This morning, Seth lost his battle with leukemia. He died peacefully with no pain or discomfort.
The funeral will be on Monday December 24, 2007
Location: Plaza Community Chapel
630 Amsterdam Ave (at West 91 Street)
Time: 10 AM.
Phone: 212 769 4400
We want to thank all of you for your constant, love caring and support throughout these past ten months. You will always be in our hearts.
Alan, Sheera and Mom
Filed under: Cancer |
Surviving Leukemia 
I’m so sorry. Hamakom yenachem eshem b’soch sha’ar aveile tzion v’yerushalayim. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
You will always be remembered Seth.
We miss you, Seth. I hope you find peace where you are. Love to your family.
our thoughts and prayers are with your family. I am so sorry for your loss. Seth always was an inspiration to me for his courage and strength.
With our love – Glenn and Amy Gleason
With much love, you are missed.
A great loss for all of us. Our hearts and prayers are with all of you now at this time when words seem so painfully inadequate.
seth you will stay with me for far longer than we actually knew each other. you said to me last week that we would speak every day and I believe it. you live on in the many memories that we all have and in the very special way that you touched each of us who proudly call you “friend”. i believe that wherever you are now, you were needed there now and that there are grateful spirits welcoming you who rejoice in your reunion.
karen, you are an inspiration, an eshet chayel and paragon of motherhood. karen, alan and sheera, i wish you a long life. sending all thoughts of comfort at this time. with love, caroline
We are sorry and in shock.
He will remain a great friend.
Dear Karen,
You are beyond parallel and he is without pain or suffering. l am planting a garden for him.
Strength and love
Steve
I am so sad to read this, I was hoping that there was still some time left.
This is a such a great loss to all those who knew and loved him and to his family.
I send my deepest sympathies but take comfort in the knowledge that Seth knew that so many of us remember him filled with life and will mourn his loss and carry his love.
Marylyn
Dear Karen,
Where and when will you and alan be sitting shiva?
I’m so sorry about this great loss. I honor Seth’s courage and always will remember him for his diverse talents, quick wit, and generosity.
Kol hakavod,
Jennifer
he is at peace, now. we will all miss him so so much, but he’s not in pain.
Karen, you are clearly where Seth got his strength and love from.
I have no words left…
all my love,
a
You have been a great Mom to Seth.
Even though Seth no longer walks this earth, the people will remember him for his spirit, grace, and courage.
My condolences to you all.
There are no words to express how saddened I am by this. I have re-written this at least 10 times trying to find the right words. I will go with my gut… It is horrible that Seth was taken from this world. A smart, outgoing, and loved by many kind of guy. As superficially I knew him, I know that we would all be happier with him here with us. My only consolation is that he now serves as an angel to someone. Imagine someone having Seth as their own very special angel. A stand-up, morally correct, mentor, voice of reason, voice of mischief, humorous, affable kind of angel. That may not be a consolation to you now during this very difficult time, but to someone like me- it gives me hope that one day, we will meet again, that his good goes on and does not end with us.
My sincerest condolences to you and your family.
Be in peace.
Ms. Palmer –
My deepest condolences at this time to you and Alan and the family. The strengthen you both have shown during this past year has been admirable and an true example of the bond between mother and son.
I know the support and care for which you gave being by Seth’s side helped him find the ability to move forward each day and strive to beat this.
Seth truly was a gift to this world in every sense of the word and he will be missed. The memories he’s left us will be held close to our hearts.
Please know our love, thoughts and many prayers are with all of you. We are so very sorry for your great loss.
our love,
Bonnie and Jeffrey
A terrible loss. My deepest condolences and prayers for your family. Seth, you beautiful, beautiful man, you lived life to its fullest, you taught us so much, you faced all your fears. We’ll all reunite someday, in the kingdom of love. Until then, look over us from time to time, and say a good word for us to the Man Upstairs, won’t you?
Shalom Seth, you will be missed.
-TPP
My heartfelt condolences to all. Seth was a vibrant, creative, brilliant soul who looked at the world through a beautiful lens. His passing is a terrible loss.
My deepest sympathy, Mark.
Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about Seth’s passing. He will be missed.
We are thinking of you during this difficult time.
