It has been three months now since we lost Devon. I have been unable to put into words anything remotely close to how I've been feeling. This weekend, however, inspired by the Red Devon Daffodils that Julie planted in her honor and are now sprouting up on my balcony, I was inspired to try to describe (with some poetic license and a few miss-sequencing of events!) my experience during Devon's last days. I've posted this on my blog and hope it speaks somewhat for you, too. Ironically, since Devon set this blog up for me and showed me how to use it, I feel guilty for not using it lately. The muse just hasn't been speaking to me. At least I've found the words to give her a little to smile about here at the end of this most horrible of years.
http://tambourineman7.blogspot.com/
We all are seeking our own way to get our arms around the meaning of Devon's loss and move on with it, ever so slowly and carefully. one of my ways is to write about it. My next effort will be to move into a "garden," again an inspiration given to me by Julie. Two days after Devon died, Julie, Jen, Cory, Asako and I went to Descanso Gardens in Pasadena. We found freh air, sunlight, ponds, fish, many beautiful flowers and plants. Jen took a picture of a poem engraved on a bronze plaque. It has been lingering in my mind ever since Julie emailed it to me. I think I can form some feelings around this.
Meanwhile, Asako and I wish you all a Good New Year. We keep talking of all the love and support you've shown for Devon this past year and a half and are permanently grateful. Can't say it enough! Asako will be working in Tokyo January 13 through the 27th. I'll be busy with classes, keeping the house dusted, playing at golf, and growing stronger in mind, body and spirit...I hope!
Love to All,
Lou
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Anathea Gordon
Ruthie, thank you so much for the opportunity to express our thoughts and feelings about Devon. If all the people who knew and loved Devon took the opportunity to share their feelings and memories at “the celebration of her life”, we would be there for hours-laughing and crying. I have been blessed to have known Devon since she was a baby, really. Our mothers met when her older brother Cory and I were newborn infants. My earliest memory of Devon was on a trip my family took to visit her family in Clovis. We were hanging out in their apartment, having dinner one night. She must have been pretty young, because, during the dinner preparation she asked “what’s for ‘zert’ mommy”. Chantal and I still talk about how cute that was.
The next time I remember seeing her was on a trip I took up to Santa Barbara for a visit one weekend, it was before her trip to Europe, we had a fun time hanging out at one of the local bars. It was amazing b/c we had such a great time that weekend. It was as if it had only been a week or so (versus the years it had actually been).
I can remember when I got the news about the cancer diagnosis. I was in total shock! I took a trip to Long Beach w/my mom to visit her in the hospital. I think it was the 1st day after her 1st surgery. I had spoken to her on the phone and had asked her if she liked sushi (which she had). When my mom and I entered the hospital room (she had been out of the room at the time for PT or OT) neither one of us knew what to expect. About 10 min later, she walked in (with minimal assistance) w/her walker w/a HUGE smile on her face. We asked how she was feeling, she said “pretty well”. We dined on sushi and Snapple, and painted her finger nails. It was a good visit.
I came out several times to visit her at her Long Beach place (the apt they moved into after the fire). On one occasion, (after the 2nd surgery), we walked across the street to the restaurant for lunch. I remember asking her how she was feeling-physically. She said “pretty well, my balance is off a bit, but ok”. She always had a smile on her face. In typical-strong willed Devon style-she refused any help offered, and we walked across the street for lunch. I think that was the same visit we hung out and watched “American Idol” on the DVR. She was SO excited about the show, she LOVED it. ; ) (which was fun for me to see b/c I wasn’t all that into it). No matter what she was going through (between the cancer and the apartment issues) her spirits were ALWAYS high. Several times I was able to help her out (at least she was nice enough to say I helped J) with her diagnosis. She would ask me about medication regimens or experimental treatment the doctors were looking at and the results of her frequent lab work. Only once did I ever see the effects of the cancer hit her emotionally. On one of my visits in Long Beach (as she worked on her laptop-getting herself back to work so that she could maintain a level of normalcy and her medical insurance), she spoke with her neurologist, who gave her the results of the most recent MRI. Devon cried for just a bit, and then shook it off.
The last time I saw Devon was about 1.5 months or so ago. I went out to Long Beach for one of our lunches, we went to some “Teriaki place” she said was good. The thing that NEVER ceased to amaze me was how GREAT her memory was-even after several brain surgeries. She directed us directly to the restaurant as I drove and got us back, I (half) joked that her memory was better than mine was, and I didn’t even have an excuse. We had a good time talking about our families and the stresses of life. I still can’t believe she’s gone, I’m going to miss her regular blogs and our lunches, her spirit and her smile and her enthusiasm for life and American Idol.
