Karen Sakol
1951-08-02 1994-02-09
Karen passed away in 1994 at the age of 42 of breast cancer.
Karen was one of a kind. She was an extremely loyal friend who was always there for you. Karen was a very gifted artist who majored in fashion illustration at Syracuse University. Although she never used her illustration skills in her work, she had a solid career with IBM. Karen was also a thespian, having acted in numerous plays that included only disabled actors.
Of note, is that Karen volunteered on Avivo's Business Partner Council. Avivo has "helped individuals transform their lives, particularly people who face significant and multiple challenges to health, stability and economic advancement. This includes poverty, racism, mental health and substance use concerns, homelessness, little or no education, outdated work skills, limited English language skills, and more."
And Avivo created an annual award named after Karen.
"As a business partner Karen Sakol embodied what would become the values of Avivo. She herself was a person with a disability and was very passionate about supporting others in their goals to become self-sufficient. She was so passionate in fact that her brother and sister-in-law become business partners after she passed away, until they retired to Arizona. It is because of her passion and the impact of her efforts to support our organization that we created the Karen Sakol award. Each year we choose a partner to recognize who demonstrates that same passion and commitment to impacting the lives of those we serve." [Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIqgqoprVCU/]
This is quite a tribute to an incredible human being (said a classmate).
Karen was one of a kind. She was an extremely loyal friend who was always there for you. Karen was a very gifted artist who majored in fashion illustration at Syracuse University. Although she never used her illustration skills in her work, she had a solid career with IBM. Karen was also a thespian, having acted in numerous plays that included only disabled actors.
Of note, is that Karen volunteered on Avivo's Business Partner Council. Avivo has "helped individuals transform their lives, particularly people who face significant and multiple challenges to health, stability and economic advancement. This includes poverty, racism, mental health and substance use concerns, homelessness, little or no education, outdated work skills, limited English language skills, and more."
And Avivo created an annual award named after Karen.
"As a business partner Karen Sakol embodied what would become the values of Avivo. She herself was a person with a disability and was very passionate about supporting others in their goals to become self-sufficient. She was so passionate in fact that her brother and sister-in-law become business partners after she passed away, until they retired to Arizona. It is because of her passion and the impact of her efforts to support our organization that we created the Karen Sakol award. Each year we choose a partner to recognize who demonstrates that same passion and commitment to impacting the lives of those we serve." [Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIqgqoprVCU/]
This is quite a tribute to an incredible human being (said a classmate).