April 9, 2020

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

The Canadian Baseball Network family has been touched by the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Hertha (Isaac) Kornhaus passed away on April 2 at Doctors Hospital in Sarasota, Fla., at the age of 80. She was the much-loved aunt of Canadian Baseball Network managing director Ryan Isaac.

All of us at the Canadian Baseball Network would like to extend our deepest condolences to Ryan and his family.

Fortunately, thanks to the extraordinary kindness of a nurse named Sheri at the hospital, Ryan, his sister, Becky, and his father Rudy (Hertha’s older brother) were able to say goodbye to Hertha.

With Hertha on a ventilator in isolation, Sheri volunteered to put on her protective gear and bring a phone into the room.

“I coordinated a call with Sheri at the hospital who went and donned her protective gear and put the phone up to our aunt’s ear so we were able to say our goodbyes,” said Ryan. “It was clear she was losing the battle with COVID-19. The staff at the Doctor’s Hospital in the ICU ward had done all they could for her. Sheri said she thought my aunt heard us because my aunt’s eye brows raised.”

Born in 1939, Hertha grew up in Beamsville, Ont. and went on to enjoy a successful career as a health care administrator that began at Etobicoke General Hospital, but eventually brought her to Sarasota, Fla., where she managed the U.S. head office of the Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Haiti.

“At one point, she actually lived in Haiti,” recalled Ryan. ”Our family went to visit her in Haiti which was a life changing experience.”

Hertha was influential as the administrator for the Hopital Albert Schweitzer’s U.S. office in Sarasota for 24 years.

Ryan, who works as a professional pilot, says his aunt always took an interest in his life. As a child, he looked forward to trips to Florida to visit her and later when he was in aviation school in Vero Beach, Fla., he would drive or fly over to see her.

“At her job, she used a company called Agape Flights. They flew from Florida to Haiti to bring supplies to the hospital. My aunt knowing that I was passionate about aviation - and this was my early days when I just a private pilot - she arranged for me to do a flight to Haiti with this company and their chief pilot,” recalled Ryan.

Hertha, who was happily single until she was 71 when she married, Harold Kornhaus, was the kindest and most thoughtful, energetic, and giving person, says Ryan. She was a true Floridian frequenting the beach in her white convertible.

Hertha had a really strong faith which was her foundation.

“My aunt was a happy person. She was always positive,” recalled Ryan. “Even in tough times she was always encouraging, saying that things will get better and to trust God. If you look at her Facebook page, her daily posts were always super positive but not preachy, just the essentials”.

She was also very affectionate.

“She was a really good hugger,” recalled Ryan. “I know that’s corny to say. But my aunt being such a tiny lady, she would always come in and give you the biggest squeeze of a hug. She would always say, ‘It’s so good to see you,’ while not letting go, she would keep on hugging you.”

One of Hertha’s favourite things was to go to Tampa Bay Rays games at Tropicana Field.

“Her husband, Harold, and her were big-time Rays fans,” said Ryan. “She went to games with Harold all the time. She would text pictures of her at the games. Oh and did I mention she would always bring a cowbell? So she was one of those people ringing the bell! She was a spirited person. She got her game jersey on and the two of them would go down to the stadium and they would call it a cheap date. It was game day and it was date night, win or loose”

Ryan and his family are uncertain how his aunt contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19). She had worked in healthcare all her life and took all of the precautions. One of her last texts to Ryan was about COVID-19 and how important it was for him to wash his hands.

Her passing was so sudden and unexpected that Ryan says his family is having difficulty coming to grips with it, especially when they’re unable to be together during the COVID-19 epidemic.

“When I say to people that my aunt was 80, they picture this little old lady,” said Ryan. “But she looked and lived much younger than she was. On paper she was 80, but my aunt was a young soul who was vibrant and she was always active.”

A memorial service will be held at a later date when family members are allowed to congregate.

“She always focused on the key things that are truly important in life,” said Ryan about his aunt. “I mean, yes, she liked to have a convertible in Florida and that was fun, but she really was focused on her faith and giving back to others. She knew at the end of the day if you’ve got a roof over your head and you’ve got food on your plate you’re OK, the rest will come. I think some of that came from the work she did in Haiti.”

A life well lived.