Scott Libert Memorial

Dear family, friends, and others,

 

On Wednesday, June 15th, my dad, Scott Libert, passed away very suddenly. You may or may not know that last year, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. He immediately underwent intensive chemotherapy and completed his treatment late last fall. His most recent scans were clear and showed no evidence of new tumors. Although we were relieved that his cancer had not progressed, he continued to suffer from side effects of his chemotherapy that drastically changed the quality of his life.

 

Many of my happiest memories of my dad from inside my childhood home in Oregon include listening to him play Scott Joplin, among other compositions and improvisations, on our Baby Grand Piano. One of the primary side effects of his chemotherapy was neuropathy in his fingers, which changed his ability to enjoy playing the piano. Another sacrifice was giving up his hobby of paddleboarding. The other, much more debilitating side effect was terrible insomnia. I believe this, among many other factors that I can only imagine, but likely including covid, the loss of his father in June of 2020, financial worries, and mounting costly repairs to our house, left him feeling unable to do what he cared about most in this world: taking care of and providing for his family.

 

Depression is a very serious disease, and finding the right kind of help takes time, motivation, and perseverance. These are things that are not easy, especially for those with depression. My dad was fiercely protective but deeply afraid of admitting how much he struggled. I always saw my father as a good and kind man who only wanted to do the right thing for his family. My mom and I are utterly devastated and heartbroken by this sudden loss. My dad was the primary provider for our family, and I’m only beginning to understand the kind of financial support my mom and I will need as we navigate the consequences of his death.

 

With this GoFundMe, I am setting a goal of $10,000 to help my mom and me cover the financial costs related to my dad’s funeral expenses and other related bureaucratic expenses (medical bills, accountants, etc.) that follow one's death. In addition to paying for costs directly related to my dad’s death, my mom and I hope to use a portion of this money to create a memorial scholarship for high school robotics students on Kaua’i. My dad was very passionate about recruiting and mentoring motivated students in robotics and was part of the initiative to create practical opportunities on Kauai for students to learn and develop STEM skills. 

My mom and I are blessed to have many people who care about us. We are so thankful for everyone who has already reached out to offer their love and support. These are tough times not only for me and my mom, but for so many others, and I completely respect any way people are able to help. Anyone wishing to send me and my mom flowers, food, or cards can contact me directly for an address. Even simple messages of condolences we have found incredibly comforting.

Much love,

Jasmine