As a close friend of Kate’s for many years, I feel very lucky to have shared countless moments and emotions together: at school, at the proms, on vacation, and with our families. But the most special times spent together were those in which we were just enjoying each other’s company – talking late into the night, hanging out all day on weekends, driving together to grab a bite to eat – these are numerous but each precious.

My strongest memory of Kate is her glowing smile. Fortunately I got to experience her smile quite often. Her smile beamed when we shared both junior and senior proms together, when we spent time in Mexico together, when we spent hours on hours together among friends.

I remember Kate’s strong willed character and unrelenting determination. Kate and I confronted each other in debate over seemingly trivial issues, but I will always appreciate her toughness and resilience in overcoming such petty occurrences. She is very special in this quality and because of this feature, I am fortunate to have learned great lessons about Kate, myself, and our relationship.

Kate is a very special person and someone I miss dearly. I’m so lucky that we shared so much great time together as close friends, classmates, and familial friends. Kate has made a tremendously positive impact on my life, and I am grateful for her.

After I finished putting on paper some of my most vivid memories of Kate, I came across something very appropriate on her yearbook senior page. It is a quote about smiling. I did not exactly know her perspective on "smiling", but this statement intensifies my great memories of her brilliant smile.

Written anonymously: "A smile: A smile costs nothing, but gives so much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he can’t get along without it. And none is so poor but that he can be rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business and is the counter sign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad. And it is nature’s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen for it is something of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give."

With much love,

Ira Greenberg