Dr. Louis S. Bortnick

I´m so sorry to hear of Dr. Bortnick´s passing. I was a neighbor and friend of Karen´s on Winthrop Road. She and Annabet Palmgrin and I had so many fun times as little girls. Her death was so tragic and stunned us in many ways. I was too young to offer any condolences to her family then, and frankly, we were told not to bring her up to you. But may I now send you my love and deep sorrow for the loss of my little friend as well as Dr. Bortnick. As a mother of 4, grandmother of 5 and great-grandmother of 2, I want you to know that I´ve thought of Karen many times throughout the years , as well as how heartbroken I saw her parents were after she passed. I admire your strength and the love you all had to keep your family going. I remember how pretty and funny Karen was. I remember Mrs. Bortnick as a pretty young mother who always welcomed me into her home and offered yummy snacks! I remember dragging my own mother, Janice Cumming , to the toy library you started in Karen´s honor, to check out educational toys and musical instruments and I would always wish Karen could play with them with me. Because of that , I started a very similar toy lending library in the health department in Yukon, Oklahoma, where I raised my family. I hope this wasn´t inappropriate of me to express at this time. May your family heal from your loss and know that Karen is still alive in the hearts of others.