Mike Needs issued a special thank-you to the Akron RubberDucks organization
for honoring his late daughter, Elizabeth Needs, at a baseball game in Canal
Park.
Mike writes:
“I
can't adequately express my profound gratitude to the Akron RubberDucks and my
fellow baseball ushers for their support following the tragic death of my
daughter.
“Lizzie,
a nurse at AlterCare in Hartville, died April 28. From the moment of silent
prayer for Elizabeth Needs before last Friday's game (amazingly, Nurse Appreciation
Night), to the commemorative "EN" badges worn by the ushers, to the
long line of ushers in uniform at the funeral home, to the presentation of the
special “scrubs” jersey signed by the entire team, the compassion of this
organization from top to bottom has been extraordinary.
“So
many others also have helped, but especially Patricia Roy for rallying my
Leadership Akron friends, my sister Susan Marconi for her many-layered support,
my daughter Kathryn Terzano for handling all those things none of us wants to
deal with and, of course, Kathy Fraze, who picks me up and keeps me standing
every time I start to fall into the abyss of grief.
“To
all: Don’t wait for a tragedy to tell someone you love them.”
Mike
and Kathy have been together since their BJ days in the newsroom.
Mike was Features
Department Editor, Public Editor and design editor at the BJ before retiring
and beginning a new career as an interpretive specialist with the U.S. Forestry
Service in the Hermit Valley of St. Stanislaus National Forest near Sonora,
California. Which sometimes means portraying author/humorist
Bret Harte in the Lake Alphine Theatre of the Stanislaus National Forest.
Kathy retired from the BJ in 2012 after four decades as copy desk queen. Kathy has written books based
on “letters” from her dog to “Pops” -- Mike Needs -- in care of the U.S.
Forestry Service.
Mike is an Ohio State and Cleveland St. Joseph High
School graduate who lives in Akron when he’s not under the Western skies.
Elizabeth A. Needs, 37,
was born in Huntington, West Virginia and lived in Uniontown most of her life. She
was a nurse.
Lizzie is survived by her son, Jared Newman; father, Mike; mother, Rita Terzano; sister, Kathryn Terzano; uncles, Rev. John D. Terzano and Walter Needs; and aunt, Susan (Ed) Marconi.
Lizzie is survived by her son, Jared Newman; father, Mike; mother, Rita Terzano; sister, Kathryn Terzano; uncles, Rev. John D. Terzano and Walter Needs; and aunt, Susan (Ed) Marconi.
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