When I first met Helen 38 years ago at Stony Brook University, I knew that there was something special about her. We dated for a year, but after graduation, she moved to California, and thought that would be the end of the relationship. When I came for a visit a few months later for what was supposed to be a two week vacation, I ended up staying in California for almost seven years. In that time we fell in love, got married, bought a house and had our first child, before we moved back to Stony Brook, NY. Although we parted ways several years ago, I cherish the times we lived our lives together and raising a family with three wonderful sons. Helen was a smart and beautiful person, and a caring and dedicated mother and teacher. Her sudden premature departure from this world is a great loss to family and friends and anyone who's lives she has touched. She will be greatly missed.