www.MeM.com

Born on May 27, 1954 to Marion and Jerry Mangiapia on Staten Island, New York, Karen grew up in Port Richmond until her family moved to Eltingville. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, Tottenville High School and the High School of Art & Design in New York City. At CUNY College of Staten Island she studied architecture which remained her strong interest all her life.

After working for a brokerage firm on Wall Street and a two year sabbatical in rural Tennessee, Karen joined Beefsteak Charlie’s on Staten Island and became part of a tremendous group of close friends whose support and friendship has lasted to the present day. At World Yacht she got a taste for the event planning business from which she proceeded to establish her own event planning business Skyline Yacht Charters, organizing business and private entertainment events on yachts in New York harbor.

Having met on Staten Island in 1986 she married her husband Wolfgang in Tahiti in 1989. They have travelled together extensively in the States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Australia. For six years they lived and worked in Germany and Taiwan where Karen developed her passion for Far Eastern philosophies.

Returning to the States in 1995 Karen made their home in Brielle, New Jersey. She set up her talent management business Seagoddess Entertainment serving the Indie music scene. Karen has been widely known in the music business as the Seagoddess, taking part in the organization of Indie conferences in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles.

In her personal sphere she loved to paint and was widely involved in internet chat rooms where she has been known as Kazmira all over the world. For the past few years she devoted her passion to the design of dolls, creating the World Doll concept. During last year’s Christmas vacation Karen fell in love with the Caribbean island of the Commonwealth of Dominica and made the island her home for four months.

After a short and rapidly progressive bout with cancer Karen passed away on September 8, 2008 in Bricktown, New Jersey. She is survived by her husband Wolfgang and her brothers Gary and Robert Mangiapia.

A prayer service took place at the Neary-Quinn Funeral Home, 39 South Street, Manasquan, New Jersey on Saturday September 20, 2008 at 4:00pm. Cremation was private.