… The one thing I feel definite traces of is my bold, sort of romanticist ideals. The funny thing is, a lot of people equate romantics with lost idealists, and really that is not it at all.
Romantics are realists who grasp opportunities, take a couple risks … go a little beyond what’s secure and safe so that maybe they can end up with something special and a little out of the ordinary. These days, people are so set in being down to earth and on the straight and narrow, that they often block out or ignore something good or special because it might be dangerous. After all, people can turn on you, or expect total commitment, something might go wrong …. I learned that if I was gonna have some good things to say about my life, I’d have to take some risks …. I had a stronger, deep down determination to find something special.
- Karen Hurwitz, 1989
15 responses so far ↓
1 Robert Mendelson // Mar 14, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Dear Karen,
I discovered in writing The Chase for Beauty that there were many “good things” to say about your life. Perhaps the best one of all is that you will live forever in the hearts of your family and friends. You certainly taught me to hug my children whenever I can.
All best,
R~
2 Christina // Mar 14, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Dear Karen,
Even though we never met, your writings and your story still managed to touch me. Thank you for reminding me to be patient. Perhaps it is ok to hold on to those “romanticist ideals” after all.
This book is special because its message is bigger than one person. In reality, my “Karen” is my cousin. For her, I add :
Dear A,
It is funny how a small child can have just as much impact as an adult. It is hard to pin words to feelings, but I will always remember you as you were, beautiful and perfect. We are doing ok.
Love,
C
3 Joey Rahimi // Mar 25, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Dear Karen,
Ever since I moved to Squirrel Hill, I’ve heard so much about you and your story. It was a national tragedy and your memory still lives on today.
After reading the Chase for Beauty, you and your family made me realize that I should be appreciating all that I have in life. Gratitude for what you have gets you more of what you want.
Your father also made me realize that even though life can bring you ups and downs, it’s how you respond to the downs that makes you who you are.
4 G. Jones // Apr 3, 2008 at 8:00 pm
I knew Karen.
I was not close with her, but merely an acquaintance with a number of mutual friends.
Her death was horrible, and I remember vividly that day. Ill never forget it, or her. And Ill never forget my reaction. I felt and still feel so horribly sad for her.
5 a friend // Apr 9, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Dear Karen,
I’m now a 35 year old law student… I was sitting in class when a mutual friend sent me this link.
I remember sitting on the Noar bus with you to DC when we were.. 10.. 11? You always had such thick glasses. You had a pillow and you wanted me to share it with you on the seat. You were always kind, sensitive, really sensitive.
I remember eating chocolate chip cookies at your house. You always accepted me even though I was weird. Weirder than you but you never let on.
I didn’t know you as well as a teen but it seemed like you blossomed into a swan. We still had mutual friends. Including your killer. He fractured many lives in addition to ending yours.
I don’t know what you would be doing now, but I’m guessing you would be like me, probably better. Learning about human rights, wanting to make the world better, probably a loving mother.
Honey, I am so sorry, I remember you.
6 Jamel // Apr 9, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Karen was often misunderstood, but the one thing I loved about her was her sweet natured personality. No matter what people were saying behind her back or even to her face, she took it in stride. She never let anyone change who she was as a person. If she wanted to cut her hair a certain way or wear sweatshirts five sizes too big or wear those beat up hightop keds(I think they were keds), she didn’t care. It was what she wanted to do.
Allderdice was always so clicky, but that was not who she was. We had several scholars classes together. The Allderdice curriculum always kept the same group of students together. So I spent many periods with her. And when she was killed, it hurt so deep. It still does. It was so violent and senseless.
One day she was sitting next to me in science, the next day she wasn’t. I walked around in a fog for days after. It got so bad that I would wake up in the middle of the night, just envisioning her death. And how crazy it must have been to be hurt by someone that you considered a friend.
I remember Mich from middle school. He was always bizarre to me, but I would never have imagined him capable of a crime of this magnitude.
7 Jill // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:10 pm
i remember Karen. she and i became very close the summer before tenth grade as co-camp counselors and were good friends for a good year after that.
i went to jr high with mic at sterrett.
the whole situation was very traumatic for me. unbelievably sad.
8 Amy // Apr 9, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Karen and I were in the same class, and I knew her as an acquaintance.
I remember the day of school after her death like many people remember JFK being shot or the Challenger exploding.
9 Alex // Apr 10, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I like that people are still remembering; it was a very sad/shocking time for the people who knew both of them. I wasn’t really close to either of them but I had “hung out” with them on a couple of occasions.
This website is very inspiring.
10 a friend // Apr 14, 2008 at 2:19 pm
She was such a kind, sweet, pretty loving girl. why she was teased and talked about behind her back was such a mystery to me. sometimes your peers can make you do things you don’t want to do. I’m so sorry.
11 Erin // Apr 16, 2008 at 2:40 am
Dear Karen,
We were just becoming friends, having been brought together by our two exchange students. I was just getting to know you, and then you were taken away from us. I still think about you and your family, and miss you. You were one of the kindest people I have ever know.
12 an old friend // Apr 18, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Karen and I were very very close for a short period of time, her death still affects me to this day. She was a very sweet girl.
13 A friend // Jul 1, 2008 at 12:36 am
Karen,
You were a beautiful soul with an open mind and an innocence I wish we all could hold on to. I miss you, and I’ll never forget you.
14 an old friend // Jul 2, 2008 at 5:16 pm
“If she wanted to cut her hair a certain way or wear sweatshirts five sizes too big or wear those beat up hightop keds(I think they were keds), she didn’t care. It was what she wanted to do. ”
Yes I remember her wearing those huge sweatshirts.. and I believe the shoes you are talking about were Converse
15 Jason // Aug 28, 2008 at 4:00 am
I knew Karen through a mutual friend and didn’t actually see her that often, but I thought she had a great vibe and was a great gal. I loved the talks that we had together.
When it happened I was away at college and was moved to write a song. It’s called “To Karen from Lisa,” as Lisa was more my friend and it was supposed to be for her. But in hindsight it was more for me - saying goodbye to this wonderful person I’d known, trying to work through the madness of it.
One of the lines of the chorus is “You will be missed.” I’m glad to see it’s still true. Thanks for making this page.
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