Someone asked me if I had a teacher that stood out or had an impact on me. Mrs. Cronacher was the name that immediately came to mind. I had just moved from Bayside to Flushing and as a 12 yr old, it was difficult transaction. In 7th grade, Mrs Cronacher was my English teacher. Then, low and behold, two more times as well. In searching online, I see that we lost a wonderful person. I remember her as so kind and helpful. My sincerest condolences to your family. I wish I had a chance to have seen her again  in years past.

One of the reasons I loved Campbell JHS was Mrs. Lola Lee Cronacher .  Mrs. Cronacher was one of my favorite teachers.  She was enthusiastic and inspirational.  She encouraged my love of literature and theater.  Mrs. Cronacher awakened her students to engage thoughtfully in text and be intentional with writing.  We read Herman Wouk, Paul Zindel, S.E. Hinton, and other works.  Thank you, Mrs. Cronacher!  Brenda Thomas (New York, N.Y.)

She was, without a doubt, the best teacher I ever had.  At Campbell Junior High School I had her for Core (English plus Social Studies) in 7th and 8th grade, and for English in 9th grade.  She was also my 8th grade homeroom teacher, and as if that weren't enough, we were the journalism class and she was the advisor for the school paper.
She made literature come alive with her vivid readings of Shakespeare, Coleridge, and others -- not to mention her reading Dr. Seuss' The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins to us in 8th grade, after which she made us write up the story in inverted pyramid style (did I mention we were the journalism class?).  Shakespeare wrote on many levels she told us, when she paused after an, um, indelicate joke in Hamlet to ask the class Did anyone not get that?.  On the subject of how long a short story should be, she explained that it should be like a woman's skirt -- long enough to cover the subject, and short enough to be interesting.  She made us keep lists of the books we read, a habit I retain to this day, and she used to tease me for reading nothing but science fiction.  I remember the day I had a paperback with a particularly lurid cover, which I tried to hide.  She picked it up and in a delighted voice said to me You're reading a dirty book!  Embarrassed, I explained that no, it was actually science fiction.  She was so disappointed!  
I could go on; I have many wonderful memories of her, and I've often thought about her  -- and quoted her -- over the 56 years since I graduated from Campbell. She taught me to write.  I hope this little essay would have met her standards.  Rest In Peace, Mrs. Chronacher.

I have fond memories of Lola when she was teaching English at Campbell JHS. We were colleagues for many years at that wonderful junior high school. I had the opportunity to visit her beautiful home in Lloyd Harbor. She had a wonderful sense of humor. My condolences. Manfred Korman

OBITUARY

Lola Lee Cronacher

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