Wednesday July 10, 2013 from complications related to early onset Alzheimer’s. Karen was born June 28, 1952 in San Gabriel California to Anthony and Ada Louise Troha. She graduated from Bonita High School and the University of Arizona and went on to a 30 year teaching career, the last 17 at Chandler High School.
During her years of teaching she taught everything from social studies and geography to photography and Native American history. She received a grant to study at the Newberry Library in Chicago researching and writing about Apache history. She coached, among others, softball, gymnastics, diving and cheer leading. She traveled to the Ukraine with a group of teachers as part of social studies program and to Japan as part of an exchange program sponsored by the Economic Counsel.
In her last years of teaching she focused on financial planning and International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement Economics where her students tested into and received college level credits. She worked with the Close Up Program, helped students at Chandler High earn money over the school year, and traveled with them to Washington DC where they learned how our nation’s government should work and how they could participate in the process.
Karen loved to travel and, in her last few years made it to Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, France and London where she was present for Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday party at Hyde Park. S
She leaves her husband Sevrin, children Riann, Zachary and Carl, son in law David Perdichizzi, grandchildren Nora and Samuel and a granddaughter due in early August of this year. Karen’s focus in life was her family and her students. In the classroom the students she loved most were those who worked hard and made the most of their abilities. Most importantly, she put her family first, foremost and always.
A foundation was set up on her behalf which has given out thousands in scholarships over the last couple years. The emphasis of the scholarships has been not only academics but the ability of the student to overcome hardships in their lives. For information contact KEHF.org.
KEH Foundation 