I initially knew Lara from when I worked with her at the Seattle Club, downtown, in 1990 I believe. If I remember correctly, she worked in the daycare part and me at the front desk. We became friends at the gym, but never hung out outside of the gym. I remember her as a very vibrant, fun personality and very easy to get to know and approach, and always rode her bike everywhere. She seemed to always have friends surrounding her, people (including me) just seemed to want to know her.
Then, year's later I saw her at the climbing gym. She has a very recognizable face and smile, so I noticed her right away. She remembered me as well, and I remember being glad that I saw her again and reconnected. I didn't see her much after that as I eventually had my daughter and stopped going to the gym.
When I saw that article online, I did not know her from her married name, so her name did not ring a bell, but when I saw her picture in the newspaper, I knew who she was.
It has been very inspiring and emotional to read all the stories about Lara. I have learned so much about her... her fun-adventurous spirit and love of her friends and family does not surprise me as, even for the little bit I knew her, she was full of all those wonderful qualities.
My heart goes out to Chad and all her friends and family. What wonderful memories you all have... take care.
Marcie Guthrie
Thursday, May 3, 2007
No, I'm not ready
This is my denial mantra. I don’t want Lara to be gone and if I have to admit the truth I want to be able to change it. But I can’t change death. I feel helpless. It is so permanent. Yet I keep seeing Lara everywhere. Ruby, Clyde and I went to the Seattle Art Museum Sculpture Garden yesterday. There is a sculpture called Love and Loss. We sat there a long time and I thought of Chad. Ruby played in the pool of water and we threw coins in to signify our wishes. I can’t tell you mine or it won’t come true. We watched boats and the mountains. The wind was blowing and the clouds were swirling. The rain, I could see it headed our way. As I carried Ruby and Clyde back to the car I thought of Lara.
I remember the first time I saw Lara was at the UW rock about 12 years ago. She was climbing and joking with all the boys. Greedy and Chavez were there. Stevey D rode up on his bike. I was so impressed with the way she could hold so much: beauty, grace, humor, and sex appeal, yet be so strong and so one of the boys. Everyone rotated around her as if she were the sun. She drew everyone’s attention and in turn gave all who looked her way a nod or sweet greeting.
Over the passing years we saw each other at Feathered Friends, dancing up a storm at parties and of course for girl’s nights and weekends. Whenever I saw her I always felt she had time for me. Yes, she lived three lives in one day, of which I am in awe; and she always had time and space for her friends. I never felt rushed. I just felt Lara’s undivided attention, unless of course she was watching the Tour de France…
Most of our adventures together were spent tele skiing, drinking pink wine and looking at magazines, usually with Cece and Merridy. Once I had the opportunity to rock climb with her, well sort of... We went out to climb the new sport route (well not so new now) out past Mailbox Peak. We had a nice time driving and filling the time with conversation about our men Chad and Neil, our experience in grad school and dogs. We finally arrived with marginal beta at how to find the trail. Well, we had a blast bushwhacking. Driving up and down the road asking, “What do you think about that? Does it look like a trail? Let’s check it out.” I felt like I was in the woods where I grew up aimlessly looking for something to discover. Finally, we decided to throw in the towel and head back to the city for coffee.
Then, a car with two young men pulled up. They asked us if we climbed the route. We told our story of the trail search, Lara exchanged phone numbers with them and we each continued on our way. As soon as they were out of sight, Lara turns the car around and says I can't let them find the route first. And back we went. On our way back we decided we could let it go, which was hard for Lara. But she had given them her phone number so they could call us with beta. We would go back another time and climb the route.
Well, we never got to go back and climb. I am so sad that she is gone. I am sad for all that I will miss. I am sad for Chad and all others that loved her. She is irreplaceable. And though I am not ready to admit her passing, she lives on in her example of a generous life. Lara calls upon me to be the best person I can be. To smile through adversity, to love my friends through good and bad times, to love my partner deeply, to keep running and climbing, to find humor in everyday, to keep up on the current fashions, to continue to learn and grow academically and never, never stop drinking coffee and pink wine! Through her example I hope to live my life fuller each day. I know my children will grow up with stories of the legend of Lara. As if she was some fairy queen or superhero, which is not far from the truth.
