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  • Helping hands

    In lieu of flowers

    Please consider a gift to National Alliance on Mental Illness or American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
  • Who else knew Effie?

    Help keep everyone in the know by sharing this memorial website.
Helping hands

In lieu of flowers

Please consider a gift to National Alliance on Mental Illness or American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
$30,852.45
Raised by 342 people

Personal note from David Gelles on behalf of Andrew Curry

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your support in this difficult time and your ongoing love and celebration of our friend Effie Kapsalis.

Since this memorial site was set up, a separate group of friends has established a GoFundMe that will directly benefit Melina's education.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Su…

The family is grateful for all your love, and as you consider ways to continue your support in the months and years ahead, please know this is also an option.

With love.

David Gelles on behalf of Andrew Curry.

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Updates

Update from March 4, 2024

An announcement:

We have dedicated a bench in Effie’s memory in a quiet, accessible corner of the US National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

Effie loved the Arboretum. We lived just a couple miles away and walked and picnicked there often. For Effie especially, it was a year-round go-to for one of her favorite things to do: connect with friends and loved ones in conversation.

Perhaps you had the opportunity to walk and talk with her there? Either to simply visit and catch up, or to dive deep and empathize and work stuff out? Or maybe strategize over a Smithsonian project, or toss around a little Smithsonian gossip?

Here’s how to find it:

US National Arboretum https://www.usna.usda.gov/vis…

Paste these coordinates into your map app: 38.915072, -76.957951

From the Conifer Collections parking, head straight north. You will see a gazebo. Effie’s bench is about 100 feet downhill due east from the gazebo.

Obituary

Effie Kapsalis died on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at home in Maryland after a long and courageous battle with depression. A devoted mother, wife, sister and friend, Effie was a joyous storyteller, a committed community builder, and an unabashed feminist who was deeply loved by a community that spanned the globe. She was 51.

Effie was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 21, 1971 to Andreas Kapsalis and Glenda Hawley Kapsalis. She attended Evanston High …

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Memories & condolences

Timeline

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Born

1971
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Got married to Andrew Curry

May 31st, 2008
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Had a child, Melina Helen Kapsalis

October 4th, 2011

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Other key details

Cause of death

Suicide

Method of disposition

Cremation

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Effie Kapsalis