In Loving Memory
Karen Rebecca Rousso
December 28, 1966 – March 15, 2022
Virtual Memorial Gathering
Sunday, June 5, 2022
5:30 PM Eastern Time
Watch Video of Memorial Service
Karen Rebecca Rousso, of Brooklyn, NY died on March 15, 2022 at Sloan Kettering Memorial Cancer Center. Karen was born on December 28, 1966 to David and Vivian Dulberg, in Brooklyn, NY.
There are formulas used to write an obituary, but Karen’s sense of creativity and uniqueness elude the mold.
Karen attended a Junior High School program for gifted musicians, was a member of the last graduating class at the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan, and graduated cum laude from Smith College as an English major with a minor in Film.
Her work was reviewed in the NY Times. She was part of an editing team for an Oscar-winning film. She conducted the research for All Kinds of People, in Association with The Rogers and Hammerstein Organization. She worked on many original projects with the librettist group at BMI. She was involved in countless productions at the Brooklyn Heights Players, starting in early childhood. She was never one to brag or boast. Her closest friends from college forward were unaware that she was an accomplished flutist and musician. She simply did not mention it, rather said “Music was a central part of high school for me.”
While Karen’s creative gifts echoed in her music, lyrics, and written word, accomplishments of others did not escape her. She cheered the successes of her friends with true happiness and pride. She viewed people with a discerning lens, each one meaningful, acknowledged, and appreciated. She spoke with purpose and never wasted words.
She understood and spoke the language of music and was gripped by the entirety of performance. The lights, instruments, players, words, blocking, dynamic interplay, and the audience experience were part of the craft. Her life’s work was to respect and examine each element, knowing that a hole is left when an essential piece is missing.
Perhaps the most impactful way to describe her life is to say that an obituary will not scratch the surface of someone who understood that our work here is never done. Karen was pragmatic and understood death. She equally understood the enormity of life, and wanted to live, create, and relate right up until she no longer could.
In addition to her mother, Vivian Dulberg, and siblings, Ken Dulberg and Judy Dulberg, Karen is survived by her aunts Sylvia Selton and Judy Rousso, and uncle David Arneson, her cousins, Paul Dulberg, Philip Selton, Carol Selton, Sarah Arneson, Jacob Arneson, Cari Arneson, several second cousins, and countless friends she considered close family. She was predeceased by her father David Dulberg.
Karen’s family respectfully request memorial donations go to Red Door Community, Formerly Gilda’s Club of NYC, https://reddoorcommunity.org, or Metavivor.org – an organization fully dedicated to research for Stage 4 breast cancer.
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I’m very sorry to realized today that I missed the virtual memorial service. I had it recorded on my calendar for June 7th, and I just showed up today to discover that it took place two days ago, on the 5th. I loved Karen very much and will miss her forever.
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My dear Karen, you will forever be one of my fondest childhood relationships, and I will carry it with me always. Each thought of you brings a smile to my face. Love you.
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Those of you who knew Karen remember her intelligence, her talent, and her lucid understanding of the process of writing for both stage and screen. She created new work constantly, regardless of her state of health. Along with her tenacity and courage, I especially remember Karen’s unfailing generosity and kindness.
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Dear lovely Karen, thank you for giving me one of the happiest times of my life by casting me in Rapunzel. I loved every ♥ minute.
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We had a tradition at Smith of having little sisters. Karen was my little little sister. She was a very kind and generous person. One day we were goofing around playing guitars In my room — she had the patience of a saint as I was a true beginner.. I wish we had kept more in touch over the years — I would’ve loved to have known the true extent of her talents. Best to her and her family.
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Karen and I connected first by our taste in musicals as colleagues in the BMI Librettist Workshop, but secondly and more personally, by our unique gastrointestinal medical issues. Like yentas, we kvetched, sharing the efficacy of mutually prescribed medications and comparing treatments. I couldn’t have been more devastated than when she announced her unexpected diagnosis. Karen was so very perceptive caring and professional as a friend and contributor to the workshop. She was overly modest and truthfully made only casual mention of her impressive film work. She, above all, exuded generosity of spirit, making a point of supporting the development journeys of her colleagues and particularly me and my collaborators on a challenging project where she made a point of attending at a very early reading we held for colleagues we trusted. I was in contact with her until the end and still feel her luminous loving, sharp minded, precious energy close, so vibrant was she. I always will.
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Sorry For your Families Loss!! Karen was a Special person who was Caring and Funny and she would school you on music and writing if you ever wanted to learn. Karen had an infectious Laugh that will not be forgotten and will be missed. Wherever you are I know you are writing and playing your Music. Rest In Peace, Karen
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I knew Karen through the BMI Librettists workshop. She was so smart, funny, generous and talented. We all miss her.
