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On
Monday, August 26th, 2002,
David and Marlowe Klitzky’s
daughter, Lisa Elizabeth Klitzky,
passed away after a long and
courageous battle against
cancer.
Lisa, just
25 years old, was originally
a native of Highland Park,
Illinois and grew up in Long
Grove, with her parents David
and Marlowe and younger sister,
Julie. A graduate of Twin
Groves Jr. High, Lisa also
attended Stevenson High School.
She was an active member of
Class Board, the Student Council
and the Art Club. Lisa was
a favorite among her peers
and teachers. She was famous
for her heartwarming smiles,
a sweet disposition and her
infectious laughter. Her incredible
talent in art separated Lisa
from the pack. Tim Myers,
Lisa's high school art teacher,
noted, “Lisa was a model
art student. She consistently
worked hard to improve her
skills while always demonstrating
an optimistic attitude. Her
eagerness to learn about art
helped create a positive environment
for everyone around her and
as a teacher, my beginning
years were completely rewarded
by Lisa's enthusiasm.”
Following
graduation from Stevenson
in 1995, Lisa attended the
University of Wisconsin- Madison,
where she continued her artistic
studies and earned a Bachelor
of Science in Art in 1999.
At Madison, Lisa expanded
her circle of friends by developing
meaningful relationships with
fellow schoolmates, like those
she enjoyed with her friends
and family back home. As one
college friend remarked, “Lisa
simply was as good as it gets.”
 Lisa
was diagnosed in February
2001 with Rhabdomyosarcoma,
a rare pediatric form of soft
tissue cancer. With a prognosis
of only a 20% survival rate,
Lisa continued to see the
glass as 20% full, versus
80% empty. Prior to starting
chemotherapy treatments, Lisa
donated her hair to “Locks
for Love,” an organization
that makes wigs for children
with cancer. She was truly
selfless when it came to helping
others. Despite an arduous
and exhausting fight against
cancer, Lisa's spirit always
remained high and intact and
her amazing attitude served
as an inspiration to those
around her. She tried to see
humor in everything, naming
her two central line ports
after the musical duo “Simon
and Garfunkel” and laughing
at herself when she'd reach
to put on mascara, forgetting
she didn't have eyelashes!
Never one to give up hope,
Lisa would comment, “I
will have used up all my bad
days for the rest of my life
and will only have good days
once I'm healthy again!”
Lisa's
passing was heartbreaking
to all who knew her. In her
memory, ensuring that her
spirit lives on, devoted family
and friends are continuing
her legacy of beauty, art
and kindness to others by
creating the Lisa Klitzky
Foundation, which strives
to advance education, patient
care and research in order
to improve the quality of
life of adolescents affected
by cancer. Lisa's loving spirit
allows this foundation to
make a difference in the lives
of others, as she would have
done herself.
For
more information on the Lisa
Klitzky Foundation and ways
that you can contribute,
please visit the site at www.lisaklitzkyfoundation.org.
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