BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer
Rose Katzenstein OLD BRIDGE — Rose Katzenstein, who as a clown went by the name “Katie,” spent her life honoring the wishes of those in need.
At her funeral services in Old Bridge last weekend, Katzenstein’s own wish was honored.
“Her wish was that all her grandchildren would release balloons at her service,” said longtime friend and fellow clown Dana “Dazzle” Endresen.
It may seem like a small gesture, Endresen said, but with the service being known as Katie’s “last curtain call,” it turned the attention of Katie’s friends and family to her in unison, one last time.
“It was really quite breathtaking, because even though there were only nine pink, purple and white balloons, it made everybody look up,” Endresen said. “And there was quite a bit to be said about that.”
Endresen said she hopes the service got Katzenstein’s attention as well.
“It was well-orchestrated,” Endresen said, “and we all say that, hopefully, Katie’s looking down on us and saying ‘Good job, guys.’ As she used to say, ‘You did me proud.’ ”
As a widow, Katzenstein started her career as a clown to make some extra money on weekends to help raise her three children, but it soon became a way of life.
In 1991, “Katie” won a national clown competition and was invited to England to compete for the world gold medal, which she won.
“Everything she did, she did the best,” Endresen said. “She just did everything, one might say, top shelf, top of the line.”
Soon after the competition, Katzenstein founded the Lollipop Foundation, an organization dedicated to fulfilling the final wishes of terminally ill children.
Since its inception, the Lollipop Foundation has granted the wishes of more than 400 children.
“She just was a very giving person,” Endresen said. “She wanted the best for everybody. She just gave. She gave whenever she could possibly give.”
More than 25 clowns attended the service in full dress, Endresen said. At the conclusion, each clown said a personal farewell to Katie, then blew out a candle.
“I’ve been to one other clown ceremony, and it’s a beautiful thing,” said friend Robin Mahmoud, one of the clowns in attendance. “If for nothing else, it’s beautiful to see.”
Mahmoud had been friends with Katzenstein for 20 years, and saw firsthand her generosity of spirit.
“She was wonderful, she was a good friend, she was driven,” Mahmoud said. “She was kind, she was always helping people. She was really a wonderful human being.”
Endresen said that she and Katie were known in the clown community as the “Dynamic Duo.”
“She was the one with great ideas, some of them very doable, but I was the one that was able to make them a reality, so between her being the idea person and me being the get-it-done person, we were pretty dynamic in a lot of the things we did,” Endresen said.
Katzenstein was diagnosed with lung cancer in November, at the age of 58. Several follow-up tests revealed that the cancer had spread to many of her major organs, and doctors estimated she had six months to live.
In December, her family flew up from their homes in North Carolina to spend Katzen-stein’s last Christ-mas at her home in Old Bridge.
Her family made the same trip for her funeral services, also held in Old Bridge.
“It was beautiful,” said Katzen-stein’s daughter, Evelyn Bradley. “It wasn’t what you would have thought it was. It was very simple, very quiet.”
On behalf of Katzenstein’s entire family, Bradley had the following message for her mother: “We love you, mama, and we’re going to miss you,” she said.
“Words couldn’t express how much she meant to us,” Bradley added.
Speaking to Greater Media Newspapers in December, Katzenstein made it clear the feeling was mutual.
“I truly did love the kids. I have seven grandchildren of my own. I love these children,” Katzenstein had said.
“I think you just give kids love, and they’re going to love you back. You know, I did silly things, but I think, honestly, the true reason that I think I was successful is because all they need is love.”