Dear Mike Gaines, Dick Lipsey, and everyone,

I tried to call Karen Hamrick yesterday to check on her ….given the virus situation, and I learned from her husband that she had died a month ago on 20 February.

She had cancer and I knew it but I had not realized that it was this bad or this imminent. And according to her husband, Charles, they didn't realize it was going to be so fast either. Up until recently, including in January of this year, they had still been pursuing treatment options.

I guess, Mike Gaines, you may already know about this. Charles said that he tried to call you and Jim Hamrick.

I am just knocked out by this terrible news. I guess maybe Dick Lipsey and the running group, should put forth a notice of this to everyone .
I included in the cc for this email only the folks I know would have known Karen well and it’s almost everyone, but not everyone in the group. And, I'm sure I missed a few folks who knew Karen, as well, in coming up with this list.

"My memories of Karen Hamrick are that she was a fine and fast runner, a thoughtful, steadfast and true friend, a unique and precious individual and on top of all that ….a beautiful woman.     With a beautiful voice that still resonates with me.   To mix a few metaphors, I can still hear her voice in my mind’s eye.    

Karen had an aura of quiet and natural wisdom about her.   She was always a pleasure  to be with.    And even when she was angry or upset, she had a studied calm  about herself that was truly admirable. 

I guess Kansas is the beginning of the west, and Karen was truly a western  woman.   Open, honest, frank and straightforward.  Capable and competent.    She was the female equivalent of Gary Cooper in High Noon.  Just always quietly doing the right thing. 

I am really going to miss her.  "  

If you would like to write, her husband is:
Charles Pinkney
170 Canady Drive
Athens, GA 30607
.
Emily Roth
;

Karen Hamrick ran with the MadDogs from around 1980 to 1986, including our annual runs in 1980 and 1984-86. Karen competed occasionally, with great success, usually finishing in the top 10 percent of her age group in larger runs including the 1985 Hospital Hill half-marathon in Kansas City and the 1983 Maupintour Fall Classic 10K. She was also the age-group winner at the 1981 Macy's 10K, the 1982 Kaw Valley Levee 30K, and the 1982 Fall Classic 10K.

In May 1985, Karen was the fastest runner on the winning team at the 41-mile Okie Relays team across the Oklahoma Panhandle (see photo below). She and the other members of the team -- Deborah Altus, Christine McMinn, and Carolyn Zimmerman -- were the MadDogs Runners of the Year for 1985.

The women's team also took part in the Okie Relays in 1980, 1981, and 1984, but we don't have results.

Dick Lipsey

Dear MadDogs,

I too was surprised by the news about Karen. I came to know her when she and Jim started running with the Mad Dogs. Although I can’t remember the exact year, it was pretty far back, possibly into the 70s (Jim and I were in the same entering class of new faculty at KU in 1971).

While I agree with all the nice remembrances of Karen already expressed so well, I would just like to add that in addition to being a Mad Dog, Karen also became a bone fide Lab Rat, working as a technician in my research group from 1985 through 1991. Although her degrees were in biology, she picked up many chemical and analytical techniques quite readily, and became a sort of den mother for our lab group. I have attached a couple of photos from that time period - hope you all enjoy them.

Best regards to all. And remember, it’s physical distancing, not social distancing, that matters these days. Stay well.

Bob Hanzlik

I will always remember Karen and miss her.  Emily, thanks for updating me about Karen.

Mohamed El-Hodiri

I am shocked and so sad to hear of Karen's passing.  I will remember her for her quite kindness, her bees, dark beer and her artistic talents. The world has lost a kind and sweet soul. Rest in peace, dear Karen.

Linda Resovsky (Blair)