her empty chair, Mattracion added.

As well as the brownies she'd make for everyone, he further noted.

Osterhoudt will fulfill the duties of the board president until a new president is appointed by the board, Wiles said.

The next Ellenville board meeting, originally scheduled for November 10, has been rescheduled for November 17.