My Second Mom

                                               
Carole Wolken was my judo instructor when I was 11 years old. She was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and passed away in her sleep on Dec.11, 2019.
     I'd re-connected with her years ago when I lived in Florida and she was in-state for a vacation. When she came to Florida we would see each other and during one visit she gave me her black belt. She felt it would not mean much to her kids but that I would appreciate it. I have it in a display case in my office. It was the belt she wore when I first met her and it had burned itself into my memory.
     In 2018, when I accepted the 10th degree, it was Carole who presented the new belt to me. That's what this photo is of. Shawn Knight and his wife, Rebecca, put on the event there in Tucson, where Carole was living at the time. Shawn walked her to the stage for the presentation. That's him behind her.
     I was in Tucson the first weekend of December this year and Carole, with her husband Steve, had planned to meet. That was when she told me she had cancer and that if she did not feel up to it, she hoped I would understand. I got to town and she told me she had gone into hospice care. She passed a few days later.
     I have a lot of great memories of her and am blessed to have had her there with us for my promotion, and to have her watch me teach. She told me I'd made her proud. Carole was like a mother to me over the years. I'd lost my own mom years ago.
     Carole and my mom were the two people I credit with getting me into the arts. Mom got me in, Carole kept me there. The school she taught at, Shindo Kan, in Chicago, instilled so much in me that I am grateful for.
     I was informed of her passing my her nephew, David Kikoen, in Chicago. David is my counterpart in that it was Carole who also got him into the arts and he too has reached Senior Master rank in his art. David Zorich is the son of the owner of the dojo we went to and David is also an accomplished Judoka. We have Carole to give credit to, at least in part, for what we have achieved.
     Introducing her to the Kenpo community at the Tucson event was a pleasure and privilege. She inspired people and put a smile on their faces.
     Miss you, "Mom".

Carole's belt

 

The dojo

                                     

Blaise Joseph Zorich, who taught us all.