Patti Robinson Kaufmann, organizer and ardent supporter of Denvers Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night Walk, passed away July 11, 2008, from lung complications. She was 48 years old.
Rabbi Steven Foster and Cantor Regina Heit officiated at the July 13 served held at Congregation Emanuel. Interment followed at Emanuel Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Mrs. Kaufmann was 37 when she was diagnosed with stage three undifferentiated lymphoma, a deadly form of blood cancer, in 1997.
Although doctors estimated that she had only a 10% chance of surviving the cancer, Mrs. Kaufmann did not give much credence to statistics.
She underwent a bone marrow transplant utilizing cells from her own body in September, 1997. After an arduous recovery period, the cancer went into remission.
Sometimes I would ask myself, why am I alive? she said in a Sept. 23, 2005, IJN interview. The answer took no time at all. I want to feel a part of peoples lives. And I want to make sure the road I traveled helps someone else.
Mrs. Kaufmann, who chaired the first Light the Night Walk with her father Eddie Robinson in 1999 and spearheaded the event for nine consecutive years, was actively recruiting volunteers for this years walk right before her death.
Last year, over 4,000 people participated in the Light the Night Walk, which raised $750,000 in Colorado for patient resource programs and scientific research.
(The 10th Light the Night Walk is Thursday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., 2008, at Washington Park.)
Patricia Robinson was born in 1960 in Denver. After receiving her BS from UNC, she worked as a social intern at National Jewish Hospital and as a counselor for unwed mothers at Youth Benefit Services, Inc.
She married Steve Kaufmann 19 years ago.
Mrs. Kaufmann was the fifth-generation of the Robinson family to join Robinson Dairy.
Initially employed in the production facility, she later served as the sales representative in Colorado Springs, credit manager, human resources director and corporate secretary. She was with the dairy for 16 years, until she became ill.
Mrs. Kaufmann volunteered for a number of Jewish and civic organizations in Denver including JFS, the Loup JCC, Girl Scouts Mile-Hi Council, Colorado Restaurant Assn. and the Colorado Restaurant Education Fund.
In 1986-87, Chefs de Cuisine named Mrs. Kaufmann Purveyor of the Year, and the Colorado Restaurant Assn. honored her with the Richard P. Ayers Award for Distinguished Service in 1994.
A graceful fighter whose smile knocked out the darkness, Mrs. Kaufmann told the IJN that everyone has serious issues. Its what you do with them that matters.
This is my life, she said. Its a good life, and I love it.
Mrs. Kaufmann is survived by her husband Steve Kaufmann of Denver; parents Eddie (Susan) Robinson of Denver and Dana Robinson of Florida; father- and mother-in-law Donald and Henny Kaufmann; sisters Emily (Steve) Gorelik and Debra (Jon Duval) Robinson; brother-in-law Rob (Jen Gilbert-Kaufmann) Kaufmann and sister-in-law Leslie (Mark) Sidell; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Contributions may be made to the Rocky Mountain Chapter, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night; or National Jewish Health (formerly National Jewish Medical and Research Center).
