Risking Significance

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24 August 2008

Good-bye, Torch

Torch (Rachel) died peacefully this morning in our room in her grandmother's house. I'll leave it at that for now, except to thank all of you who have expressed your love for her in comments here and by other means.

posted by Bill @ 7:31 AM  

24 Comments:

  • At August 24, 2008 8:30 PM , Anonymous Glenn "the chicken thrower" said...

    Good night, sweet prince(ss), and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

     

  • At August 24, 2008 10:14 PM , Anonymous Amanda Bates said...

    You are in my thoughts and heart. I wish I could be as witty as Rachel was throughout her battle and say something that would make you smirk. But at the moment, I cannot. The world has lost an awesome person.

    Please let me know where I can make a donation in Rachel's name.

     

  • At August 25, 2008 5:47 AM , Blogger Tammi said...

    My heart goes out to you, Bill, and to all of us who could share in Rachel's beautiful life. As selfish as it sounds, I wish there had been more time.

     

  • At August 25, 2008 7:22 AM , Anonymous Bob Ginn said...

    i will miss you

     

  • At August 25, 2008 12:05 PM , Blogger Kathy said...

    We'll treasure the poem that speaks Rachel's life so directly and emphatically. Thank you, Bill, for keeping us all in touch these last few weeks and months, difficult as they have been for all of you.
    Kathy Lund

     

  • At August 25, 2008 2:07 PM , Blogger Bill said...

    Amanda (and everyone), the short answer is that her family suggests donations to the Rachel Falls Patient Assistance Fund at the National Abortion Federation, 1660 L Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20036.

    The slightly longer answer is that Rachel played a lead role in implementing and managing an amazing anonymous donation that substantially assists low-income women in gaining access to abortion services in states that refuse to provide Medicaid funding for abortion. (See many of her posts on this blog starting in November 2007.)

    In the remaining 15 states there are still many women who need help but are ineligible for Medicaid. For these women NAF turns to local abortion funds (see http://nnaf.org) and to the tiny NAF fund that Rae managed during the years before the anonymous gift. We just learned today that NAF has renamed this fund in Rachel's honor. The news literally took my breath away. She would have been so proud.

     

  • At August 25, 2008 5:57 PM , Blogger Harriett said...

    Bill,
    Words escape us, but then, there is really nothing appropriate we could say at such a difficult time. Rachel was an incredibly awesome woman and we only wish we could have spent more time with you both. Rachel had mentioned in one of her blogs, about wishing she were like Tinkerbell and we can't help but belive that she is now flitting around, her wings flapping, sprinkling hope, love and happiness in the fairy dust she is casting over us all.
    We have followed Rachel's blog for many years and were in awe at the way she handled every sitiuation. She was courageous and beyond! We are so happy that you found each other and shared such happiness. Our love and prayers are with you, and the family. Our door is always open, if you would like to come and visit.
    Much love,
    Harriett and Uncle Bob

     

  • At August 26, 2008 4:48 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Our love and thoughts are with you, Bill, and with all of Rachel's family and friends.

    Sigrid and Alex

     

  • At August 26, 2008 9:26 AM , Anonymous Ana Astrid said...

    Dear Bill,

    I am so sorry to hear that Rachel is gone. She has been your Torch, tu Luz, as well as for family and friends.

    Our love and prayers are with you, and both your family and friends,

    Ana Astrid and Peter.

     

  • At August 26, 2008 12:21 PM , Blogger Jorge said...

    I'm really sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts.

    Jorge Sepulveda

     

  • At August 26, 2008 2:02 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Rae will be missed, her work will always be with us
    Sabrina

     

  • At August 26, 2008 3:27 PM , Blogger Desaray said...

    Rachel helped me just this past February with a difficult case on the hotline. I was so excited for NAF to have such a competent person managing the money. She wouldnt give me any of it, but was very generous with her advice ;} (I secretly like the people who tell me "No" the best.) And I am so proud too, to have known and worked beside the woman after whom the fund is now named.

    I should be so lucky to deal with my death as magnificently as she has and to be as loved. Thank you, Bill and Rachel, for keeping this blog.