God Bless.
The next time I remember seeing her was on a trip I took up to Santa Barbara for a visit one weekend, it was before her trip to Europe, we had a fun time hanging out at one of the local bars. It was amazing b/c we had such a great time that weekend. It was as if it had only been a week or so (versus the years it had actually been).
I can remember when I got the news about the cancer diagnosis. I was in total shock! I took a trip to Long Beach w/my mom to visit her in the hospital. I think it was the 1st day after her 1st surgery. I had spoken to her on the phone and had asked her if she liked sushi (which she had). When my mom and I entered the hospital room (she had been out of the room at the time for PT or OT) neither one of us knew what to expect. About 10 min later, she walked in (with minimal assistance) w/her walker w/a HUGE smile on her face. We asked how she was feeling, she said “pretty well”. We dined on sushi and Snapple, and painted her finger nails. It was a good visit.
I came out several times to visit her at her Long Beach place (the apt they moved into after the fire). On one occasion, (after the 2nd surgery), we walked across the street to the restaurant for lunch. I remember asking her how she was feeling-physically. She said “pretty well, my balance is off a bit, but ok”. She always had a smile on her face. In typical-strong willed Devon style-she refused any help offered, and we walked across the street for lunch. I think that was the same visit we hung out and watched “American Idol” on the DVR. She was SO excited about the show, she LOVED it. ; ) (which was fun for me to see b/c I wasn’t all that into it). No matter what she was going through (between the cancer and the apartment issues) her spirits were ALWAYS high. Several times I was able to help her out (at least she was nice enough to say I helped J) with her diagnosis. She would ask me about medication regimens or experimental treatment the doctors were looking at and the results of her frequent lab work. Only once did I ever see the effects of the cancer hit her emotionally. On one of my visits in Long Beach (as she worked on her laptop-getting herself back to work so that she could maintain a level of normalcy and her medical insurance), she spoke with her neurologist, who gave her the results of the most recent MRI. Devon cried for just a bit, and then shook it off.
The last time I saw Devon was about 1.5 months or so ago. I went out to Long Beach for one of our lunches, we went to some “Teriaki place” she said was good. The thing that NEVER ceased to amaze me was how GREAT her memory was-even after several brain surgeries. She directed us directly to the restaurant as I drove and got us back, I (half) joked that her memory was better than mine was, and I didn’t even have an excuse. We had a good time talking about our families and the stresses of life. I still can’t believe she’s gone, I’m going to miss her regular blogs and our lunches, her spirit and her smile and her enthusiasm for life and American Idol.
God Bless.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Devon: The Summit of Life
It is neither the highest nor the lowest of our successes or failures that measure our life, but rather our staying the course in loving, in caring, in sharing and in giving that defines our place in the human drama. Devon did just that. She was content in finding peace within herself, knowing The Maker was well pleased.
Throughout her life, she always sought and seized opportunities to better herself and those around her. Driven by a powerful, positive spirit, deep-seeded within her, she was able to both understand and blend logic and realization in a visionary way so few can do. The enormity of her short life, the impact she had on others, her endless well of spiritual energy—all were evangelistic-like, revealing a complete commitment to both create or take on tasks, whether personal or in her chosen field of education. Devon had a gifted-way of seeing end results, the possibilities down the road, undaunted by the obstacles in her path or other events that might undermine an outcome.
Devon was The Summit of Life. She lived as The Power Beyond asks us to live—loving each other, caring, sharing and giving. She stayed the course to her journey’s end. On bended knee, bidding Devon farewell, I pray that her spirit will remain with us, now and forever.
Jeremiah Anthony Markert
Uncle
Throughout her life, she always sought and seized opportunities to better herself and those around her. Driven by a powerful, positive spirit, deep-seeded within her, she was able to both understand and blend logic and realization in a visionary way so few can do. The enormity of her short life, the impact she had on others, her endless well of spiritual energy—all were evangelistic-like, revealing a complete commitment to both create or take on tasks, whether personal or in her chosen field of education. Devon had a gifted-way of seeing end results, the possibilities down the road, undaunted by the obstacles in her path or other events that might undermine an outcome.
Devon was The Summit of Life. She lived as The Power Beyond asks us to live—loving each other, caring, sharing and giving. She stayed the course to her journey’s end. On bended knee, bidding Devon farewell, I pray that her spirit will remain with us, now and forever.
