The loss of a child is, thankfully, unimaginable to most families. However, there are those right around us that may ‘suffer in silence’ as discussions on the loss of a child are delicate and difficult, as they are not in the natural order of things.

 

Ellen and Frank Svitek, residents of Ibis, experienced the unimaginable when they lost their dear daughter, Kate, in a catastrophic snowboarding accident in Bend, Oregon. She was 22 years old.

 

In early 2002, Kate and her friends enjoyed snowboarding together, each proficient in their chosen outdoor sport. The group unknowingly separated, and when her friends reached the mountain base, they waited for Kate, who had not yet returned. Before long, the alert went out. 

The Ski Patrol and other emergency personnel began a full-on search and rescue mission, utilizing snowmobiles, searchers on snowshoes, skis, search and rescue dogs, and even helicopters. The Svitek family, Ellen, Frank, and their son, Michael, had immediately flown to Bend from their home in Pennsylvania and intermingled with and encouraged all the volunteers. The search became national news, and on a segment of the Today Show, the Sviteks could ask for more volunteers. The rescuers were tireless and vowed to Ellen, Frank, and Michael that they’d not stop until their daughter was found.

 

After two grueling weeks, the family’s Rabbi flew to Bend to accompany the Svitek family home to Pennsylvania. At his suggestion, a Memorial Service for Kate was held and was attended by 1700  friends, neighbors, classmates, and family. Unbelievably, with the power of prayer, the very next day, the news came that Kate’s body had been found. She was discovered headfirst in a deep tree well, whose opening had been obscured by snow during the search.

 

Needless to say, the entire harrowing experience left family members, friends, associates, and fellow congregants in deep sadness. It wasn’t long before the family and caring people joined together to establish something positive and meaningful in the wake of a life situation so fraught with grief. They wanted something substantial to remember and honor Kate. Those who knew Kate were aware of her hopes, dreams, and passion for the great outdoors. 

To begin with, when Kate was a youngster, her family had purchased and renovated an idyllic small farmstead in Upper Dublin, PA, a suburb outside Philadelphia. The property was adjacent to a 38-acre environmental nature center run cooperatively by the school district and township. Kate, Michael, and their friends spent carefree days exploring the area and helping tend to the family’s sheep, horses, donkeys, cats, and even goats. Of course, their beloved rescue dogs, mostly Brittany Spaniels, happily played along with the children.

 

This experience became integral to Kate’s life and vision. She often wrote about her dreams for the future. At just 17, she submitted the following with her college application to the University of Vermont: “I want to spend my life helping people to better understand our natural world and appreciate it in the same way I have done by becoming part of nature. Our natural world is a powerful force, and I want to try to provide people with the opportunity to grow through their interaction with the environment.” A mighty vision, especially for one so young.

 

Kate taught everyone around her how essential it is to make every moment count while enjoying life. She packed a great deal into her 22 1/2 years—hiking, biking, scuba diving, riding horseback, snowboarding, environmental activities, and cooking, to name a few of her passions. She also shared her infectious laugh with her family, friends, and the campers she led into the great outdoors. 

In her junior year in college, she applied to and attended the National Outdoor Leadership School in Patagonia, Antarctica. In her application essay, she wrote, “I dream of all the places I’d like to go and all the things I want to do. I’m always looking for adventure and new places to explore.”

 

Drawn to the Pacific Northwest and the lure of Mt. Rainier, Kate attempted to summit Mt. Rainier three times; twice she was turned back due to severe weather conditions. Finally, in September 2001, she achieved her goal and reached the summit.  Her father, Frank, accompanied her in 2021 but didn't reach the top. In her memory, he tried again and succeeded in 2002. She also loved her work at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort as a ticket taker and her role as a naturalist at a residential school for at-risk students. 

 

By May 2002, the Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation (KSMF) was established with a substantial Board of Directors. To date, the foundation has funded 104 environmentally-related programs in 32 states. Thanks to the foundation, thousands of children and young adults have garnered countless new experiences. In the first year, $10,000 in grants were funded, and by 2024, that number had grown to approximately $200,000 annually.  The Foundation has no corporate sponsors and relies on fundraisers and annual gifts from grassroots supporters, such as their friends and neighbors at Ibis. The KSMF Grant Committee, comprised of five people, reviews and approves the applications submitted from around the country. Locally, one of our annual grant recipients is Grassy Waters Preserve.

 

Ellen is, by all accounts, the heart and soul of the foundation’s day-to-day endeavors. As Kate’s Mom, it is with compassion and understanding that I hear her say that the foundation “Gives me a reason to get up every morning.” Such is the anguish and grief of losing a child.

 

Living at Ibis since 2005, the Sviteks are enthusiastic golfers. Ellen was a Captain of the D-6 tennis team, and she is on the board of the Preserve. She worked as a special education teacher, and Frank worked in the insurance industry. In PA, Ellen was president of her synagogue, Beth Or. The pair have owned 11 rescue dogs and are especially fond of their current rescue, Brittany Spaniels, Manny, and Mocha. They enjoy late spring and summer at their current Blue Bell, PA home.

 

For more foundation details, kindly visit online: www.katesvitekmemorial.org