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The community has come together to support the family of Dr. Charlene Curtis-Thomas, a physician at the East Meadow Nassau University Medical Center, in the wake of her sudden death.
Dr. Curtis-Thomas, who was a rising third-year Internal Medicine resident physician at Nassau University Medical Center, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 3, according to a GoFundMe started by her family.
She was 33 years old.
Known as Charlie to friends and family, she was a “wonderful daughter, sister, friend, and colleague who touched so many lives.”
“Charlie was a beacon of light. She was full of life and happiness,” wrote Priscilla Moseh, who organized a GoFundMe to cover her funeral costs.
“Charlie would give the shirt off her back to help anyone — which made her decision to go into medicine an easy one.”
The impact of Dr. Curtis-Thomas on her community can be seen in the over 200 people who have donated $16,050 so far to her family so that they can “give our precious Charlie girl the memorial she deserves, to honor her memory and say our ‘see you laters.’”
Many left their condolences on the GoFundMe page, as well as on social media.
“Your beautiful spirit will be missed,” wrote donor Evelyn Koffi.
“Charlene, I am speechless,” wrote friend Lenna Cole on Facebook, along with a collage of pictures. “Rest in Heaven, my lovely doctor friend.”
According to Cole’s post, Dr. Curtis-Thomas had only just graduated medical school when her father, a Sierra Lione doctor named Charles Curtis-Thomas, passed away.
“I hope the reunion with your Dad was everything you dreamed it would be,” another friend, Marique Stasser-King, wrote on Facebook.
She lamented that “33 [years] is not enough time.”
“Life is so incredibly short and precious and no matter how many reminders we get we will never truly understand.”
Dr. Curtis-Thomas’ funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, June 24.
Anyone who would like to make a donation to help cover the cost of services can do so via GoFundMe here.
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