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karen will always be at the table when the librettist workshop meets. I will always listen to her.
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Karen and I always had each other laughing. She was so talented and witty. I will miss her tremendously. Heaven gained a beautiful soul.
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“A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam and for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on again and although we wish it could have stayed, we feel lucky to have seen it at all”.
My beautiful, talented, inspirational, joyful friend Karen, your smile and your music will live inside me forever.
I love you! ~xo
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Karen, was truly a wonderful light in my life. She was funny, talented, and loving. She was so giving and generous to a fault, she was just a genuine person. She was a light and beautiful spirit. And unfortunately for us…
She was an angel 😇 among us for a short time. She was just a wholesome and Good person, each person that knew her got a piece of her in them. I’ll sorely miss her. But I know she was needed as Angel to watch over us.
You will truly be Missed my friend. You were an amazing person and friend to me. Your words of comfort, laughter and kindness is one of a kind…
Forever your friend,
Nicola Clough
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We’re so sorry for your loss. We did not know Karen, but this wonderfully crafted tribute certainly highlights her beauty, gifts and her contributions to her too short life.
-Whitman neighbors
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It was an honor and pleasure to work with Karen. I will truly miss her.
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I did not personally know Karen and was not blessed with the opportunity of meeting her before. But after reading these great things about her and her accomplishments it really makes me proud of her contributions. Mrs Vivian and son Kenny are long time friends with my aunt Bessie. After some past occasional family gatherings with me getting to know her mother and brother Kenny through my aunt, I can now somewhat visualize where karens warm cheerful spirit kind nature pure heart and overall professionalism would derive from. God bless this family and help them to maintain strength during this adverse period.
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It was a true pleasure to know and work with Karen. Karen’s vibe and kind nature was a true blessing to be around.
It was a privilege to be graced with her presence and pure heart.
RIP Karen
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Karen’s insight on music and politics always amazed me. When working with her. The conversation was always about music ,guitars, music equipment and the progress of the musical she was writing. Always a kind word to her fellow workers and customers. The world seems a little dimmer without her giving us a word of confidence and comfort..” And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”
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I was a high school classmate of Karen’s. Although we didn’t know each other well, she was always so supportive of me when I performed. I will forever be grateful for her support, generosity and kind heart. 💜
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I will never forget how hard and long Karen and I laughed when she taught me how to run the light board at The Heights Players. I was not a very good student, but I finally learned. I will always remember how patient and kind Karen was in her teaching, but most of all I will remember the laughter. Oh, how I will remember the laughter.
RIP Karen.
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There is another angle . May you RIP. You may be gone but not forgotten
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I will be in France on the day of the memorial, but I wanted to say how much I enjoyed Karen’s company. She was always upbeat even when talking about her illness. I will always remember her smile.
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I had the pleasure of witnessing Karen’s drive and professionalism at work for only a few years but her kindness, her warm spirit and her generosity made me fortunate enough to be able to call her a friend that I will always have in my heart! I’ll truly miss her
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Karen was just a delightful person, a friend to everyone in Wilder House. I was a year ahead of her and always loved her sense of humor and cheerful spirit. I’m sorry we lost touch after college and saddened by this news.
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Karen was hugely talented, phenomenally smart, endlessly sweet, a supportive friend from the first instant I met her. I miss her like hell, and I always will.
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To know Karen was to know her giggle. It always gave me great pleasure to do something to earn a laugh from her.
Smith. Gilmore Girls. Buffy. Tootsie. All My Children. Uncle Willie. Hot tar on your face? Mabel Normand. Anna May Wong. Inconceivable! As You Wish. The Good Place. A short list of references that will always make me think of Karen.
We shared the same vision of theater – you do it to reach someone, make them laugh, cry, ponder life or just be entertained. She wanted first and foremost to share with and move her audiences rather than seek praise or glory. I sent her a quote from a book (A Gentleman in Moscow) that expressed it like this:
“For what matters in life is not whether we hear a round of applause; what matters is whether we have the courage to venture forth despite the uncertainty of acclaim.”
To which she wrote, “Exactly!”
She was a generous actor, a true artist, and a dear friend. I will miss her greatly. It is inconceivable to me that she is no longer here to laugh with, to share a plate of cheese fries, or to wish each other Happy Birthday (3 calendar days apart). But I’m sure she’s in the Good Place. The real Good Place.
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I was in the BMI Workshop with Karen. My heart lightened every time I saw her and I would think, “Yay, Karen is here!’”
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May you rest in comfort and fly on eagles wings, dear Karen. A loving and fun fact about Rapunzel for me is I always told you that your music and lyrics for “Every Story Has a Beginning” has been burned into my memory; never a need to review the lyrics or music. I will always cherish and treasure my time spent with you and on our many Heights Players productions together.