     

  • At August 26, 2008 11:28 PM , Anonymous Suzanne said...

    Oh, Bill, I am filled with sadness. I am so sorry for your deep loss of beautiful Rachel. Dearest Rae, good night, good night, I will miss you so. There are so many conversations I wish we had had a chance to have. I will still send them to you in my thoughts, and try to use what I knew of your kind and funny spirit to imagine what your part of the conversation would have held.

    More than anyone I've known, you used the time you had here in the world so very well. You shared so much love, and you did so much good.

     

  • At August 27, 2008 10:17 AM , Blogger Necochino said...

    Dear Bill, although I've still have missed the pleasure of meeting you in person I know you from forever. In Cantigas I've always heard nice things about you and reading through this blog it is clear to understand why. I can not find words to say. Please know that there are many who keep you and Rachel in our thoughts and prayers.
    Guillermo Almada

     

  • At August 27, 2008 3:37 PM , Anonymous Sigrid said...

    Dear Bill,

    Thank you so much for being in Rae's life and for continuing to update the blog all this time - truly amazing. It's beautiful to see all of the comments from people that Rae touched and how far reaching that is. As I have said so many times, I couldn't have wished for a better partner for Rae and I know how much she loved you.
    All my love,
    Sigrid

     

  • At August 27, 2008 5:51 PM , Blogger will said...

    Our thoughts are with everyone...

     

  • At August 28, 2008 5:12 PM , Blogger Wendy said...

    Dear Bill,

    Lou and I are very sad to hear of the loss of your Rachel. We send you our love and prayers.

    Your friend and former Cantigas companion,
    Wendy Johannes

     

  • At August 29, 2008 1:40 PM , Anonymous Diane H K said...

    Bill Francisco just got word to us with the news. This is too, too sad. We had no idea that the cancer had returned. Rachel has always been such an amazing, strong person, even "back in the day" when we knew her at the time of the first diagnosis.

    Our family sends our deepest condolences to Rachel's loved ones. May your memories of Rachel live forever.

    Very sincerely,
    Diane Hinze Kanzler
    and Elaine Hinze
    (Elaine was the Administrative Assistant at the Theater Department when Rachel was a student at Wesleyan, now retired to western Massachusetts)

     

  • At August 30, 2008 4:03 PM , Blogger Bill said...

    Thank you, thank you everyone.

    Love, Bill

     

  • At September 01, 2008 11:57 AM , Anonymous Amy said...

    I'm so sorry for your loss Bill. Rachel was a lovely person. Please let us know if we can help in any way.

    Amy R

     

  • At September 04, 2008 10:20 AM , Anonymous Francine Thompson said...

    Bill,
    I am so sorry. My heart goes out to you, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Rachel was a gentle, vibrant light in a sometimes dim world. Her light will still shine on through you and the fund and the tons of women she touched.
    Hope to see you sometime in the future.

    Francine
    Emma Goldman
    Iowa City

     

  • At September 05, 2008 12:03 AM , Anonymous Frank Riley said...

    Old Friend,

    I am so very sorry for your loss.

    Frank Riley

     

  • At September 16, 2008 11:24 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    i was forwarded this message. thinking i may know her i began to read what people who knew her had to say about her life.
    as it turns out i do not know who rachel is, because i never had the honor of meeting her.
    however,having read what has been written, i know who she was.
    rachel IS everything you know her to be, and more now that she is EVERYWHERE.
    it appears you all have effected her life as she has yours, that is part of this whole experience. bill knows that very well from what i have gathered, for taking the path of growth through life's death... we go on, on both sides.
    we are human.
    no matter how our lives turn out when we go, some of us, like rachel do what we need to, to touch those around us in such a way that we can touch a stranger, and inspire this to be written.
    thank you rachel.

     

  • At November 02, 2008 7:04 AM , Blogger Diyfilms said...

    Periodically I check out the blog to see how your wife is doing. I'm very sorry to hear of her passing.I was really rooting for her. My heart goes out to you and your family.

    Allyson

     

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