It is impossible to condense someone’s life into a few hundred words, but Karen Pohl’s chapter is still being written as her legacy lives on in the people who knew her.
It can be difficult to find the words to convey emotion in the midst of a tragedy, but those who knew Pohl know what to say: “Someone who wanted to make the world a better place.” “Someone who was a ray of sunshine in any situation.” “Someone who was a great spirit with a servant’s heart.”
Pohl, a University of Idaho senior in biology, was active in volunteerism as the student coordinator for the ASUI Center for Volunteerism and Social Action. She suffered a stroke April 9 that resulted in her death early Saturday morning. But even in death, Pohl continues to have a positive impact on people’s lives — as an organ donor, her generosity will save a 17-year-old boy.
The unexpectedness of Pohl’s death is especially tragic — she was young, healthy and had ambitions to go to medical school. It can be easier to accept other situations, like car accidents, because the elements that resulted in death are more commonly understood. There is no easily understood reason for Pohl’s death.
But the widespread grief surrounding her death is a testament to the effect Pohl had on those who knew her.
She had a passion for knowledge and people, which she used for good. She was a true listener who cared what you had to say, and tried to make the world a better place through small personal interactions with everyone she encountered each day. Pohl’s caring demeanor was a rare gift in a world where we have so many opportunities to be close to people, but barely say hello.
Even though her death was so sudden, the grieving process will continue. It is important to support one another through this trauma and to remember help is always available from faculty, staff, student leaders and the Counseling and Testing Center. A memorial service will be held for Pohl at 7 p.m. April 25 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Center.
Pohl’s life may have been unexpectedly cut short, but it was not a life wasted. Allow yourself to grieve because the world lost an incredible person, but celebrate her legacy and find hope in the memories she has left behind.
— EE