Joe Seidel, a Garden City Park resident, taught history at Townsend Harris High School in Queens before his death in late May.

Seidel was a “beloved teacher, a devoted husband, and a loving father,” organizer Nic Sabo wrote in the GoFundMe. “He touched the lives of many in his community, inspiring students and friends alike with his kindness and dedication. Joe’s recent passing has left his family and all who knew him heartbroken.”

Following Seidel’s death, the school’s student newspaper, The Classic, interviewed students and teachers about his impact on their learning experiences and their lives.

The piece was full of students providing examples of Seidel’s kindness, with junior Nicole Harvan telling the paper it was “difficult to find words that accurately describe him, but the best ones that I can think of are kind, fatherly, funny, and wholesome.”

Seidel’s impact was clear from the fundraiser, which had generated more than $103,000 toward a $110,000 goal as of Wednesday, July 1.

“Joe was known for his generosity and his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others,” Sabo wrote. “Now, his family needs the support of the community he loved so much.”

To view the GoFundMe, click here.


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