Spencer Catherine Masternak

life story

Stay Whimsical and Spread Kindness

This isn’t just an obituary. Obituaries are nothing more than a collection of words meant to sum up a life, but some lives – no matter how short – are too big for that. Words cannot adequately describe the magic Spencer brought to the world in their 19 years on earth. For those of us lucky enough to have a front row seat, we will be forever changed.

Spencer not only always knew how to brighten the lives of everyone around them but they actually took the time to do it. Whether it was something big and remarkable, like creating their own school wide service learning project as a 3rd grader or something seemingly small and mundane like bringing a special coffee and treat to a friend who was feeling down or baking cookies for cast mates after a theater production, Spencer’s question was always “How can I make your day better?”

It was the smallest gestures that often carried the biggest impact, always reminding friends, family, and even strangers that they were special, valued, and seen. A silly little plastic crab, tucked away where Spencer knew you’d find it, was their calling card and their way of bringing a little joy to your day. And you couldn’t help but smile when you found one…just as they intended.

Spencer saw the world through a uniquely beautiful lens, finding joy and beauty in things most of us overlook. They embraced silliness and whimsy and wore them proudly like a badge of honor. With a style that was eclectic, perfectly authentic and inarguably cool as hell, Spencer was constantly stopped by strangers who felt compelled to complement their iconic purse, one of a kind earrings, or amazingly intricate eye makeup inspired by whatever carefully curated outfit they put together that day.

Their deep love of music across an incredibly wide range of time periods and genres meant Spencer was probably one of the only people on the planet who not only knew, but could sing all the words to, “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot, “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, “Feminominon” by Chappel Roan and the entire soundtrack of most Broadway plays from the past 20 years. And oh did they ever sing...in the car, at concerts, on stage and during family dinners! A song from one of their 996 Spotify playlists was always in their head.

Spencer had a special love for the kind of adventures that started in the car, often with no firm plan, but lots of excitement in what may be discovered along the way and of course some killer playlists. Spencer’s favorite adventures were the wonderfully weird, random ones. A spontaneous road trip across the state to Rainforest Café. Driving 5 hours round trip to see an 18-foot-tall trout statue and stopping to visit a taxidermy museum they passed on their way home. Always on the lookout for a new escape room to try. On a Spencer road trip, you never quite knew where you’d end up or what you’d stumble upon, but you always knew it would be a good time.

That same adventurous spirit carried them 1000 miles away from home to their dream school, Savannah College of Art and Design to study film and editing. They threw themselves into a new, exciting environment, making videos, doing what they loved, landing a lead role as a voice actor in a podcast and finding a wonderful new circle of friends along the way. We can only imagine what they would have created if given more time.

We are most proud for all the lives Spencer was able to touch and change during her nineteen years. Spencer was the kind of friend everyone needs in their life. Wickedly clever, funny, and deeply caring, Spencer had a way of making a regular day more fun and a hard day easier to manage. Whenever and wherever you needed Spencer, you could count on her being there without judgment, without qualification, without exception. Spencer simply gave everything of themselves for the people around them and has left an indelible mark on all who crossed their path. All who were fortunate enough to know them will carry a piece of Spencer with them forever, and for that reason Spencer will never be truly gone.

The best way to honor Spencer’s memory is to live life the way Spencer did: Open your eyes to the rare beauty that exists in this world, both obvious and hidden. Embrace your inner silliness and quirkiness and share it with the world. Show up in ways that matter when someone needs you and also on a random Tuesday. Add bits of joy to your life. Laugh, especially with others. Do something kind for a stranger. Buy yourself a little treat. Go on a road trip. Share a funny animal TikTok. Hug a dog. And don’t forget to stay whimsical.

If you have any Spencer stories or memories or were witness to or the recipient of some of Spencer's kindness and magic while she was here or after she was gone or spread your own kindness in her honor, we'd love to hear them!