Public Messages
Name: Anjali
Hi Mr. Robinson.
I just want to express my sincere condolences on your loss. Helena was a wonderful woman with a beautiful spirit. I always enjoyed spending time with the both of you and admired the strength you both found in each other. She was a very special woman and will be greatly missed. You were wonderful with her and always hold on to your happy memories. Your love will continue on forever.
Sincerely,
Anjali
Name: Ann
Dear Ken,
My sincere condolences to you and Helena's family.
May the good memories you shared live in your heart always. Love always perseveres, it does not fail.
Sincerely,
Ann
Name: Anne Prince
Dear Ken,
While I never had the priviledge of meeting your lovely Helena, I so enjoyed reading her posts on the Restaurant Forum.
My mother also had a rare form of a rare disease and in reading this website brought back many memories (some good, some bad) of the whole medical merry-go-round. She lost her battle at age 60 10 years ago this August.
Even though you do not know me, my thoughts and well wishes, along with the many other posters who "knew" her via the internet are with you and your families.
Sincerely,
Anne Prince
Name: Betsy Alger
Dear Ken,
On behalf of myself and the staff at The Frog and The Peach, I offer you our condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.
Sincerely,
Betsy Alger
Name: Betty
Ken, you know how I feel about you and Helen. I've known both of you for over 25 years, and there aren't any words to describe my grief and sense of loss. But I know that she is in a better place now, and I hope that you gain strength from your friends and family during this difficult time.
Name: Daisy
Ken, I am so very sorry to learn of your dear Helena's passing. I met Helena on the AOL crossstitch message boards. She was a generous and wonderful person, who was an inspiration to many. She will be missed. You have been a wonderful husband, and admired for your faithful courage. Take care of yourself. ~Daisy~
Name: Dan Kluge(Dandragons)
I'm so sorry to read about the loss of your Helena. I played many a game with her on AOL, and enjoyed every moment of them. Her courage, bravery, strength, and sense of humor during her battles with her body were awe inspiring to many people myself included and I will never ever forget how hard she fought.
She was a shining light to me here on Earth and now is even brighter in Heaven. I hope you can draw comfort from that. You and your families are in my thoughts and my memories of Helena will never leave me.
Goodbye my friend Helena, thanks for the many happy moments you provided me with.
Name: Ed Weissman
I was a friend of Helena.
(Those of you who have read "Dune" would recognize the quote; I know Helena would as well :)
We first met in college. I didn't know it at the time, but Helena had a crush on me (she told me about it many years later). We were there for each other through some of the rough times, and then lost track after I graduated and moved back to North Jersey. Years later, in about 1995, I got an email message on AOL: "Are you the Ed Weissman who went to Rutgers?"
We chatted online, then talked on the phone, then arranged to meet for lunch. I remember how nervous she was about me seeing her; she had filled me in on the operations. When I did see her, I will now admit that I was shocked... but only for a moment. Then we talked, and it was clear that it was the same Helena, the kind, caring, bright, insightful woman I had known.
Through the ten years that followed, Helena was always there for me, for moral support, or to cheer me up when it was needed, to set me right when I'd screwed up, to be my cheering section when something good occurred. Helena and Ken were the first people to meet my wife, Kathy, not long after we started dating in 2003. With the cancer having become more aggressive, Helena said to me "I hope I'll make it to your wedding". I told her that if there was a just G-d, she would, since there was no one around I wanted to share that particular joy with. And she did.
Helena was a giver. Often she was blunt, and at times said things I didn't want to hear... but never out of malice or ill will, always out of caring, concern, empathy.
I will miss her kind words. I will miss her strength. I will miss the joy she brought with her. I will miss her insight and her good humor.
I will miss her all the days of my life.
But she is at peace, and Ken is, too... and there is comfort in that
Name: Ett
So sorry to hear of Helena's passing... she was really an inspiration to all of us dancing in the world now... know that she's at peace now and with you in spirit always. Ett
Name: Hilda Lauber
Sweet dear Helena …what a lovely person. I admired her for going on with life no matter what. She kept on with her projects and dealt with going to the NY hospitals such a distance away. She continued to go to the square dancing events knowing she may not be able to dance. I loved the dancing pendant on your car antenna. She continued going to embroidery meetings and stitching and being herself. She so lovingly stitched projects for special people. You were a wonderful couple together…supporting each other during each of your crises together. You continued to go on vacations…not afraid to drive for days on end.
