Elizabeth Gerling’s murder has left many reeling and mourning the loss of a beloved member of the community, a dear friend, and a loving teacher.
The Oneida County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday it had arrested Gerling's boyfriend Jeremy Kirch , 45, of Camden, in connection to the alleged murder.
According to her obituary , Gerling graduated from Whitesboro Central School in 1992. She then attended Plymouth State University in New Hampshire to obtain her Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree in English education in 1998.
In 1999, she started teaching in New Mexico on a Navajo reservation, where she taught for five years before returning to the Utica area in 2004.
She became an assistant principal at Proctor High School, with her obituary writing Gerling “...loved being a role model for students and went to great lengths to ensure all her students succeeded in all aspects of her life.”
She became a principal of Columbus Elementary School in 2013 and was dedicated to her students.
'Her passing will undoubtedly have a deep impact'
When the Utica City School District learned of Gerling’s sudden and tragic passing just before the start of the new school year, the sorrow only grew.
“Ms. Gerling was not just an exceptional educator and leader, but also a dear friend and colleague to many,” Superintendent Christopher Spence wrote. “Her passing will undoubtedly have a deep impact on our staff, students, and the entire Utica School District community.”
Gerling’s death hit many in the community hard.
Danielle Padula, vice president of the Utica City School District Board, wrote on Facebook that she recalled enrolling her kids at Columbus Elementary School because she “...heard such amazing things about her and the staff at the school.”
She continued, writing, “Liz was always rooting for everyone else, Liz loved her students like they were her own. She loved to give gifts and little surprises. She did everything for everyone else. It didn’t matter what was in that box, it just mattered that it was something that can help someone, most importantly her students.”
A GoFundMe is currently raising money support Gerling’s son, Noah and is being organized by Karyn Burns Gerling, her sister-in-law.
She writes: “[Gerling] was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, educator, friend, and ray of light to everyone around her. Her nearly 25 years as an educator allowed her magic and impact to be felt by thousands upon thousands of students. While we are heartbroken to not have her here on Earth with us any longer, Ms. Gerling's legacy will live on forever by way of the thousands of students she taught, mentored, adored, cared for, and loved with her big heart, giant smile, deep laugh and twinkle in her eye that we all cherished.”
'Well loved and respected'
The Genesis Group remembered Gerling in an email from the regional organization.
The organization said Gerling was a partner with Genesis for its many educational programs.
"Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of Elizabeth Gerling," the group wrote in its daily email on events going on within the Mohawk Valley. "Elizabeth was well loved and respected. She was a strong partner of Genesis in many of our educational programs, and was always willing to support initiatives that would benefit area students. Her passing is a loss for her family, friends, the Utica School District and the community.
A service will be held for Gerling from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Dimbleby Funeral Homes, 40 Main St., in Whitesboro.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica community mourns death of beloved teacher, principal, friend and colleague
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