Regina Jakulis Szabo

I first met Regina, or "G", as I knew her, three years ago. She was my pottery teacher and mentor at Kentucky Mudworks, where she was very much beloved. G was endlessly talented, kind, and uplifting. Over the years, we formed a genuine bond, and her presence and encouragement at the studio played a major role in why I continued to take classes. My classmates and I truly adored G. In between helping students, we would talk and share stories and updates about our lives. Through our Monday night classes, we shared, celebrated, and grieved our highs and lows. Over the years she watched me get engaged, change jobs, and get married. She loved hearing us gossip about our silly antics, friend drama, or bad dates. We loved hearing her stories about Lukan and how she fell in love with her husband. We especially enjoyed her anecdotes about her cat, whom we all told her she would grow to adore, despite her initial skepticism (and we were right!). When her cancer returned we all wept alongside her. Despite the cards she was dealt, G was resilient. She didn't let the disease dampen her spirit. I will miss her dearly and the studio will not be the same without her. There is a piece of G in everything I make and will make in the future. She made a lasting impact on me that I will carry for my entire life.