With deepest sympathy,
Joe, Mirella & Jack Goldwasser
I am so sorry and so sad about your loss. My deepest condolences.
It was a privilege to have known Seth. He was a great person. So talented. Such a bright spark. Very giving.
My thoughts are with you.
Adam
I am so sorry for your loss. I know Seth fought hard to stay with us and although I didn’t know him, i know he will be greatly missed by all that love him especially Andrew. Know that he is in a better place and will always be a part of your heart.
Love,
Shelley
Seth…
I think of him and see those big beautiful eyes…and lashes that most women envy and pay big bucks to stroke on…and of course, his big smile and dimples for miles. I don’t think I ever saw him angry or mad…Seth always had a gentle and happy countenance.
In fact, I don’t ever remember Seth ever saying a bad word about anyone or anything…well, maybe a couple of expletives over some lost love…but I don’t think that really counts. The bottom line, Seth was a decent human being. He was cultured and exuded a quiet elegance unlike many of this day and age. A legacy from his mother and Grandma Millie and Uncle Dick.
It is such a shame that he is “gone” from the earthly plane….because he had so much more to teach us and contribute to society. I don’t think we can say that about many people in today.
I am grateful for the time we spent together when he lived here in Los Angeles. It was so nice to have family and someone my “own age” to go out with…the only thing I disliked was that he would pick up a cigarette when he had a martini…needless to say I used to pick on him for smoking to no end and he would promise to drop the icky habit while beaming his beautiful smile…who could be angry with him?
And we definitely loved our martinis…shared in person and during our late nite phone catch ups…he used to be so busy when he worked at Viant that he woudl call me at 11 PM…PACIFIC TIME…which meant it was three hours later back east…but we would gab for at least an hour……oh I laugh to think about those…crazy nights…
Oh there is so much more that I will share. I think this blog is a wonderful living document and tribute to the life of a man who obviously was so well loved and who loved others just as well.
It was hard for me to tell Zach and Josh…they too spent quality time with Seth while he was living here and he was a “must-see” on our trips to NYC.
Zach and Josh both loved Seth dearly…he had such a wonderful way of connecting with them…making them feel special…they too are very hurt and saddened by his passing…and they send their love to all…it is hard for them to make sense of someone so young leaving us…well, it’s hard for all of us…no doubt.
for my darling Seth….another hole has been bored through my heart…and the hearts of all your loved ones, and especially your mother….our “mom”…one cannot imagine the sorrow of losing a child so young…and it has been happening too often these days….Thank goodness that you had the past year with her to share so much along your journey and, I am sure that you lived a lifetime with her and she with you….
Again, to Karen, Alan and Sheera…I pray for your continued strength over the next few days…and I am so sorry I cannot be with you all at this time as I am not able to make it to NY. To BJ/Lenny/Aunt Maxine and the rest of the family…my heart goes out to you as well…how lucky Seth was to have you there in his last days…
I will continue to send my love and support and my dear friends here in L.A. as well as my temple’s Cantor send their condolences and prayers as well.
With all my love,
Marla
Dear Family of Seth,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I had the priviledge of working with Seth on many occasions throughout his career, and I feel very lucky to have been his friend.
Again, my deepest sympathy.
Andrew
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.
Put down the knitting,
The book and the broom.
Time for a holiday.
Life is Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.
Come taste the wine,
Come hear the band.
Come blow your horn,
Start celebrating;
Right this way,
Your table’s waiting
No use permitting
some prophet of doom
To wipe every smile away.
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret!
I used to have a girlfriend
known as Elsie
With whom I shared
Four sordid rooms in Chelsea
She wasn’t what you’d call
A blushing flower…
As a matter of fact
She rented by the hour.
The day she died the neighbors
came to snicker:
“Well, that’s what comes
from too much pills and liquor.”
But when I saw her laid out like a Queen
She was the happiest…corpse…
I’d ever seen.
I think of Elsie to this very day.
I’d remember how’d she turn to me and say:
“What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Come to the Cabaret.”
And as for me,
I made up my mind back in Chelsea,
When I go, I’m going like Elsie.
Start by admitting
From cradle to tomb
Isn’t that long a stay.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
Only a Cabaret, old chum,
And I love a Cabaret!
