BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- It was a tragic accident.

45-year-old Cassandra Cline died last Tuesday in Hilton Head, South Carolina, as she protected her dog from an alligator attack. Witnesses say she fought till the end.

Dave Pessagno is a close friend of Cline and her husband Jim. He says she made an impact everywhere she went.

"She was a caring, giving, understanding, compassionate educator. This community lost an angel they really did,” Pessagno said.

Cline was a kindergarten teacher at George F. Johnson Elementary School. There, she touched the lives of students and teachers.

Friends and family that knew her best called her Sass. And even in her last moments, she put others before herself.

"She would do anything for anybody neighbors, always baking for people, she always entertained people at their house, down there same thing, up here she loved people to come over and visit." said Pessagno.

In remembrance of her giving spirit, a scholarship fund is being set up in her name at Union-Endicott in hopes that Cline will continue to influence students and the community in a positive way.=

"She was an amazing, amazing person we lost an angel we really did,” Pessagno said.