It seems Karen Pohl lived life with such passion and excitement that she left an impression on everyone who knew her — an impression of positivity and goodness.
“She is extremely kind, genuine and driven … and driven not in a selfish way but she genuinely wanted to help people, she wanted to leave an impact and obviously she has done that,” Devon Giguiere said.
Giguiere said she met Pohl during their freshman year in college, when they lived in Theophilus Tower and had terrible roommates. They moved in together and because their different personalities balanced each other out well, Giguiere said.
“Being roommates with Karen was the perfect world in a non-annoying way,” she said.
Pohl suffered a stroke April 9 that resulted in her death April 14.
Even though her life was short, Erica Bree Rosenblum said it is beautiful to celebrate someone’s life, especially when it is as full and rich as Pohl’s.
“She can be an inspiration for all of us in how much there is to engage in in life,” Rosenblum said.
Rosenblum was Pohl’s adviser and professor during most of her time at the University of Idaho. Pohl also worked for her as a researcher, most recently in investigating a strange disease randomly killing frogs all around the world. Rosenblum said Pohl was one of the biology department’s top students who contributed original scientific research that could be published.
“It’s unusual for someone to be so smart and motivated and open to new experiences,” Rosenblum said. “Karen was always looking for opportunities to expand her classroom experience.”
Though many people excel at research and academics, Rosenblum said Pohl was different because of her warm personality, and because she was always excited and making everything more fun for everyone working with her. But Pohl’s involvement was not limited to science. She was also an EMT and an ASUI Alternative Service Break student coordinator.
“But she didn’t just have her toe dipped in, she was really, really invested in everything she did,” Rosenblum said.
Bruce Mann, ASUI Volunteer Center coordinator, said he met Pohl when he was an adviser on an ASB trip she participated in her freshman year. Mann said Pohl was constantly positive, bright, goofy and fun, and a sponge when it came to absorbing new information.
“She had a passion for people and a passion for knowledge and she used that for good,” he said.
Pohl was a true listener, Mann said, someone who listened to you speak and you knew she cared. She used her gift of listening and caring about people to make the world a better place through small personal interactions each day, Mann said.
“She was always looking to connect with people on an individual level,” he said. “That’s something I learned from and take a lot from.”
Pohl was studying biology and planned to graduate in May, but still hadn’t decided on a set course of action after graduation. Mann said she was trying to find something to make a difference and affect change.
“We don’t know exactly what she was going to do, but we knew it was gonna be good,” Mann said. “Something to make effective change for individuals and society.”
The impact of Pohl’s death on the campus and Moscow community is a testament to the impact she had on those who knew her, Mann said.
“Her influence is going to live on forever and that gives me hope,” he said.
Coping with the devastation of student deaths is part of UI Dean of Students Bruce Pitman’s job, but Pohl’s death was personal, Pitman said.
Pitman said he got to know Pohl when they attended the same ASB trip to Louisiana to help with restoration after Hurricane Ike. Pitman said he remembers Pohl well.
“She worked so hard and fell into the groove, and she always had a killer smile,” he said.
Pitman described Pohl as a “great spirit with a servant’s heart who wanted to use the great gifts that she had to do good.” The focus now is to care for those who are in the greatest pain and help them through the grieving process, Pitman said.
“It was so unexpected and so unlikely that it’s a bit more complicated,” he said. “It’s easier to accept other situations like a car accident where the ingredients are more commonly understood.”
Faculty, staff, student leaders and the Counseling and Testing Center are all resources UI has to offer to help students who are mourning, Pitman said. There will also be opportunities to celebrate Pohl’s life, like the memorial service that will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine’s Catholic Center April 25.
Pohl’s family will receive her degree at commencement and she will also receive a special award from the college of science, Pitman said.
“We will remember her,” he said.
Pohl encouraged others to live with the same passion and desire for helping others that she did. Giguiere said Pohl convinced her to go to Ecuador on a winter ASB trip, and to not let laziness stop her when she could do something to help people’s lives. But mostly, Giguiere said, Pohl was just fun.
After volunteering in Costa Rica, Giguiere said Pohl adopted the motto “pura vida” or “pure life” and that was her outlook on life. Pohl was fearless to try anything including skydiving, parasailing and bungee jumping out of a hot air balloon. Giguiere said Pohl told her the experience was scary but the sensation afterward was to die for.
Pohl loved dancing and had terrible taste in music, Giguiere said, and only listened to Rihanna and Beyonce. And even though she always had good intentions, Pohl still had her tricky ways.
“She was a blast to be with, she loved the sun … everything about her reminded me of sunshine because she is that kind of person,” Giguiere said.
Elisa Eiguren can be reached at [email protected]