September.3.1986 ~ January.06.2011
Obituary
Kyle was only 24 years old, however he filled that time with an extraordinary amount of brilliance, talent, and heart.
He was one of the smartest people we’ve ever known. He passed his Series 7 exam on the first try with ease, but his intelligence went far beyond academics. He could solve any puzzle you put in front of him. Our grandfather used to give him especially difficult puzzles just to see if he could—and he always did! A Rubik’s Cube was child’s play for him. Watching his mind work was something special.
He was also incredible with his hands. He could build almost anything, and he took real pride in doing things well. His skill and work ethic were recognized by Ace Tool and by a boss who truly understood how rare his abilities were.
He had that same confidence in the kitchen. He was a phenomenal cook—the kind who would walk in, give you that look, and you’d know it was time to step aside. He would take over completely and somehow make everything ten times better than you ever could. Cooking was just another way he showed love.
The mountains were where he felt most at home. He loved camping and being outdoors, first as a skier and later as a snowboarder. He traveled to Austria, drawn by the beauty of the mountains, and he dreamed of building a cabin one day—either in upstate New York or on our family friends’ farm in Vermont—a place he imagined filled with peace, warmth, and family.
He had a dry, subtle sense of humor that often caught you off guard, and he deeply cherished time spent with his family. Coming from a large family with many aunts, uncles, and countless first cousins, he shared a special bond with each of them. His love for his cousins was immense, and it was returned to him tenfold. As one of the older cousins, he had an ability to form meaningful relationships across generations. He was admired not only as a loving cousin, but also as a source of knowledge, wisdom, and guidance. To the younger cousins, he was a playful presence—someone they saw as a fun uncle. Because family meant everything to him, his greatest dream was to have a family of his own. It was a dream he held close and one that mattered deeply to him.
We wish he had seen his brilliance and his worth the way the rest of us did. Though his time here was far too short, the impact he made is lasting. We carry him with us—in the things we build, the meals we share, the mountains we love, and the dreams he held so close.
He will always be a part of us.
Poem
Dear Kyle,
Life is too short
To dwell on sadness.
For that reason,
I move forward with gladness.
Glad to say you were my brother.
Glad to share our memories with others.
Glad to know you are always around,
And glad to take a journey
Where you will once again be found.
As I wait for my time to come,
I live my life for us,
As if we are one.
To show you things you should have seen,
To explore this world
The way it should have been.
See you on the other side, brother.
Love,
Keith
(Wantagh Class of 2006)
Thank you again,
Karra (Wantagh Class of 2002)
Such a beautiful tribute to our Kylots… so many wonderful, fun filled memories that we will carry with us always… Love, Aunt Linda Schweitzer