Michael Dylan Politzer

Michael Dylan Politzer, 18, died Feb. 17, 2012, at his Carlisle home due to Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KT), a rare vascular disease. A memorial service was held Feb. 18 at Unitarian Universalists of the Cumberland Valley (UUCV), Michael’s Boiling Springs church.

Michael was born with KT on June 27, 1993, in Harrisburg, son of Geneva Politzer and the late David Hardy.

In addition to Geneva, of Carlisle, he is survived by two brothers, Stephen Politzer-Ahles of Lawrence, KS, and David Politzer-Ahles of Pittsburgh; uncles Stephen Politzer of Oakland, Calif., Gary Politzer of Ojai, Calif., Walter Hardy of Mill Valley, Calif.; and grandparents Ann Marie and Warren Ripley of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Despite 73 hospitalizations, he led a happy and inspiring life, including advocacy and friendships with KT patients in some 20 countries, and summer camp with UUCV youth, who once carried him in his wheelchair to the top of Pine Grove Furnace’s Sunset Rocks, where his ashes will be scattered. He graduated from Boiling Springs High School in June 2011.

March of Dimes ambassador at age 4, he went on to host his own KT website (http://sites.google.com/mpolitzer/site), describing how he lived with his debilitating disease. In 2010, he was featured on National Geographic’s “Rare Anatomy,â€Â which may be seen on YouTube. The family asks that those wishing to honor him may make a donation to the Michael Politzer Scholarship Fund, K-T Support Group, 1471 Greystone Lane, Milford Ohio 45150 or online at: http://k-t.org/ under ‘How Can I Help?’.

Donations may also be made to the Michael Politzer Memorial Fund in support of youth programs, UUCV, 2 Forge Road, Boiling Springs, PA 17007.