She certainly was a special person to anyone who knew her. May God bless you in your grief and have a special job for your future!! My Best, Hilda Lauber
Name: Jill Sybalsky
Helena will never be forgotten and my thoughts are with you.
I always admired how Helena pushed ahead even when she wasn't feeling so great. Helena was an insipration to many and will always be in my heart.
I will always have fond memories of you both from New Jersey to AACC to Cherryridge.
May you cherish the memories of your life with Helena forever. May your fondest memories bring you the peace and comfort Helena would wish for you.
With sympathy in your time of loss.
Jill Sybalsky
Name: Joan Goodsell
Ken and family,
I was so sorry to hear of Helena's passing. Although I never met her in person, I always enjoyed reading her posts on the Metrostitchers board. She will be missed by all of us.
Name: John M. Salin
I am praying and will continue to do so for all of Helenas' family and friends. I believe we are all here to inspire each other in some way, and the courage and strength shown by Helena, and Ken throughout their fight tells me to be more thankful for the simple but so very important things in my own life - family, friends, health. Everyday gifts from GOD.
I offer my condolences to you , Ken, Judy & Mark & Syd, Mike, and Mrs. T.
I don't know but I think your strength comes from a divine source.
John Salin
Name: Joyce Runfola
My condolences to you and all Helene's family and friends. I have been following your experiences with ACC since I was diagnosed in 1999. She has been a guiding light for me with her strength and fortitude.
God bless you all, especially at this sad time.
Name: Marc Schiele
Ken
I was sadened to here of your loss. I went to school with Helena from the 2 grade on. Although we were not close I do remember some interesting times we both endured at school. Knowing she is in a better place eases (some of the pain).
Marc Schiele
Name: Marsha (Kheel) Goldwasser
As president of the Rutgers Hillel Alumni Association I would like to extend our condolences to your entire family at this time. Helena was an active member and supporter of Rutgers Hillel both as a student and an alumnus and we will all miss her very much.
Name: Mel Miles
I knew Helena as a member of the MetroStitchers. She was accomplished and knowledgeable, and always willing to share and help. We will miss her very much.
Name: Myrna Ryder
Dear Ken,
Over the years I have seen you and Helena at RU Hillel functions. You seemed so happy together. I was saddened to hear that Helena had become so ill, and had died.
May you find comfort in the memories you have of your life together, and in the support of family and friends. And may her memory be for a Blessing.
Name: Rosie Saferstein
Ken and Family, My condolences to all of you. Helena was a delight on eGullet and her posts will be missed. I remember being so impressed with her strength and courage when we met her at an eGullet dinner.
Name: Rusty & Richard Ball
Ken, we are very sorry about your loss. We have followed Helena's story over the years we have know you both, and felt lucky to know her. She will be greatly missed. We can only believe, though, that after such a hard struggle, she is at peace now.
God be with you and your family.
Rusty & Richard
Name: Susan Adam
I just wanted to express my condolences about Helena's passing. LuAnne had just emailed me about a week ago to tell me what a struggle she was having.
What a brave woman she was! And kudos to you, Ken, for all you did. I know Helena knew how fortunate she was to have you with her.
My thoughts are with you and I wll be visiting the ACC site.
Susan Adam
Name: Susan Hoekstra (ANG)
Helena will never be forgotten and my thoughts are with you.
Name: Suzy Novoselac
Ken, I was so sorry to hear of Helena's passing. She used to post quite a lot on the AOL Cross Stitch Message Board, and I've missed her. She was always so upbeat and positive about her experiences with her illness, and was such an inspiration to others!
I know you (and we) will miss her a lot, but at least we have happy memories of her that we can think about. Bless you!
Name: Yvonne Robinson
Helena was a strong person, I'm gald she has shared her story. Thanks Helena.
My husband has had acc since 2001, resection this May 05, and now has moved to the lungs.
It hard to tell people about this form on cancer,
because it's not as rapid. Everyone has ideas because they are thinking it's like other forms of cancer.
To Helena's Family may god be with you.