Blessing to all in this tough time.
Tracy Rekart
I remember the first time I saw Lara was at the UW rock about 12 years ago. She was climbing and joking with all the boys. Greedy and Chavez were there. Stevey D rode up on his bike. I was so impressed with the way she could hold so much: beauty, grace, humor, and sex appeal, yet be so strong and so one of the boys. Everyone rotated around her as if she were the sun. She drew everyone’s attention and in turn gave all who looked her way a nod or sweet greeting.
Over the passing years we saw each other at Feathered Friends, dancing up a storm at parties and of course for girl’s nights and weekends. Whenever I saw her I always felt she had time for me. Yes, she lived three lives in one day, of which I am in awe; and she always had time and space for her friends. I never felt rushed. I just felt Lara’s undivided attention, unless of course she was watching the Tour de France…
Most of our adventures together were spent tele skiing, drinking pink wine and looking at magazines, usually with Cece and Merridy. Once I had the opportunity to rock climb with her, well sort of... We went out to climb the new sport route (well not so new now) out past Mailbox Peak. We had a nice time driving and filling the time with conversation about our men Chad and Neil, our experience in grad school and dogs. We finally arrived with marginal beta at how to find the trail. Well, we had a blast bushwhacking. Driving up and down the road asking, “What do you think about that? Does it look like a trail? Let’s check it out.” I felt like I was in the woods where I grew up aimlessly looking for something to discover. Finally, we decided to throw in the towel and head back to the city for coffee.
Then, a car with two young men pulled up. They asked us if we climbed the route. We told our story of the trail search, Lara exchanged phone numbers with them and we each continued on our way. As soon as they were out of sight, Lara turns the car around and says I can't let them find the route first. And back we went. On our way back we decided we could let it go, which was hard for Lara. But she had given them her phone number so they could call us with beta. We would go back another time and climb the route.
Well, we never got to go back and climb. I am so sad that she is gone. I am sad for all that I will miss. I am sad for Chad and all others that loved her. She is irreplaceable. And though I am not ready to admit her passing, she lives on in her example of a generous life. Lara calls upon me to be the best person I can be. To smile through adversity, to love my friends through good and bad times, to love my partner deeply, to keep running and climbing, to find humor in everyday, to keep up on the current fashions, to continue to learn and grow academically and never, never stop drinking coffee and pink wine! Through her example I hope to live my life fuller each day. I know my children will grow up with stories of the legend of Lara. As if she was some fairy queen or superhero, which is not far from the truth.
Blessing to all in this tough time.
Tracy Rekart
My Role Model
About two months ago, Lara was at our house for dinner. I was cooking, she was holding my two-year old daughter. She always said that she didn’t get along with kids, but she and Sofia obviously had an understanding. Common love of mischief no doubt.
For the first time I understood what people mean when they say "role model." Right here was a person who embodied all the things I wish for my daughter’s future. Strong. Smart. Caring. Self-confident. Dedicated. Determined. Above all, independent.
I’m tempted to say "fearless," but that wouldn’t give her enough credit. More than anyone I know, she simply refused to let her life be defined by what she was afraid of. She rebelled against it, grabbed it by the throat. If you saw her scared, you could guess what her next obsession would be.
We had planned a trip to Mt. Kennedy this spring. The reasons why I eventually cancelled out seem trivial now. I knew they were trivial at the time. That wasn’t enough to jog me out of the inertia of my life. Most of us don’t need other people to chain us down, we do it ourselves and call it responsibility, obligation, habit. Somehow, Lara was immune to this. She lived her life by the dictate "why NOT do it?" Why not travel to China? Why not ditch work for a month to climb in the desert? Why not hitchhike across Alaska? Why not race this Lance Armstrong wannabe across town on my mountain bike?
