Tribute to Elyse’s mom – Becky K

I learned a week ago that Becky K., the mother of Elyse passed away last Saturday, after a battle with cancer.

Some of you know about Elyse…she is my daughter; Becky and I were work colleagues in the early ‘80s; after working closely together for two yrs, I accepted a job offer to relocate (from Detroit) to Los Angeles. About a week or two before I left Detroit, Becky and I spent a night together. She was divorced at the time, but upon learning that she was pregnant, she then remarried her ex-husband. Her husband Bernie then raised Elyse believing she was his daughter.

When Elyse became a teenager, her parents divorced a second time; and a few yrs later, when she was 17, her mom called me and asked me to take a DNA test.

Becky and I (had) continued our friendship over the years, and she made it a point to bring Elyse into my life with that DNA test – not only for me to meet my teenage daughter, but also for Elyse to meet her biological father. Subsequently, Elyse and I have visited with each other four separate times since 2001, with the last visit being in 2017 which somehow led to our current estrangement.

So, hopefully, you can understand the impact Becky had in my adult life, and how special our friendship was. I have always loved her in a way that not a whole lot of people would understand. Unfortunately, Becky and I led very separate lives, and at various times, lived thousands of miles apart (with Becky living in D.C. for much of the last twenty yrs).

Becky was a great mom to Elyse (I remember having numerous phone conversations with Becky, about her teaching Elyse the concept of “consequences” when Elyse would do ).

She encouraged Elyse to go back to school for her GED; and many, many yrs later, Becky encouraged and supported Elyse when she (in her thirties) decided to attend college (while also working) to obtain a combined Bachelor/Master degree in accounting.

Becky was a very special woman, and I have always been so grateful to have her friendship over the past forty+ years.

Rest in Peace, Becky. You will always be remembered.

With much love,
Brian.