When I first met  Caryle, she was my new friend’s mom in a country half-way around the world from my home and I could barely understand what she or anyone else was saying. Despite the language barrier (and my chock from moving from my childhood home and country for the first time), I always felt comfortable and accepted in Caryle’s home. She showed be typical American food and snacks (I still spread the word of apple and peanut butter to fortunate souls) and had sooo much patience in trying to explain things to me in different ways until I finally understood. One of those memories are of her trying to ask me whether I wanted ice cream in a cup or cone. I would have loved to see a recording of that because I remember her gesturing and explaining to me what a “cone” was in so many different ways, and I just didn’t get it. She felt like an alien to me there and then. However, when I finally did understand what “ice cream in a cone” meant, I still never felt stupid for not understanding. Not for one second. She had that way of making you feel accepted and heard, always. I was out of my comfort zone, but she made me feel comfortable learning. I’m so so thankful for meeting her and Natalie ❤️

 When I grew up and we met again in Stockholm 2016, I couldn’t believe how funny Caryle was? Funny and kind! And smart. Beautiful. Charming. And more. Miss you, the world is not a better place without you ❤️

Dear Natalie,

I, Abdus Sattar Dulal UNESCAP Disability Rights Champion and founder of BPKS and 30 other disabled people organizations in Bangladesh are deeply saddened for my very good-hearted friend Caryle Cammisa, she is passed away. Of-course, i lost my very good friend and a generous person. I have very nice memory with her as she was very helpful for our disabled peoples and made US embassy program inclusive in Bangladesh.

We express our sympathy to Caryle Cammisa family specially to our daughterly person Natalie. Finally, we wish the departed soul of Caryle Cammisa stay in peace at comfortable place.

Regards,

Abdus Sattar Dulal, UNESCAP Disability Rights Champion

Founder & Executive Director

Bangladesh Protibandhi Kallyan Somity (BPKS) 

Thank you for your enduring service - I will never forget your smiles and compassion - to Caryle's family I pray that your treasured memories of this remarkable woman will help you move through your grief and I hope you can find as much comfort in the words of Canon Henry Scott-Holland as I have.  "Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away to the next room. I am I and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, That, we still are..."

https://www.familyfriendpoems…

I first met Caryle in this class we had to take together on cultural narratives or something. It was led by this person who kept going on and on about how she used to be a hippie. One of the speakers came dressed like Crocodile Dundee / Indiana Jones. It truly was a strange class, and I could not contain my frustration and boredom, so I was always making jokes (for example, to the "hippie" instructor, "Did you used to hold Janis Joplin's hair back when she was throwing up?").  After one session, Caryle came up to me and said she loved my laugh and we became friends quickly after that. She said she couldn't imagine not hearing me laugh again, so that's why she wanted to be friends. That was one of the coolest things anyone has ever said to me. I'll never forget that. 

See you on the other side, my friend.

Natalie, Caryle's mom and family, 

I was so sorry to hear that Caryle has passed. She was a bubbly, effervescent, passionate and kind person. We first met when I was travelling a lot to Tbilisi; she knocked my socks off with her no b.s. tolerance but deep kindness, a pairing that don't often go together. I learned a lot from her about the tricks people play with budgets (both why you might want to, and how to detect if people are), and was consistently impressed over the years with her not putting up with business as usual. Sending you all hugs and warm thoughts as you adjust to life without her.