Cathy Jeanne Kinzer

Cathy Jeanne Stell Kinzer, beautiful, giving soul, and blessing to all who knew her, died on Sunday in a car accident near the Organ Mountains. She was 65. Cathy was born December 23, 1950, in Carlsbad, NM to Joe and Verna Stell, and grew up working alongside her parents and siblings on her family's cattle ranch. She married her husband, Grant Kinzer, in 1980, and was the source of boundless love and kindness for him and their two children, Kacie and Kye. Cathy divided her time between caring for her family, teaching, and working on the Kinzer ranch near Carrizozo, New Mexico. Cathy was a passionate and dedicated educator, who sought to transform education on both the State and National level. She received her master's degree in curriculum and Instruction from NMSU in 1993 and began teaching elementary school at Mesilla Park Elementary, where she was honored for her exceptional work by receiving the U.S. Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence in Washington DC. In 2002, Cathy began working as an educator at New Mexico State University, where she also received her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Mathematics education in 2005. Cathy became a tenured professor in the College of Education and served on many state and nationally funded grant projects to improve mathematics teaching and learning. Her focus was to create exemplary learning spaces where children could engage in mathematical sense-making and learn to trust their own ways of thinking. She was a founding member of the Mathematically Connected Communities Project which partners with teachers and principals across New Mexico to improve children's mathematics learning in the classroom. Her current research focus was studying the instructional practices that best support the mathematics learning of English learners. Among many other positions, she served as president of NM Council of Teachers of Mathematics and chaired the Emerging Issues Committee for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Cathy Kinzer was a singular soul on this earth and was a pillar of love and light to all of those around her. Through her journey, Cathy touched countless lives, she was a woman that gave completely of herself on a daily basis to nurture and support her family, friends, peers, and students. While empowering everyone around her, Cathy expected nothing in return, but rather took pleasure from the simple things in life like feeding her chickens, listening to music, and watching the moon come up over the mountains. Cathy's life was characterized by her ability to love tirelessly and her uncanny understanding of humanity and God that was gained through overcoming her own personal challenges. She was radiant, positive in everything, and brought a feeling of magic to the world. Cathy Kinzer was the keystone in many lives and her loss is sad beyond words. She is survived by her husband, Henry Grant Kinzer; her parents, Joe and Verna Stell; her siblings, Jim Stell, JoBeth Hawk, and Linda Stell; her husband, Henry Grant Kinzer; her children Jeff Kinzer, Kathryn Kinzer-Ellington, Kristal Kinzer, Kacie Gerhardt, and Kye Kinzer, and seven grandchildren. A celebration of her life will take place on Friday, March 4, 2016, at 2:00pm at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship has been created in Cathy's name to honor and continue her passion and commitment to improving education for all children. Gifts made payable to the NMSU Foundation can be mailed to NMSU Foundation, P.O. Box 3590, Las Cruces, NM 88003-3590, or online at http://giving.nmsu.edu/CathyKinzer.html. Please indicate this is a "Tribute Gift" and include "Cathy Kinzer Scholarship/Research Fund". For additional information call 575-646-1613. PDF Printable Version