Obituary of Jan Ruth Kassel

May 10, 1946 – June 16, 2025

Jan Ruth Kassel, 79, passed away peacefully at her home in Aurora, CO on June 16, 2025. She was born on May 10, 1946 in Otsego, NY and welcomed as the cherished daughter of Lewis Peter and Marjorie (Adelsberger) Kassel. Following the death of her father when she was just 10, Jan was blessed with a loving second father when her mother later married Peter Seigel.

Jan cherished memories of a happy childhood that included trips to her Uncle Murray’s house in Middletown, NY. She spent a lot of time in the “Kassel Brothers” family store, playing in the waterfall, ice skating on the pond, and boating in the spring. She also loved spending time in the apple tree grove and riding a tractor under the watchful eye of several cows. 

She was a 1964 graduate of Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale, NY. She received an Associate of Arts degree from Vermont College in 1966; a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a certificate in Special Education and minor in Speech Communications from the University of Denver in 1970; and Master’s degrees from The College of New Rochelle and the University of Northern Colorado.

Jan was everybody’s favorite teacher. She spent the first half of her 20-year career with Aurora Public Schools working at Crawford Elementary School in what is now called Exceptional Student Services (ESS), and she spent the last half teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at Central High School. In her words, “it was more than a career, it was a calling,” and years after retiring in 2005, she still missed her students and considered herself very lucky to have taught them. 

Jan lived a rich life filled with travel, lifelong learning, and a deep appreciation for culture, politics and the arts. Her travels took her to France, Italy, Germany, South America, Scandinavia, Egypt, Slovakia, and all over the United States. Jan loved the outdoors and found beauty and wonder all around her. She was an avid skier who enjoyed spending time in Lake George, NY and at her second home in Leadville, CO. Above all, she was a great friend - beautiful, kind and generous. This is illustrated by her legacy, which included a gift from her estate to five of her “favorite” students. 

Of course, no summary of Jan’s life would be complete without mentioning the many beloved cats she doted on over the years. Jan was a true “cat mom,” and her home was never without a warm lap. She loved each of their unique personalities. The companionship they provided was a source of great happiness for her.

Jan was preceded in death by both of her parents, her stepfather, and her stepsister Susan. She will be forever remembered by countless friends, including her best friends Lynda Safron of White Plains, NY and Carol McBride of Castle Rock, CO; life partner Mark Rubinelli of St. Louis, MO; great friend Gerry Denofsky of Steamboat Springs, CO and Juan and Dayna Perez of Denver, CO; goddaughter Stacey Hayes of Winston-Salem, NC; and cousins Don Crane of Atlanta, GA and Steve Crane of NYC, as well as Ellen Crane of Lighthouse Point, FL; Meredith Weinstein and Stacey Scarpa of Syosset, NY; Mike Glass of Mechanicsville, VA; and John Kassel of Burlington, VT, among many others. 

The family wishes to thank Jan’s caregivers – especially Loie Zamora Collins, Carlota Perez, Rosa Toledo, June Obiago, Bobbie Quinn, and Crispin Sargent – for their kindness, creativity, and love in helping to improve the quality of Jan’s life over the last four years.  

*UPDATES: 06/19/25

A Remembrance Celebration of Jan’s Life, will be held at 10:00 AM on Sunday, June 29 at Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (Perlmutter Room) - 350 South Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80246. 

A Graveside Service will be held at 9:30 AM on Sunday, July 6, at Temple Israel Cemetery - 3888 Saw Mill River Road, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, 10706.

Please consider sharing your memories and condolences with Jan's family on the online tribute wall.

Memorial contributions in Jan’s name can be made to the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center in Denver, CO (https://give.jccdenver.org/campaign/613753/donate)   

Memorial Video Tribute:

Click here to view Jan's memorial video tribute.

Click here to view Jan's second memorial tribute video.