The Mitch and Suzi Katz Memorial

Written Memories and Observations

Eulogy from Charlie Katz

 Mitch, my big brother -- your family loves you dearly and will miss you more than I can possibly express in words. While we will miss your sense of humor, your charm, your enthusiasm, your counsel; Mom, Dad, Gerrie, Reyna, Michael and I will forever have your love. In your time, we, and you, could express our love in words, contact and passion -- both aflame and composed. In your tragic death the love remains in our hearts.

Mom, Dad, Gerrie, Reyna, Michael and I truly shared you with a greater family. You and Suzi extended yourselves to so many. You found true friends within our family -- an aunt and uncle, cousins, many others. In friends and associates you found many true brothers and sisters. In an employer you found a mentor, a father. And you were a mentor to me. In your new home, you and Suzi spread your love and involvement -- you touched so many in such a short time, again finding true friends and family.

Your time with us was way too short. But, I know you lived on your own terms, to your fullest, for today. You were my leader and hero in so many ways. Can I listen to a song, commune with nature or laugh at a joke without thinking about our connection or your influence? I don't know. Will I reach out to you for your advice, for your strength to question, to act?

Yes.

A hui hou aloha.

Eulogy from Joan Remusat -- Suzi's Sister

 First, I want to thank all of you for being here. To have all of us here together is comforting for everyone, both family and friends.

Suzi, as we all know, was an original. She touched the hearts of everyone she ever met. Her involvement in so many things, academically, politically, musically and socially shows her commitment to helping people and always giving of herself. Suzi was never faced with a challenge that she didn't try to conquer.

When Suzi and Mitch moved to Hawaii, I, as I'm sure most, selfishly didn't want them to go. But I knew they wanted nothing more in the world. They were so happy there and they loved each other more than any couple I know.

Suzi and I grew up spending our summers in Fire Island Pines. We thought it was paradise. Suzi would always tell me since she moved that she had found our paradise again. What strong people to be able to make your dreams a reality.

Suzi was a beautiful, compassionate, loving person. We will all miss her from the bottom of our hearts. She was my sister and my best friend. I will love her forever.

My Sweet Suzi with her beautiful smile. I love you.

Eulogy from the Esbensen Family

 It is with hearts filled with grief that we convey our deepest sympathy to you, Mitch and Suzi's families. We were and will always be Mitch and Suzi's Maui family. In the heartfelt spirit of Aloha which permeates this island of Maui which they joyously embraced as home, we six shared the mutually agreed upon relationship of "hanai", or adopted family. Our time together has been cut short, for all of us...

Mitch and Suzi are held in the arms of heaven. They've traded one expression of paradise for another.

Aloha,

Dan and Bonney Esbensen, children Nick and Estee Piguet

Eulogy from Bonney Esbensen

 Selling most of their worldly possessions - leaving homes, family, and friends in New York and Pennsylvania - Suzi and Mitch Katz, flew to Maui 18 months ago, to live their dream.

Like modern-day pioneers they moved west... far west, to this land of blazing sunsets, swaying palms and slide guitars -- which they had grown to love as frequent visitors to the island.

They brought with them 2 suitcases - as well as deep passions - and a profound appreciation for the beauty of this place, their new home.

***

Together, Mitch and Suzi made a balanced pair. They were driven by individual and collective desires to make themselves and their community better.

Along with their beloved cat, Purcell, they as a family carved an indelible series of impressions - left not only in our hearts but also in activities all across this beautiful island of Maui.

***

Suzi's window to the world was her sensitive heart, interpreted by a colorful palate of feelings - and a keen mind.

Her hugs were frequent and unconditional. They exuded an Aloha blessing.

***

Mitch was a tender dynamo of intellectual genius.

His skillful use of manipulation kept an acute sense of humor active - while following a brilliantly designed mental blueprint for action.

Mitch had aspirations.

***

As pioneers following their dream, they created - and now have left legacies for us to emulate.

