Marinna Khon, a Syracuse University graduate from Lynn, Mass., was known for her giving and optimistic personality.

As the oldest of five, Kohn’s family and friends said she was patient, funny, intelligent, and motivated.

‘I know Marinna wanted to give her family a better life,’ said her cousin Anne Tith. ‘Her mother, Sokhan, always told me she never disappointed her — she was such a good kid.’

Khon, 22, was swept off a Plum Island sandbar, off the coast of Massachusetts, on Tuesday and presumed drowned by the Coast Guard the following evening.  She graduated from SU on May 16 and majored in information management and technology. She was also a dancer and part of The Shift dance crew at Syracuse.

‘She’s always there for you; she always knows what to say to you. She’s an amazing sister,’ said her sister Madelene Ba. ‘I can’t really explain it. There’s not enough words to explain it.’

Kohn’s family also remembers her as having been smart since childhood.

‘When she was a little girl she always wanted to play school,’ recalled Tith. ‘I used to babysit her and her siblings and every time they were over we played school. I would give them tests just like real class, and she was always so bright.’

The same personality described by family members could also be seen in the workplace.

‘She was the hardest worker. She never complained. She always had good things to say about everyone,’ said Paris McLean, Khon’s co-worker at the Bird Library café. 

The two co-workers had closing shifts together. McLean recalled that Khon always smiled both in and out of work. And although the two did not know each other well, Khon would always talk to her when she saw her outside of work.

When she was not working or doing her school work, Khon danced in The Shift Crew. As part of the dance crew, she had choreographed her own routine. She had a unique style of dance and taught everyone, said Jonathan Shih, also a member of the dance crew.

‘Her friends describe her as always smiling, always positive and giving,’ Tith said. ‘She loved to laugh, stay active and spontaneous.’

Although the Coast Guard called off the search for Khon on Wednesday, police, family and friends still have hope that Khon is safe somewhere and have continued to search every day since the incident, Tith said.

‘We know she’s out there no matter what,’ Ba said. ‘We know we’ll find her – point blank. We’ll never lose faith.’  

On Friday, friends and family held a bonfire at Plum Island in honor of Khon and a candlelight vigil also took place on Sunday.  

A Facebook group called ‘Marinna Khon We Remember’ was also created by Tith shortly after the incident. The group has 863 as of Sunday evening and contains a collection of photos, videos and memories posted by those who knew her.

‘Marinna is truly an angel,’ said Tith. ‘She was God’s gift to her friends and family. Without her our hearts are hollow, and she can never be replaced.’

lgleveil@syr.edu

Published on May 30, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Contact Laurence: lgleveil@syr.edu | @lgleveille