Cheers old chum – Thanks for singing and helping to remind me that life is a Cabaret.
Jordan
Dear Karen:
I have not been there the way I would have liked to be for you and Seth over the past many months but you have always been in my thoughts. I hope I will be able to be there for you now, to bring you comfort. I will see you tomorrow but hopefully on some sort of a regular basis thereafter.
Seth was a beautiful human being. I will always picture him smiling. You have been an extraordinary mother to him in ways that no words can express. May you somehow find comfort in knowing what a wonderful and special child you raised and nurtured and in reflecting on how much joy he brought to so many.
Love,
Edna
Dear Karen, Alan, and Sheera,
Our deepest sympathies on Seth’s very untimely death. He was a beacon to all of his friends, a source of lots of hugs, laughter, and silliness; loved life and lived life to its fullest, and will be missed by many, MANY people whose lives he touched in his own way.
My husband, Cary, and I wish your family courage and strength over the next week, and the rest of this “first” year.
Susan Jacobs Leonidas
I’m just stepping into the shower to shampoo my hair for the service tomorrow, but I felt compelled to leave another comment. The last phone conversation Seth and I had, which was just before the transplant, was an amazing one. Not just because it was so fraught with all the usual aspects of our conversations, like laughter and gossip and talk of food and comparing notes on our dogs (I was as thrilled when he got Voodoo as he was when I got Buddy in ’03), but because he was so optimistic. I had mentioned to him that just a few weeks earlier, in late July of ’07, I had flown to Dallas to finish collaborating on my screenplay (my collaborator, who is much younger than we, was still living there with his folks before he moved to Los Angeles this fall). And Seth wanted me to tell him everything about Dallas and what I thought. I said, “Believe it or not, the downtown area reminds me a lot of Center City in Philly.” He said, “Then I’d hate it. Don’t tell me any more, I’m already ill.” And we laughed. Then I said, “Listen, I know you don’t remember that many people from high school, but do you remember Stu Mazlish?” He said, “Of course I remember Stuart.” I said, “Well, Stu lives in Dallas now, he’s got a great job there, and he and his wife and I all had dinner together and went out for cocktails after.” He said, “Say no more. If you have to go out there again next year, I’m joining you. Even if Dallas resembles Philly.” And we laughed again, and made some more small talk, and then he had to hang up to have a treatment. That was our last conversation.
Even if it resembled Philly, he would have loved Dallas as much as I did. I only wish we could have taken that trip.
See you all tomorrow morning at Plaza,
Drew
I’m just stepping into the shower to shampoo my hair for the service tomorrow, but I felt compelled to leave another comment. The last phone conversation Seth and I had, which was just before the transplant, was an amazing one. Not just because it was so fraught with all the usual aspects of our conversations, like laughter and gossip and talk of food and comparing notes on our dogs (I was as thrilled when he got Voodoo as he was when I got Buddy in ’03), but because he was so optimistic. I had mentioned to him that just a few weeks earlier, in late July of ’07, I had flown to Dallas to finish collaborating on my screenplay (my collaborator, who is much younger than we, was still living there with his folks before he moved to Los Angeles this fall). And Seth wanted me to tell him everything about Dallas and what I thought. I said, “Believe it or not, the downtown area reminds me a lot of Center City in Philly.” He said, “Then I’d hate it. Don’t tell me any more, I’m already ill.” And we laughed. Then I said, “Listen, I know you don’t remember that many people from high school, but do you remember Stu Mazlish?” He said, “Of course I remember Stuart.” I said, “Well, Stu lives in Dallas now, he’s got a great job there, and he and his wife and I all had dinner together and went out for cocktails after.” He said, “Say no more. If you have to go out there again next year, I’m joining you. Even if Dallas resembles Philly.” And we laughed again, and made some more small talk, and then he had to hang up to have a treatment. That was our last conversation.
Even if it resembled Philly, he would have loved Dallas as much as I did. I only wish we could have taken that trip.
See you all tomorrow morning at Plaza,
Drew
Seth,
You’ve touched all our lives. You will be missed.
Seth’s family
Words cannot explain our feelings at this time. We hope that Seth is now in a happier place.