Suzi and Mitch's voices are silenced - yet they live within us all. We need to speak and act for them because they can no longer speak and act for themselves on this earth.

Get involved! Cherish the moment! Love with the spirit of Aloha!

***

I have no regrets for the past. But I do grieve my loss going into a future without Suzi and Mitch...who gave definition to my family's Maui life.

The spirits of our unique yet similar life journeys, bonded us - and we rejoiced that God had given us to each other.

Life was finally coming together with prayers - not yet uttered - being answered...and we marveled, celebrating our good fortune warmly and frequently. We six were family and we had found home... here on Maui.

***

While our families have parted ways too soon and too abruptly, I have no doubt our dear friends, Mitch and Suzi Katz, are held in the arms of heaven.

They have simply exchanged one expression of paradise for another.

***

Shaloha, my love...a hui hou...

From Arlene, Mitch's Mom, to Suzi

 Dear Suzi,

Dear, dear Suzi. Parents name their children before they really know them - and so you became Suzanne. You took the Hebrew name Shoshana because it was close to Suzanne.

If you had asked me, I would have suggested the Biblical name Ruth - because like Ruth you embraced Judaism with a whole heart. It was not only to Mitchell, whom you loved so much, but to me and Stanley that you said, "Thy people shall be my people."

You embraced Judaism as you did everything else whole heartedly - you lit candles, and dragged him to services. You studied Hebrew and history, took part in the Jewish community.

You even said to him, whither thou goest. You gave up a solid, tenured job you loved, to let him follow his dream and go to live in Hawaii. You were with him on the plane because he wanted to be involved in Democratic politics, and you went with him to that rally in Molokai.

You did everything with him, and wanted to follow him everywhere, and now you follow him and accompany him to eternity.

I always ended my phone calls to you saying, "Love you both," and you always said, "Love you too, Mom."

All I can say is "Love you both." I hear you saying, "Love you too, Mom."

From Arlene, Mitch's Mom, to Mitch

 Mitch,

Oh God - how will I get through this. Somewhere our roles got reversed. I washed, fed, and dressed you as a child, and two years ago you fed, washed and dressed me for weeks and weeks as I lay paralyzed in the hospital.

I knew that if I survived the night, I would be safe - because with the dawn came Mitchell. He would be at the hospital to protect me. You washed, fed, and helped change me. As I read the diary you kept, I see the concern a parent had for a child - when I soiled myself. When I wouldn't eat you worried that the doctors weren't doing right. You marveled at my progress when I learned to walk again just as I marveled when you started walking.

When did we change roles? How could you protect me and keep me alive when I couldn't do it for you?

And now we come to this, the worst day of my life. I loved you, Mitchell, you were a part of me - and I am burying a part of me. I wish it were me, not you. I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe - but life isn't like that. You have children and have to let them grow up. You must let go - but not this way. You will forever be in my broken heart. I love you - love you both!

Your answer was - don't worry Mom. I know what I'm doing. Everything will work out fine.

I love you - God be with you and care for you. And GOD, DO A BETTER JOB. Someday, I'll be there, Mitch, to join you both.

Love you
Love you
Love you

MOM

I always called you both on the phone because I hated to write. But I don't know how or where to call you now. This is my way of keeping in touch.

From Arlene, Mitch's Mom, to Ed, Suzi's Dad, and Stanley, Mitch's Dad

And finally to Ed and Stanley, who of everyone here today, truly share my pain. No one, no one can imagine what it is like to bury an adult child. To outlive one's child is like a curse. To select a casket, as you once selected a crib, is something no parent should ever have to go through. All I can say is that there is an old Rabbinic story about a husband off working and studying. The wife at home with two children. The children die. Not knowing how to tell her husband, their father, she tells him a stranger left two precious jewels with us and now wants them back. What should I do? The Rabbi, her husband, said the jewels are not ours - we must return them. The wife then tells him God had lent us two precious jewels and now has come to take them back. This has happened to us. God has taken back Mitch and Suzi - our precious jewels. We had them for such a brief time - our two precious jewels.

