Angeline Koo

In loving memory of Angeline Lam Koo

I remember Angeline as someone who reached out to me nearly 18 years ago when I was feeling alone and isolated. She enveloped me with kindness, humor, and wisdom far beyond her years. I never understood why she wanted to be my friend, but I am so grateful she did.

When I was down or overwhelmed, Angeline knew exactly what I needed. Sometimes, she’d give me a book—nothing heavy, usually some light, escapist romance novel. And when I was upset or angry, she’d invite me out for drinks and listen patiently as I ranted until I was all ranted out.

There were countless small, thoughtful gestures that made her such a special person. She’d buy a pair of theater tickets and give me one for no reason at all, just to be kind. And no matter how much I insisted on paying her back, she wouldn’t take my money.

She made homemade dog biscuits for all the dog lovers in our office, just because. That was Angeline—generous, thoughtful, and always kind.

Angeline helped me navigate a difficult world. While life wasn’t always kind to her, she was always kind to me—and to almost everyone. She inspired me to be like her, and she still does.

I still strive to be an Angeline, though I know I’ll never fully live up to her example. But I’ll always try.

Angeline was so many things: a teacher, a drinking buddy, a therapist, a literary critic, a Real Housewives of New Jersey critic, a dog mom who absolutely spoiled her pups, an empath, and above all, a wonderful friend.

I regret that I wasn’t as good a friend in return. The last time she called, I didn’t pick up. “Regret” doesn’t even begin to express how I feel about that.

She left us too soon. But she’ll always stay with me. I’ll think of her when I pick up a trashy novel, when I do something kind for someone else, or when I listen to someone vent until they’re calm again. And each time, I’ll think, “This is what Angeline would do.”

And I will miss her.

We are thinking of you. We will miss you so much.

I am so sorry to hear this awful news. Angeline, you will be dearly missed.

My heart goes out to everyone. Angeline, you will be missed.

Angeline — I am still in shock. We were in many ways mirror twins in high school with Angeline by far being the more talented, ambitious, eloquent, and confident one between us. In mock trial, I was the defendent and she my attorney. She devised a scheme where we dressed the same and wore our hair in the same braid because she bet the other kids in suburbia wouldn’t be able to tell two Asian girls apart. Sure enough, the key witnesses misidentified us. It was a movie scene with the whole courtroom erupting. I could see the judge stifling a laugh.

She went on to law school and become a litigator. No surprise there – she was born to it. I wish i had a better picture of the Mock Trial team than this faded and aged one where our faces are gone. Here’s another one of Angeline singing karaoke at my surprise birthday party. So many tears in learning of her passing, but also I am trying to smile through them because she was an amazing and brilliant presence on this Earth. My condolences to Eugenia and Angeline’s friends and family. She will be so devastatingly missed.

Angeline was one of my dearest friends. She was a rapier wit; a fantastic cook (I’m convinced she never told me EVERY ingredient in her steak marinade); an aunt to my son; a cultural critic at large; and a comically terrible dog trainer. (Winnie never met a person she didn’t try to knock over.) Angeline read everything, which made her a scintillating conversationalist, and she shared my father’s love of debate. She threw herself in the middle of our family discussions with such vim, she just became family. She was hugely original: she could be both delicate and eviscerating in the same moment, and her takes were never canned, they were Dorothy Parker if she’d passed the bar. Angeline had a comedian’s timing and when she held court at dinner (as she often did) she had the room rapt. She loved her people ferociously; she never forgot a birthday, and she made everything An Event. One year Angeline refused to merely cook everyone Christmas dinner, she insisted on attempting the totally impossible turducken recipe that was trending at the time — which of course, she pulled off perfectly, and we have very few photos of us and about a hundred of the turducken. She love-hated the Royal Family. She believed in trying everything on the menu at restaurants she liked. A true New Yorker, she refused to drive, but when I drove her and almost backed into a parking lot wall at The Home Depot and crunched my new car, she HOWLED with laughter and NEVER LET ME FORGET IT. She was there for me every day of the 8 years my dad was sick. She was the truest, funniest, deepest friend/family a person could have, and I am devastated that she is gone. She was the kind of person you move to New York to meet, why you suffer through all its indecencies. She was magic. And I will love her forever.