Ryan Kauffman Bench
Dear Editor: On May 18 the family of Ryan Kauffman dedicated and placed a bench at Sandy Beach. The bench “Gone Surfing” was created by artist Susana Arias. Following the dedication, a potluck was held at Pioneer Park. Those attending were asked to make a dish from “Ryan’s Cookbook-Made with Love.”
We are honored and grateful to Ryan’s family for their willingness to collaborate with Brave Heart Volunteers and SEARHC to add events and activities to provide education and awareness related to hospice/palliative care, loss and grief. The outpouring of love and support from the community is greatly appreciated.
We would like to recognize and thank the following:
•Michele Friedman, BHV Board member/yoga instructor at the Yoga Union for teaching a class on compassionate yoga for loss;
•Margot O’Connell, Adult Services Librarian, Sitka Public Library for helping to coordinate an open art studio at the library and for collaborating with SEARHC Health Promotion to provide the Cupcakes and Conversation program;
•Amanda Roberts, tobacco health educator II, SEARHC, and Doug Osborne, director of health promotion, Sitka Community Hospital, for hosting a cigarette butt and litter cleanup at Sandy Beach and Pioneer Park;
•Juan Cediel, AmeriCorps Volunteer, for filming the bench dedication ceremony;
•Ashia Lane, manager, Old Harbor Books, for stocking and selling Ryan’s Cookbook and Ryan’s Coloring Book
•Kristin Scotchmer, creator of Ryan’s Coloring Book;
•Cindy Edwards and Grace Brooks for leading a community hike inspired by Ryan at Mosquito Cove;
•Leslie Fulton, RN, SEARHC, and Erin Matthes, health educator III, SEARHC, for moderating a community-led discussion on palliative care and hospice at Sitka Public Library;
•Ryan Kauffman’s memorial fund at Brave Heart Volunteers for donating funds to offer the free yoga class, funds to provide art supplies and snacks for the open art studio, and funds to help provide snacks for Julie Hughes Triathlon participants; and
•Event and activities committee members: Emily Rivas, SEARHC, home care/BHV board member; Nancy Furlow, community member; Erin Matthes, SEARHC health educator III; and Cheri Hample, BHV Board member.
I am certain Ryan was looking down on Sitka and sending his love to all who gathered to honor and remember him.
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you lived and lived well.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Cheri Hample and Erin Matthes,
Committee Members
Card of Thanks
Dear Editor: The family of Katherine “Kate” Sulser would like to express our deepest gratitude to those who touched our hearts with words of comfort, hugs, flowers, phone calls and cards. Your expressions of sympathy were very much needed and deeply appreciated at this difficult time.
Special thanks go to Dr. Robert Hunter and the Home Health Care staff at Sitka Community Hospital who provided exceptional care for our mother/grandmother.
To Trudy Prewitt for her compassionate support and direction.
To Pastor Julie Plantson, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, for conducting such a beautiful service.
To Judy Blankenship, and the Sitka Emblem Club, for providing such a beautiful and delicious display of food.
To Bev, Bev’s Flowers and Gifts, for the beautiful bouquets of flowers so meticulously arranged.
To Cyndi Cassedy, Sitka Sentinel, for all her assistance with publications.
To all who made donations in our mother’s/grandmother’s honor.
To Patti Hudson and Pauline Fredrickson, lifetime friends of the family, for their touching eulogies.
To all who attended the celebration of life and those who traveled from afar to say their goodbyes.
During this time of sorrow, we learn how much our family and friends mean to us. Your kind gestures will not be forgotten.
The Family of Kate Sulser