FROM GERRIE, MITCH'S SISTER, TO SUZI AND MITCH

 Suzi - I always told people that I was crazy about my sisters-in-law and that if I could have picked wives for my brothers - I couldn't have done better myself. And you were also a very close friend. I love you. Thank you for making my brother so happy. He delighted in everything you accomplished and in your just being you.

Mitch - I always felt that you were mine. Mommy and Daddy gave me you as a present for my fifth birthday. You are, by far, the best birthday present I ever received.

Nobody could ever make me cry the way you could, but no one's ever made me laugh like you could. I love you.

Ga Ga

From Blaine, Mitch's First Cousin, Daughter of Lenny and Joan, Recent Maui Visitors

Two who meant the world to each other
Two who shared their love with the world
Their sweetness made you feel good, feel warm, makes you smile
They felt joy each day for all they had
Thankful for every memory shared
Mitch and Suzi, paradise and perfection
Never to judge another's choice
Never to hold on to an angry thought
Beauty appreciated; a flower petal, a thunderous wave, a symphonic bird
Life loved; a man and a woman enjoying each other; madly, deeply and honestly
We'll never understand why, we'll never forget their angelic smiles
The sun will rise and set each day for us to remember their hugs, their dreams
and their love
Reach a place to touch their hands, to hold their faces in your mind
Grasp their impact which touched your life
Thankful for all the time we had
We'll move along our days with memories inside
Our love for Mitch and Suzi will continue to grow and grow
But why they've gone, I'll never know

I Love You Always

Blaine

Eulogy from Ben Chitty

 Suzi was an impossible person for me. Impossibly cheerful, relentlessly optimistic, implacably caring, irresistibly sympathetic. When it rained, she jumped in the puddles.

Sometimes when library life seemed all too grim, she would dare me to do something. Like a child, she would "double dog dare" me: this meant I couldn't just say "Dares go first" and wait for her to do it. Once she double dog dared me to walk across the reference desk at noon: the students were astonished, the librarians too, but Suzi just sat back and laughed til the tears came to her eyes.

She dared everything and anything, dared to do what she wanted to do, dared to love what she was doing.

She dared to love Mitch, her husband (which made him a prince to me). She dared to pull up everything and try for paradise.

She dared to live, and this time dares did go first.

Which leaves her still impossible to contemplate. So bright, afire with light and heat and love. So hard to lose, harder for the loss of such incandescence which makes the sudden gloom so much the darker.

It was raining this morning when I awoke. Now the sun's come out.

That's Suzi for me. All of her in all of it. All too impossible.

A Tragic Moment by Estee Piguet

 Death is a part of life whether we like it or not. People experience it way too often. All over the world people die from plane crashes, guns, cars, drugs, disease, old age. But no matter what they die from it's still death and you can't do anything about it. You can't hide from it. You can't destroy it. You just have to accept it.

Two of my best friends died in a plane crash on Molokai just a few months ago. Sure, they were adults but they were my friends. Their names were Suzi and Mitch Katz. Suzi was a close friend of my mom and me. I loved her just as much as my own family. We had so much in common.

Suzi and I would often go places together - not special places, just places where we could sit and talk. Sometimes we would go down to the beach and take along a book. Just reading to the sound of the waves was soothing. Suzi introduced me to many authors. One of them has become my favorite, Madeleine L'Engle. Suzi and I also performed in Maui's presentation of Handel's Messiah.

A few days before Suzi and Mitch's tragic deaths, my parents had left to attend my granna's funeral on the mainland, leaving me in Suzi and Mitch's care. In the four days that I was with them I really felt like their daughter. Mitch loved to cook and he was always making sure that I would like whatever he had made.

Even though I only knew them for one year, it felt like a million. It doesn't feel like Suzi and Mitch are dead but I know they are. Knowing that they are gone is something I have to accept. But I know that when I think of them, they still live in my heart.

Mitch and Suzi Katz Memorial

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