Our Helen, AKA Edwin’s Helen, AKA She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed, died today at 76. To say Our Helen will be missed is an understatement.

She was great. She smiled infectiously, loved children (who loved her back), and gave of herself selflessly, but that’s just the beginning.

Helen was one of the founders of Camp Quest, which has already had a direct positive impact on hundreds of children, with nearly unlimited potential for growth. This self-sustaining, quick-growing organization does one thing very well — it makes atheist children happy. That’s one hell of a legacy, one hell of a footprint, one hell of a ripple.

I don’t know if she drank at all, but I do know this: she’d approve of us toasting her, which I will do now. Goodbye, Our Helen.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS

http://www.atheists.org

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

HELEN KAGIN, FREETHOUGHT
HEROINE, DEAD AT 76

HELEN KAGIN died early this evening following complications from cancer surgery. She was 76.

Kagin was a heroine and activist in the Atheist movement. Along with her husband, attorney Edwin Kagin, she co-founded Camp Quest, a summer camp for the children of nonbelievers, which has grown into an international outreach. She and Edwin were frequent guests at various conventions, and belonged to several freethought groups.

In 2005, Helen and Edwin were named “Atheists of the Year” at the National Convention of American Atheists. Helen was active in the Free Inquiry Group of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She worked closely with Edwin and others organizing countless demonstrations and meetings, including the Rally for Reason which attracted hundreds of pro-science supporters who peacefully protested outside the opening of the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY.

She was an outstanding wife, mother, friend to so many; and Helen also had an illustrious career as an anesthesiologist

We will miss her infectious laughter, her wonderful friendship and stalwart support for the cause of Reason and state-church separation.

Helen Kagin will be cremated. Edwin Kagin asks that expressions of sympathy in the form of donations be used to send kids to Camp Quest. There will be further announcements, including details of a Memorial event.

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

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