In Memory

The first time I met Kim was in 1989 at a rehearsal for an opera production in Cleveland. We shared the same brand of humor, so we hit it off immediately. We would stand backstage and fire off jokes about everything happening around us. She had a magnificent soprano voice and was obviously musically educated but more importantly extremely gifted. Over the next few years we performed together five or six times.

She was a local teacher instructing voice and choir. By a twist of fate, she had all three of my children in her classes and choirs. She was dedicated beyond expectation, giving up personal time to accompany her students to state competition and helping them prepare for those competitions. She encouraged her kids to do more than they thought they could. She also expected perfection. Sometimes the kids didn’t appreciate that expectation, but they grew because of it.

I saw her for the last time in June of 2004 when she sang at “Walk For Life”. She was determined. She was hopelessly in love with her husband Rick, and she was a dedicated and loving mother to her two children. We reminisced for a few minutes and we talked about the future. She asked about each of my three kids and told me what she loved about each of them. She asked me to pass along her well wishes to each of them. She asked about my wife and asked me to pass along her greetings to her as well.

As we both had other places to be, we too soon parted company. As we said goodbye, we hugged. It was a long hug. One where you knew that when you let go there would never be another…

Kim lost her battle with breast cancer in late October of 2004. She fought the disease valiantly. She fought it with the same dedication and intensity that she instilled in her students to be the best that they could be. She fought it with every intent to win. Ultimately however, the disease took her from her world. She left behind her husband, two children, brothers, parents, friends, and hundreds of kids whose lives were forever changed because she cared for them.

I sat in the church wondering why someone with so much to share was taken so young. There was no answer...The choir made up of her former and current students began to sing. She lived on in each of them, and she will forever.

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com