Yangnim (Choi) Kurz, 78, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2024. She was born in Iri/Iksan, South Korea, officially on August 5, 1945, however, she believed her true birth date was months earlier. After surviving the aftermath of the Korean War, she earned a scholarship to Ewha Women's University where she studied medicine, followed by an internship at Seoul Red Cross Hospital. She emigrated to the U.S. for a second internship at Pittsfield General Hospital, followed by a residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. There she met her husband, Larry, who was also doing a residency in Internal Medicine.
Together they practiced medicine in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 30 years, during which time they started a successful private practice specializing in OB-GYN and Internal Medicine. During her career, Yangnim Kurz brought thousands of babies into the world, and helped countless women with their gynecologic problems.
Yangnim Kurz was an avid traveler who enjoyed vacations with family and grandchildren, along with trips to every continent with her husband. She enjoyed escaping New York City to spend time in New Paltz, N.Y. She was also an artist who created traditional Korean brush paintings, and learned to play the kayagum, a traditional Korean musical instrument with 12 strings. In her retirement she was an avid reader of both Korean and English literature; she was especially fond of Shakespeare. Yangnim also enjoyed cultivating plants and flowers. In her spare time, she advocated and organized a church event for the cause of the Korean Comfort Women.
Yangnim Kurz is survived by her husband, son, daughter, and four grandchildren, as well as siblings and their children in both New York and Korea.
Here's one more video of Yangnim playing the kayagum: youtu.be/r0p_qrsXFts
Yangnim was kind, warm humorous and smart She welcomed me into her home and I relished tasting her specially made Korean food and hearing of her many stories May her memory be for a blessing and sending love to Larry Jonathan and Jennifer Geoff Neimark
Yangnim was a friend whose curiosity and enthusiasm for life was contagious. Her brush paintings were teeming with life's energy. We shared many wonderful days at the Botanical Gardens, theater, dinner, and at home musical evenings with her delicious Korean food. We miss her. Condolences to you Larry and all of the family.
JoAnn & Harold Levine
Ms. Kurz is in our hearts.
I am so sorry for your loss.Please accept my condolences. Ms. Kreuz is in our hearts.
영어로 다 표현할 수 없어서 한국어로 적습니다. 양림여사님이 아니셨다면, 가야금을 지금까지 할 수 없었을 거예요. 예술활동이 너무 힘들어서 포기하고 싶을 때 제 공연을 보시고 연락주셔서 뵙게 된 저에게는 천사같은 분이십니다. 예술을 사랑하고, 예술가를 아끼고 응원해주셨던 그 모든 순간을 기억하면서 천국에서 다시 만날 때까지 음악으로 보답하겠습니다. 양림여사님, Larry 선생님과 니키라과에 가서 의료선교를 함께 했던 시간들, 댁에서 폭설에 함께 연주했던 하우스 콘서트, 한인타운에서 한국음식을 먹으며 담소를 나누던 그 모든 순간을 잊지 않겠습니다.
사랑하고, 존경합니다.
서라미 Rami Seo 올림
Yangnim was like a force of nature. She came from the humblest beginnings to becoming a person who wouldn't be ignored and had to be reckoned with. I'm grateful to have been able to spend time with her and Larry and hear so many stories about her life along the way.
We know that she will live on through her children and grandchildren because of the strong imprint that she has left.
Matt Lee
Dixie and I so enjoyed spending time with Yangnim and Larry in New York City. We miss her and mourn her passing. Our condolences to Larry and the rest of the family.
Dan Cryer
So you should view all of the fleeting world:
A star at dawn, a bubble in the stream;
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud;
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.
(Diamond Sutra)
All we have is this moment, so we need to live it fully and understand the purpose of loss and grief is to awaken to reality, and love while we can. Time was always something we had to race against, until the realization occurs that it is all we actually have in this form, in this life.
Mom was my hero, inspiration, and indisputable leader of our family. She lived life with passion and a strength of will that few can hope to emulate. Life will never be the same without her, and her presence is felt in all of us, forever. She had so much compassion, so much love to give, it was hard for this one life to contain it. I hope she is finally at peace, knowing she lived a great, very full, very vibrant life. She lived with intensity and passion and taught us to work hard, be generous and just, and face our challenges fearlessly. Never passive or able to accept 2nd best, she dreamed high and fought hard to make them come true. Her intention, in the end, was always to be good and to give back. She wanted the best for her family and the people around her, and would give selflessly and generously to all. She loved life -- the wonders of nature, food, music, culture, and family. I love you Mom. I am so sorry you had to leave us too soon.
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