DARE-GENTILE, KAREN

DARE-GENTILE, KAREN
Our beloved Karen Dare-Gentile, 71, died unexpectedly on July 7, 2024. Karen was born June 22, 1953 in Cape May Court House, NJ to Leah and Robert. Karen grew up in Wildwood, where she graduated from Wildwood HS in 1971. She attended Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from Wagner College in Staten Island, NY and a Master's from Wheelock College in Boston, MA. She became a teacher in Staten Island, where she met and married her husband, Michael. They relocated to Mays Landing, NJ where Karen continued her teaching career.
Karen was an avid equestrian and a lover of all animals. At their home in Mays Landing, they cared for horses, goats, birds, and dogs. Karen loved music, especially the Beatles, Pete Seeger, and Arlo Guthrie. Everything Karen did was infused with her own blend of talent, energy, social values, humor, and love.
A lifelong Type 1 diabetic, and later a double amputee, Karen never allowed these obstacles to stop her or even slow her down. Together Karen and Michael devoted their spare time to many charitable causes close to their hearts, including Camp Nejeda for diabetic children, and founded One River Computing, a non-profit that provided computers and training to primary school students in Jamaica, West Indies. Michael predeceased Karen in 2016. After his death, Karen continued raising their grandchild Alex on her own in Linwood, NJ, and was extremely proud of Alex's recent acceptance at Stockton University.
Karen's proudest achievement has been raising their large family: Noah, Arlo, Hannah, Ian, Peter, and Robbie, and their beautiful grandchild, Alexandré. Karen is also survived by her mother, Leah Dare; her brothers David (Ann) and Paul (Sherri); her nieces, Jennifer, Emily and Francesca; nephew Bennett, grandsons, Nicholas and Jose, and Michael's four siblings, Laura, Robert, David, and Susanna.
Karen's burial will be at Steelmantown Cemetery, 101 Steelmantown Road, Woodbine, New Jersey, on August 16th, at noon. Attendees are welcome to wear tie dye or other colorful attire.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Camp Nejeda would be appreciated:
campnejeda.org/about-supporting-camp