My family moved to Westport in June 1966. It was a lonely time for me, an insecure 13-year-old missing my friends in Oak Park, Ill. Somehow my dad knew Beth's dad and we met and spent the summer together. Beth was my first friend in Westport and I so appreciated her for that. I think she enjoyed introducing me to beach life and mildly dirty books. She was more wordly than I and looked glamorous and mature enough to go out with high school boys at 13. I remember her saying she accidently got on the high school bus the first day of 8th grade. I would have died of embarrassment; she probably enjoyed it.

BETH'S PARTING MESSAGE: Wednesday, 9 February 2000 My Dear Friends, I wanted to send you all a ‘thank you’ note, but as it turns out, this is really a ‘please’ note. It’s my way of saying to each of you, “Please, may you receive in your lives the same blessings that you have given me in my life.” Every element of kindness and joy you’ve shared with me means more than I can tell you – the calls just to say hello, to share with me something that’s going on with you, or to ask how I am; the warmth and friendship you’ve given me when we’ve been together; the thoughtfulness behind your cards, flowers and gifts; the great help many of you have been with Cosmo; the smiles that have greeted me every time I ever walked into the doctor’s office… There have been so many other expressions of support from so many people – not just recently, but throughout my whole life. I want more than anything to give it all back to you. The party in January was my way of showing how much I wish to share these feelings of gratitude with you, but I know it wasn’t enough. I lie awake at night, frustrated and wondering how I can make you understand what I’m feeling. I’ve tried to be patient – but you know that’s not my best thing! This is not about being sad, despite the loss I feel when I am away from you. But however hard I try, I don’t think there’s any way I truly convey the depth of my emotions about what your love has done for me. I’ve never understood how people who haven’t had the kind of support I’ve had can get through their lives, since all of you have made every single facet of mine so much richer. I feel like I’ve received more miracles than I could ever count. I hope you understand why it’s so very important for me to tell you this. My heart is so full of love – what I wish for most is to leave this same love with you, so you’ll know and remember, everyday, the difference you’ve made in my life. Love always, Beth

Beth died on Valentines Day, 14 Feb 2000, which is a remarkable gift to us as survivors. She also donated her body to a medical college. Her cremains were returned to her son Henry. After the death of our brother Steve and father Michael, all their ashes were combined in the Atlantic breeze on the shore of Amagansett, NY in 2010. Mark Smollin