Dr. Irmgard F. Karle

Dr. Irmgard F. “Irma” Karle of Douglaston, New York, a beloved sister and aunt, a gifted teacher, and a woman of deep faith, died peacefully on October 1, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. She was 97.

Born in New York on January 14, 1929, to Peter and Frieda Karle, Irma graduated from Hunter College and went on to earn her Ph.D. in chemistry at a time when few women did. She was a longtime member of the faculty of Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York, where she taught chemistry and also served as a dean of the college. She was a demanding teacher and a devoted one. She asked a great deal of her students because she believed in what they could do, and she took a personal interest in each one’s progress. Generations of Queensborough students learned chemistry in her classroom. She retired as Professor Emerita of Chemistry, and the college’s Chemistry Department honored her by establishing the Dr. Irmgard F. Karle Chemistry Scholarship for its top students in introductory chemistry.

Her faith was at the center of her life. Irma was an active member of Church on the Hill in Flushing, Queens, where she served as an Elder. She also gave a great deal of her time to the residents of Ozanam Hall of Queens Nursing Home in Bayside.

For all her accomplishments, those who knew Irma will remember her most for her kindness. She had a generous heart and was quick with encouragement, whether for a struggling student, a fellow parishioner, or a member of her family. She was devoted to her brother and took great joy in her nephews and their families.

She is survived by her brother, Walter Karle; her nephews, Peter, James and his wife Molly, Walter Jr. and his wife Arlene, and John and his wife Maureen; and her grandnieces and grandnephews, Evie, Amelia, Christian, Lydia, James, Joseph, Alex, Andrew, Meredith, Christopher, and Brian.

Calling hours will be held Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Peck & Peck Funeral Homes, 7749 South Main Street, Pine Plains, NY 12567. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Evergreen Cemetery, 50 North Main Street, Pine Plains.