Diane Sue Feibel (née Klieger), beloved daughter of Dr. Israel Stanley and Edith Weisman Klieger, beloved and devoted mother of Hillary, Shana, and Andy, grandmother of Lila, and wife of John Feibel, died unexpectedly on August 5. She was born in New York City on January 31, 1944 and at an early age began dance, training especially ballet, which became a life-long passion. While studying at the American School of Ballet, she worked with luminaries such as George Balanchine and Bob Fosse, choreographers and premiere ballerina (and friend) Patty McBride and others. After moving with her family to Scarsdale and while in high school, she would go to classes in the morning, then take the train down into New York City, walk across Central Park, and dance at the American School of Ballet in the afternoon. While at Northwestern University, she danced and sang with the exclusive musical group Waa Mu. She toured professionally with the Gus Giordano dance company in the Midwest as well. Not only did she dance, but she was a talented harpist. Diane alternated at times playing the harp for Nutcracker Suite one year then dancing in that ballet the next year.
Always interested in biology, the discipline for which she got her degree from Columbia University in 1965, Diane participated in important research involving mitochondrial genetics and also involving the treatment of urinary tract infections with the acidification of urine. However, after the birth of her daughters, Hillary and Shana, her professional interests turned to psychology, particularly childhood educational development; a chance mention of Jean Piaget, the renowned childhood development researcher, changed her focus towards the mechanisms involved in learning how to read. While raising her children (whom she used in her research) she was able to get a master’s degree in early childhood education at University of Virginia, then a doctorate in childhood education and development from the University of Rochester. Her dissertation “Memory for Sentences in Gifted, Average and Slow Readers” was well received by the internationally known expert on childhood learning, Keith Rayner, who chaired her dissertation committee. Her research provided a better insight into the differences in processing language amongst the three divergent groups.
First in Rochester, NY and later, in Cincinnati, Diane established her psychology practice for patients of all ages, although those with learning disabilities and those with autism, Tourette’s syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease were her special interests. In 1991, she joined the University of Cincinnati as a part-time assistant professor, and for the next 33 years up until the time of her death, she taught both introductory and specialized courses in education, development and learning to thousands of students. Diane retired as a full professor emeritus at UC. In addition to her teaching duties, she was active in the administration of her department, especially in hiring the best possible teachers and professors. Her attention to detail and openness to everyone was admired by all.
Several outstanding personality and character traits contributed to her successes: conscientiousness, discipline, resilience, creativity, and perseverance, among others. Both in the classroom or at home with our children, if she detected adjustment or learning issues or mismatches between student and teacher, she worked to correct it, or if that was not possible, develop more suitable learning arrangements. Her assistance with our son Andy’s learning disability was recognized at Wyoming (Student of the Month at Wyoming High School) and at Wright State University. Both in Rochester and in Cincinnati, Diane worked diligently to start or strengthen both learning disability and gifted teaching programs.
Diane loved new challenges: she considered herself a ‘cowgirl,’ loved the West (especially Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she happily crossed the Chisholm stream wearing her shoes, making up for not being able to do so at age 7 because her mother had said it could ruin her Keds shoes!). She also loved Naples, Florida, and Ogunquit, Maine, both of which offered unique opportunities for her to relax and learn new skills. With our children, we took many wonderful vacations, often by cruising to Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Iceland, and we visited Israel. She was adventurous (learning kayaking in her 60s), open, friendly and welcoming.
She is dearly missed by her family (John, Hillary, Shana, Andy and granddaughter Lila, age four). Donations in her memory may be made to the American School of Ballet, 890 Broadway, New York City, NY 10003, Wise Temple, New York’s Temple Emanu-El, or other charity of choice.