Seth was a kind, warm, caring, intelligent and passionate human being. Never heard him utter a bad word about anyone. The world was a better place with Seth.
With his passion and intelligence came a humbleness difficult to explain. One of the brightest people ever to work at AKQA. We will miss him.
From your old boss Nick C and friends at AKQA
Not sure waht to say really, i know fromt he last post news wasn’t so good, but I hadn’t realised it was as bad as it was. We never met face to face but did share a few thoughts via email, and i won’t forget those that we shared.
Rob – http://cmlblog.spaces.live.com
I attended Seth’s funeral service today, and was overcome by the rabbi’s words. He understood Seth, and knew him…just like reading all these posts from family and friends makes me feel. Sharing good stories, and pain from his loss. Yes, there are many tears.
I miss him, and will forever. His greatest gift was for people and relationships. He was always there for people – with advice, or to listen, or offer support. What a larger than life human being. Ohhh, his tireless pursuit of life, and energy, and drive.
I smile when I think of his expressions…and can just imagine his voice when another friend mentioned in a post about Dallas: “don’t tell me any more, I’m already ill”. How very Seth – witty, urbane, cultured, and loving.
To Karen “Mom”: I grieve for you, as well. To have to go through this unnatural order of events. Please know that I’m thinking of you, and I’m truly honoured to have met you, and spent some time together, with Seth. Please, if you come to Toronto to visit your friend, do get in touch…I would love to see you.
Meeting Seth was a random blessed thing, for me. He inspired me to be better, to do more, not to squander life. I’m better for knowing him. I will remember him with great affection and love. He is a touchstone, or a barometer, of what I do in my life, and how I conduct it.
love,
andrea pilati
Karen, Alan & Sheera,
My deepest condolences to you. Although I only knew Seth briefly and sadly lost contact with him about 10 years ago, he touched my life so much that he has always remained in my thoughts and always will. He was an amazingly warm and generous person and I feel privileged to have had to opportunity to know him.
Wendy
I am so sorry, Karen, that you have had to join this ‘club’ of moms who have lost their children to this horrible disease….please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, and please feel free to contact me if I can help you in any way.
Diane in Texas
Dear Seth’s family,
My deepest condolences to all of you. I knew Seth from our project work together at Viant and like most people there, he’s more of a friend and a compatriot than just a coworker. He’ll be greatly missed.
Wan
Family of Seth,
I heard of your loss yesterday and spent the last two days thinking of Seth. I worked with Seth for a couple of years at Organic and was touched by his spirit. I remember his wonderful smile, his passion for ideas and ability to move mountains. His love for voodoo.
Seth will be missed.
Troy
I am so sorry, words are inadequate to express how saddened I am by this. My prayers are with all of you.
My deepest condolences to all of Seth’s family and friends. It is so hard to believe he has departed from us.
I knew Seth as a wonderful, talented colleague at Viant. I was deeply troubled when I learned of his initial diagnosis. I lifted him up in prayer daily. I was so hopeful with the transplant, and deeply saddened to learn that it was not going to grant him a new life.
May God grant you his peace and comfort at this time.
Dear Seth’s Family,
I started following your blog in October when my 28-year old husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with AML. The strength Seth showed over the past year has been an inspiration, and I’ll always be thankful to the blog. I wanted you to know that although I didn’t know Seth, I too am grieving for him.
I am so saddened to get this news. Seth and I knew each other from the old silicon alley gang – we kept up sporadically over the years and more recently when he started the blog. I am so sad for your loss, and hope you are comforted a bit in knowing that I cant think of Seth without putting a smile on my face – he was just so so funny and smart and entertaining. wwwac and nynma gatherings were a hoot with seth in the room.
I had not kept up with Seth’s latest turn and am truly sorry I did not get an opportunity to chat with him and be more supportive. I will think of him often.
This blog is truly a testament to an amazing young man, his friends and family –all your love and support are an inspiration
Hamakom yenachem etchem b’toch sha’ar aveile tzion v’yerushalayim. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
i’ve been a constant reader of this blog as i am also suffering from AML. i know he fought a good fight but God’s ways are higher than ours. i was truly inspired by his courage. i will forever remember seth. God bless. sending my love and prayers.