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The world is less bright without her in it.
(I’m one of those college friends who knew she played the flute, but had absolutely no clue she was a virtuoso!)
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Rest in Peace Karen.
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When Karen was born, Ken took one look at her and called her “Karen, little feet.” I remember Karen coming to visit me in the hospital when Judy was born.. She was wearing a red jumpsuit. I began crying. Karen was so little and was now a big sister. Karen and Judy became best friends.
David and I were amazed by her musical talent, she certainly did not inherit it from us. She could pick up any instrument and play it. Our first visit to the ice skating rink, she was doing backwards cross overs and the instructor suggested I bring her in before school every morning so she could train with students who were planning on becoming professionals. She loved horses and took horse back riding lessons. The instructors said she was a natural. Soon after she joined the Heights Players, auditions led to lead roles. She maintained high grades without trying and loved to write.
A child’s death should not come before a parent. Thank you for your memories of Karen and condolences.
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I have so many memories but not enough words to express how much Karen will be missed. I met Karen because we shared someone who was most important in our lives, Judy. Karen welcomed me as an honorary member of her family,. We have always been allies, sharing the ups and downs of each other’s lives first hand and second hand, for over 3 decades. Her humor and her creativity, her care and her devotion – it’s been a privilege to bear witness to all that she has accomplished . I will miss hearing her words,. I’ll miss knowing her perspective. I will miss the light that she brought to this world just by being her. Rest in power, “darling”. Your memory will always be a blessing.
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Karen was a generous, warm, smart, talented person, and a bright light of the BMI Workshop. I will miss her.
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Though I haven’t seen Karen in years, she was a bright spot light of my youth. We both spent much of our childhood at the Heights Players, acting together in many plays. The most notable was the Snow Queen. Even during the most tedious of rehearsals, Karen was so often smiling or keeping me laughing and would just start plunking out a tune on the piano, or something on her flute. Her love and pride in her sister was infectious, although Judy is easy company to enjoy! I mourn her family and the world’s loss of Karen, but am grateful for the time I got to know her.
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Karen’s range of talent was amazing but she never let it be overwhelming. I miss our long talks and her stories about everything. I will always be inspired by her courage and strength of purpose to the end.
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It’s hard to believe I just added “Karen’s Memorial” to my calendar. For years , late December meant a visit to John’s Pizza in the theater district for Karen’s birthday and early June meant a visit there for mine.
I always took Karen’s comments and advice to heart, about writing and everything else, because she just knew.
Karen wrote her thesis on Nabakov, who wrote, “Perhaps, somewhere, some day, at a less miserable time, we may see each other again.” I hope so. We still have so much to discuss.
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It always seemed to me that Karen’s talent was limitless. After high school we met again as Librettists in the BMI Workshop. She always had keen insight into whatever was presented, and when it came to my work, she was on a short list of people who’s advice I would ALWAYS take.
She is missed.
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Karen was a creative force to be reckoned with. She was funny she was smart, she was someone who made your work better by her influence. She could always crack me up whether talking about The Princess Bride or why Liza was brilliant on All My Children. I miss her a lot.
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Dear old friend, always a smile, always my favorite partner in crime LOL, and forever, my favorite person to sing with, your talent and bright light will be missed by everyone you touched in your life. ooxxooxx
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RIP Karen
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Karen was always one of the sweetest people We went to Jr HS and HS school together. She loved supporting people and cherished their successes. A ridiculous loss of a special person way too soon.
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I wish that we would have known each other better at Performing Arts. However, I am glad that we did get to know each other somewhat through social media. I will always remember you Karen.
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“And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you
make.”
Lennon/McCartney
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It was luck, good fortune, and kismet that Karen and Judy came into my life in the early 1980’s. On an outlier bus from Brooklyn to a performing arts camp on Long Island, we spent hours together, talking, singing, writing. At that time, Karen was the mature one. The less dramatic one, despite her love for the theater. Her dry wit made us smile and her desire to drive the creativity in all of us was omnipresent. I am so grateful to have those memories. Today and always, I send my deepest love and light to my dear Judy and Karen’s entire family.
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Karen directed me in “Rapunzel ” at the NYC Fringe Festival. It was one of the happiest Theater experiences I’ve ever had. For someone so young, her understanding of the stage was amazing. Sweet, talented and professional.
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Beautifully written. Gone too soon. May she Rest In Peace with beautiful music all around her.
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I’m trying to write something, and am at a loss, and while I’m here, “and my words like silent raindrops fell…” is actually playing at this moment…I just sat down for a minute after planting seeds on this Earth Day, whispering a prayer with your name Karen, with the seeds that fell and will bloom and will remind me, and the earth, of your beautiful spirit, that I was so very lucky to know and befriend. Godspeed my sweet friend.