Obituaries

In Memoriam: RFH ’80 Grad, Radio Personality, Karen Golembeski Lewis, 63

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of 1980 graduate, radio personality, mom, daughter, sister, and friend to many, Karen Golembeski Lewis, “passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Dec. 26 to celebrate her 63rd birthday.”

Born on Dec. 26, 1962 in Jersey City, Karen graduated from RFH and then Ithaca College in 1984. She studied sociology, though her passion was always in communications.

“She developed a love for radio during her time in Ithaca, hand changing records as a disc jockey in the early ’80s. Karen settled and raised her children in central New York, but her love for radio remained.

“After several decades as a full-time mom, Karen lived out her dream of becoming a radio personality across several stations in Ithaca, Homer, and Syracuse between 2008 and 2020. She enjoyed nothing more than bringing humor and quality music to her listeners.

“Karen described her happy place as Disney World, visiting as often as possible starting in the late ’90s. She was able to visit one last time in 2021 before illness took her ability to travel.

“She loved the magic of Disney, and spent the last decade of her life hoping to find her own fairytale ending.

“While she has left her earthly body behind, she has finally found the love and peace she spent her life searching for in the arms of her savior in heaven.”

Loved ones of Karen Golembeski Lewis in her obituary

Karen is survived by: her four children, Kate (Austin) Ridge, of Rochester NY, Morgan (Devon) Seiple, of New Tripoli PA, Austin (Alex) Zapata, of Cortland NY, and Evan (Skyler) Lewis, of McClean NY; seven grandchildren; her mother, Rose Costello; her brother, John (Mel) Golembeski, of Destin FL; and her sister, Ellen (Rob) Davis, of the Belford section of Middletown.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made in Karen’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America at ALZFDN.org.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Wright-Beard Funeral Home