My deepest condolences to all of Seths family, I was saddened to hea of Seths passing. Some of my fondest memories of high school were with Seth and his amazing talents.
It’s bitterly cold here in SLC, which brings warm memories of Seth playing the piano in the auditorium at FHHS when it was too cold for us to stand outside and wait for class to start.
I also remember Seth inviting me to Passover at his home, a truly delightful evening with his family. Seth taught me so much about the things I knew so little of.
I regret that I had been remiss in keeping in contact but from everything I read on this blog. He was still the same Seth. I’m so glad I had the chance to know him
The stars will always shine brighter now. May you all find peace knowing that each soul is a beautiful flower that passes from the earth, only to bloom anew in heavens garden
Seth you will be missed
Dear Karen and family
There are no words I can express to comfort you in your loss. I am desperately sorry about the passing of your son.
I only just found this blog on Christmas Day and have barely read a little bit, but it is beautifully clear what an incredibly wonderful impact Seth made on so many people and what an incredible mom you are.
My 24 year old son, Steven, has CML.
I am sending you a really sincere cyber hug.
love and light
Annie
Steven’s mom
http://livingwithcml.blogspot.com
Words are a poor conduit for emotions. Perhaps music could do the trick a bit better, if only I had Seth’s talent. I don’t.
Having not seen or spoken to Seth in many years, he remains, in my mind, a boyish fount of entusiasm and hope, with dimples.
Perhaps it’s not so true that bad news travels fast since I only found out about Seth’s illness after he had passed. I have taken the time to read through nearly all of the blog. It is a testament to a valiant soul with deep faith, bravery and humor (and the ability to communicate it).
My deepest condolences to Karen and Allen, may Hashem comfort you amongst all of the mourners of Zion and Yerushalayim.
Sorry, just realized my comment above didn’t include my last name.
-David Linn
Dear family,
i’m a seth’s french friend, and today i have received an email telling me …….
De France je vous presente toutes mes condoleances ( he loved when i was speaking in french with him )
il restera dans mon coeur pour toujours , il sera toujours la dans nos vies,
je vous embrasse tres fort du fond de mon coeur,
Avec tout mon amour,
gus de France.
My deepest condolences. Wishing Seth’s family strength and peace during this most difficult time.
Dear Karen, Alan and Sheera,
I have just found out today about Seth’s passing, and I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to you all. My mother recently passed away and I must admit, I have not really been in touch with the rest of the world since her passing in early November.
I remember when I met Seth in Australia in 1998, by the pool in Cairnes, from that point forward, he was always a true friend and we shared many wonderful times together. I will miss him greatly, and please know that you are all in my prayers.
Love,
Laura
Dear Family:
I found this blog when my dear aunt was diagnosed with Leukemia this past summer. Seth received his transplant 10 days before she did. I wanted to know how helpful this blog has been for me. I was able to understand what my aunt was going through. Although I did not know Seth, I could sense from his posts that he was a truly wonderful man. I was so sad to hear about your loss and prayed that Seth would pull through. Please know how much this blog has helped me and my family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dear Seth’s Family: I only worked with Seth for a very short while just before he moved to Philadelphia — on a project which required us to work closely together over the course of two months. And then we both moved on. He was a most enjoyable companion those couple of months and I’m sure had he not
jumped at the chance this new job offered him, I would have been lucky enough to add a new friend to my life. He was a lovely, cultured and sharing rabbi and I grieve for the fact that there was not more time to know him. I wish you all peace and the love I’m sure Seth must bring to you each day.
I just came across this blog today, and as I was reading the story of Seth I kept thinking what a tremendous legacy Seth was leaving for others with this whole blog still out there for people like me to find, and the book! I was diagnosed with stage four non-hodgkins lymphoma at the young age of 33 March 24th, 2010. I’m in remission now (but still doing maint. chemo. every 8 weeks!) & have gone on to found “Cancer with Joy” to help others through their experience. Please know that Seth’s story has touched me so he truly lives on . . .
Thinking of You,
Joy Huber
Cancer with Joy
Thank you, Joy for your kind comments. Our goal is to help others, just as you are doing. Wishing you continued good health and happiness.
In strength and love,
Mom