Of all the things I admired about Lara, this stays with me. She never let fear of upsetting a comfortable rhythm stop her from pursuing her dreams, all of them, all at the same time. She was the freest person I’ve ever known.
She was my role model too.
Forrest Murphy
From Brendan Cusick
Buddha said "Be the light you wish to see in the world"
No one shone quite so bright as Lara. A loss of energy from this earth occurred with her passing. My first meeting with her was after an emotional good bye she and Chad had at KIA (Kahiltna International Airport, the snow-bound airstrip on the Kahiltna Glacier) on his way up for a speed record on Big Mac (Mt. McKinley). We all flew to Talkeetna and with a posse of folks to tear up the West Rib and Fairview for a good night of partying. The following morning I learned of Lara's love of eggs, eggs, eggs. My climbing partner, Robert, Lara, and I spent the day wondering around, chomping for info on Chad's ascent and just being happy climbers in the streets of Talkeetna.
Two months later I visited Lara in Seattle on my way to Bolivia and got the full tour of sushi, red wine, and her romping grounds all through the wind sheild of the old Volvo. Her love of life, big smile and enthusiasm for climbing and life kept me pumped for two months of guiding in Bolivia.
When I returned from South America she and Chad opened their door to a tired and strung out climber and I thank them for that. I left them a gift from Bolivia that though it had broken in transit was but a small offering to Lara's kindness and whole hearted energy that has infected all of us.
To Chad I send compassion.
To Lara you're with us always.
Brendan Cusick
No one shone quite so bright as Lara. A loss of energy from this earth occurred with her passing. My first meeting with her was after an emotional good bye she and Chad had at KIA (Kahiltna International Airport, the snow-bound airstrip on the Kahiltna Glacier) on his way up for a speed record on Big Mac (Mt. McKinley). We all flew to Talkeetna and with a posse of folks to tear up the West Rib and Fairview for a good night of partying. The following morning I learned of Lara's love of eggs, eggs, eggs. My climbing partner, Robert, Lara, and I spent the day wondering around, chomping for info on Chad's ascent and just being happy climbers in the streets of Talkeetna.
Two months later I visited Lara in Seattle on my way to Bolivia and got the full tour of sushi, red wine, and her romping grounds all through the wind sheild of the old Volvo. Her love of life, big smile and enthusiasm for climbing and life kept me pumped for two months of guiding in Bolivia.
When I returned from South America she and Chad opened their door to a tired and strung out climber and I thank them for that. I left them a gift from Bolivia that though it had broken in transit was but a small offering to Lara's kindness and whole hearted energy that has infected all of us.
To Chad I send compassion.
To Lara you're with us always.
Brendan Cusick
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Memorial Service: Photo Submission
CALL FOR IMAGES
Submission Deadline is this Friday evening.
At the memorial after Saturday's funeral we will run a digital slide show. We are asking for a contribution of images of Lara..
Digital Submission Specs (for the techie):
1024x768 maximum dimensions; 72ppi; sRGB; Adjust hi/low values in Curves at 6/245; Unsharp Mask at 120%, .5 Radius, 2 Threshold; save as JPG with embedded sRGB profile, Quality 11
Digital Submission Specs (non techie):
send us the file in its original state.
Analog (slides or prints) Submission Specs:
If you are unable to convert the images to digital yourself, please call Tim at 206.409.3069 to drop these off for scanning.
If you have time, please caption your images with "who, what, where, when, why" as there is a chance we will have time to include this in the production. But getting the images submitted should be the priority.
EMAIL TO:
For less than 4mb file email to Tim: photo(at)timmatsui.com
For greater than 4mb file email to Andreas: dakobed(at)hotmail.com
**please send an email with no attachments to confirm image arrival
Thanks,
tim matsui
Submission Deadline is this Friday evening.
At the memorial after Saturday's funeral we will run a digital slide show. We are asking for a contribution of images of Lara..
Digital Submission Specs (for the techie):
1024x768 maximum dimensions; 72ppi; sRGB; Adjust hi/low values in Curves at 6/245; Unsharp Mask at 120%, .5 Radius, 2 Threshold; save as JPG with embedded sRGB profile, Quality 11
Digital Submission Specs (non techie):
send us the file in its original state.
