Then came an unexpected and painful moment. A family member—my stepdaughter Amber—visited, and while she initially expressed sympathy, the conversation quickly shifted. “You should give the money to me,” she said, suggesting she could use it for a down payment. When I declined, explaining we were honoring Emma’s memory through donations, tensions rose. My husband, Frank, sided with Amber, calling the donations “impractical.” I was deeply hurt—not just by the request, but by the lack of understanding around what that money meant.
I asked Frank to acknowledge the significance of our choice and support the legacy we were building. But he couldn’t—or wouldn’t. That’s when I made my decision. Quietly, I transferred the full amount back to Tom and shared my plan: Emma’s legacy would live on through education and impact. Shortly after, I began a new chapter on my own.
Today, Tom and I are creating the Environmental Leadership Scholarship in Emma’s name. It will support young women pursuing careers in environmental science—just like Emma had dreamed of. While nothing can undo the loss we feel, we find hope in knowing that her passion continues to inspire change.
Even in the face of loss, we can choose purpose. Emma’s story reminds us all that compassion, courage, and conviction can shape a better world.