Jimmie Lou Gorski

Jimmie was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on November 13, 1950. She was the youngest of two children born to Lona and James Danner. Jimmie grew up with her family in the Moravian community of Salem, North Carolina. She began her affiliation with Duke University during a joint federally and privately funded pilot program that became the Governor’s School. She graduated from University of North Carolina in 1971 with a BA degree in English and Education. In August 1971, she joined the faculty of Queen Anne School, a college preparatory school in Upper Marlboro, MD, as an English teacher and remained there in various instructional and leadership capacities for nearly 35 years. In 1971, she married Sigmund Albert Gorski Jr. of Greensboro, NC, whom she met while both were in college. The couple lived briefly in Landover, MD, before moving to Bowie, MD. In 1979, they moved to Huntingtown, MD and had one son, Sigmund Albert Gorski, III “Al” in 1990.

Jimmie achieved a MA in Reading K through 12 from the University of Maryland College Park in 1976. In 1981, she received an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Reading and Language Study from the University of Maryland College Park. Inspired by her son’s pursuit of a PhD, she completed her doctoral studies later in life and received a PhD from the University of Maryland College Park. She then went on to complete post-doctoral studies in administrative work at Georgetown University.

For nearly 35 years, Jimmie was a professional in the field of secondary and higher education. She was beloved by many of her former Queen Anne School students, forming ties throughout the community that last until this day. Her expertise was areas such as curriculum development and language acquisition and development. She also worked extensively in standardized testing and supervised university master’s degree candidates before moving fulltime into educational administration to direct departments in institutional development and financial support.

Just before her brush with breast cancer around 2004, Jimmie became an active member of the Rotary Club of Upper Marlboro, MD, and remained an active member for 20 years. Over those 20 years she has held numerous leadership positions. As club president in 2004-2005, she received the Donal Lee Chamberlin Award for Outstanding President in District 7620, and her club received the District 7620 Centennial Award for Best Small Club. Additionally, Jimmie was an Area Governor in four areas and served as both The Rotary Foundation Scholarship Chair and programs coordinator for the Rotary Leadership Institute in District 7620. Her special interest in programs for youth and young professionals led her to serve on the District 7620 RYLA Committee from 2014-2017 and to act as facilitator for youth programs. All her work in Rotary culminated in her becoming District Governor of District 7620 in 2020-2021. Despite covid and her fight with leukemia during the same period, she thrived in her position and remained an active member of rotary leadership even after her term as District Governor concluded.

As loving wife, mother, daughter, aunt, and sister, Jimmie Gorski was also a dedicated educator, lover of the arts, reader, writer, public speaker, and leader. She is survived by her son Sigmund Albert Gorski III, and her niece Anglia Ivey.

The family will receive friends at Jesus the Divine Word Catholic Church 885 Cox Road Huntingtown, MD 20639 on Friday, April 29, 2022 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 pm. Inurnment will follow at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery, 1601 West Mount Harmony Road Owings, MD 20726.

Memorial contributions can be made in Jimmie’s name to Jesus the Divine Word at 885 Cox Road, Huntingtown, MD 20639 and to Rotary International at https://my.rotary.org/en/donate by selecting Annual Fund-SHARE for a cause.