Analog (slides or prints) Submission Specs:
If you are unable to convert the images to digital yourself, please call Tim at 206.409.3069 to drop these off for scanning.
If you have time, please caption your images with "who, what, where, when, why" as there is a chance we will have time to include this in the production. But getting the images submitted should be the priority.
EMAIL TO:
For less than 4mb file email to Tim: photo(at)timmatsui.com
For greater than 4mb file email to Andreas: dakobed(at)hotmail.com
**please send an email with no attachments to confirm image arrival
Thanks,
tim matsui
Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant
A fund has been established in Lara's honor with the American Alpine Club. In lieu of flowers at her funeral, Chad would appreciate donations to the Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant in honor of Lara's commitment to preserving natural wild spaces.
Please contribute your tax deductible donation in one of the following ways:
- To donate by credit card, click on the "One Time Gift" link on the AAC website http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/page/8. Please be sure to type "Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant" into the "Comments" section.
- To donate by check please send to this address. Please be sure to write "Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant" on the check:
The American Alpine Club
710 10th St Suite 1
Golden, CO 80401
In addition the AAC has this information on its website at the bottom of this page:
http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/page/21
The news release is here: http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/news.php#149
Please forward this to EVERYONE who would be interested so we have the opportunity to make this a lasting legacy.
Please contribute your tax deductible donation in one of the following ways:
- To donate by credit card, click on the "One Time Gift" link on the AAC website http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/page/8. Please be sure to type "Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant" into the "Comments" section.
- To donate by check please send to this address. Please be sure to write "Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Grant" on the check:
The American Alpine Club
710 10th St Suite 1
Golden, CO 80401
In addition the AAC has this information on its website at the bottom of this page:
http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/page/21
The news release is here: http://www.americanalpineclub.org/pages/news.php#149
Please forward this to EVERYONE who would be interested so we have the opportunity to make this a lasting legacy.
Memorial Service, Saturday May 5th
Please pass this information along to anyone who knew Lara... Everyone is invited.
Direct Link: http://rememberlara.blogspot.com/2007/05/memorial-service-saturday-may-5th.html
Link: Call for Photos for Memorial Service
FUNERAL INFORMATION:
The funeral will be held Saturday May 5th at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church. The viewing will be from 12-1PM and the ceremony will be from 1-2PM. There will be memory boards to display pictures of Lara. Please bring up to 3 pictures; if they are originals please take them with you after the service.
Following the ceremony there will be a gathering at the Bitter Lake Community Center from 2-5PM. This will be a potluck gathering so please bring food to share. (No alchohol is allowed at the Community Center.)
Location information is below:
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church
11710 3rd Ave NE
You approach it from 5th Ave NE which is immediately east of I-5.
[Map]
Bitter Lake Community Center
13035 Linden Ave N
Seattle, Washington 98133
[Map]
In lieu of flowers, Chad has asked you donate to the Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Fund
Direct Link: http://rememberlara.blogspot.com/2007/05/memorial-service-saturday-may-5th.html
Link: Call for Photos for Memorial Service
FUNERAL INFORMATION:
The funeral will be held Saturday May 5th at the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church. The viewing will be from 12-1PM and the ceremony will be from 1-2PM. There will be memory boards to display pictures of Lara. Please bring up to 3 pictures; if they are originals please take them with you after the service.
Following the ceremony there will be a gathering at the Bitter Lake Community Center from 2-5PM. This will be a potluck gathering so please bring food to share. (No alchohol is allowed at the Community Center.)
Location information is below:
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church
11710 3rd Ave NE
You approach it from 5th Ave NE which is immediately east of I-5.
[Map]
Bitter Lake Community Center
13035 Linden Ave N
Seattle, Washington 98133
[Map]
In lieu of flowers, Chad has asked you donate to the Lara-Karena Bitenieks Kellogg Memorial Conservation Fund