Jeremiah Anthony Markert
Uncle
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Michelle Syverson
What a lovely young woman.
I came across Devon's obituary last weekend, was touched by such a young woman's tragic death and decided I would check out her blog...mostly out of curiosity. Being a fellow blogger I was interested in seeing Devon's and little did I know it would be like opening a good book.
What an incredible young woman who touched more lives than we can probably count. Through her love and passion for her friends and work she has left a behind a legacy.
As I read the numerous entries I found myself laughing and crying. I also was compelled to check her blog each day to see and view more of her incredibly short but well live life. It strikes me as odd that now I feel like she is a friend, probably because she could have easily been a friend of mine.
I find it heartwarming and sad at the same time that it can take the death of someone close to us to put our lives in perspective and look closely at what we value. Often the death of someone allows us an opportunity to dig deep inside ourselves and find what it was we really loved and valued about that person. Hopefully some of us now will take the time to tell those in our lives who are living how we truly feel...instead of waiting until they are gone.
With all this said I just want to pass along my sincere condolences to all who new this young lady and to thank those who are keeping her blog alive as a tribute to her. She was blessed to have so many loving people in her life.
May God Bless You!
I came across Devon's obituary last weekend, was touched by such a young woman's tragic death and decided I would check out her blog...mostly out of curiosity. Being a fellow blogger I was interested in seeing Devon's and little did I know it would be like opening a good book.
What an incredible young woman who touched more lives than we can probably count. Through her love and passion for her friends and work she has left a behind a legacy.
As I read the numerous entries I found myself laughing and crying. I also was compelled to check her blog each day to see and view more of her incredibly short but well live life. It strikes me as odd that now I feel like she is a friend, probably because she could have easily been a friend of mine.
I find it heartwarming and sad at the same time that it can take the death of someone close to us to put our lives in perspective and look closely at what we value. Often the death of someone allows us an opportunity to dig deep inside ourselves and find what it was we really loved and valued about that person. Hopefully some of us now will take the time to tell those in our lives who are living how we truly feel...instead of waiting until they are gone.
With all this said I just want to pass along my sincere condolences to all who new this young lady and to thank those who are keeping her blog alive as a tribute to her. She was blessed to have so many loving people in her life.
May God Bless You!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Karla Frizler Octavio's Eulogy
I’ll Never Forget You, Devon
By Karla Frizler Octavio
I am one of Devon’s colleagues and good friends. We taught together at Torrance Adult School, and I have been the liaison between Devon’s family and friends and the school throughout her illness. Something I’ve heard many times from Devon’s loved ones is how much they appreciate the love and support of Devon’s co-workers and students. I would just like to say on behalf of everyone at Torrance Adult School and TIMAC, it has been our pleasure to do anything in our power to help Devon and her family through this difficult time. And that love and support doesn’t end here. We are always here for you, whatever you need.
I remember the first time I met Devon. We had both just started working at Torrance, and she subbed for my Instructional Assistant. With very little guidance, she stepped into the classroom and immediately began helping students. She was warm and intelligent and creative. The students (and I) responded to her charm immediately.
Over the years, Devon & I exchanged ideas on an almost daily basis. Even when she was unable to work, she would email me ideas for class activities, or suggest topics for our class blog. I used every single one. We had such grand plans for our students, everything from interactive whiteboards in the classroom, to a “quad” or central gathering place on campus where students could meet and practice their English outside of the classroom.
One idea we were very excited about was creating an orientation video for new students. We wanted to make sure every student felt welcomed, and got the information they needed about the ESL program and the school. When Devon returned to work in May, her main focus was the Orientation. She did a great job, and in fact it is now installed on computers throughout the ESL classrooms, computer labs and registration areas. I will work with our students to make sure the orientation is updated regularly, and of course, that it is dedicated to Devon.
One of my favorite things about the video is that Devon had her students do the translations into various languages. It was a wonderful way for the students to give back to the program, and it was a nice way to honor the students’ accomplishments with the English language.
Devon was an old soul in the body of a beautiful young woman, wise beyond her years--but there were times when she reminded me of her age. We used to watch American Idol and send text messages to each other throughout the show. One time, Hall & Oates were featured. The next day, Devon asked me, “Who were those guys?” I asked, “What year were you born?” She said “1980,” and I told her I was 13 that year, listening to my Hall & Oates albums. I made her a Hall & Oates CD, and she made me a CD of Daughtry. It was a wonderful exchange.
Though we began our relationship with me as her mentor, the tables soon turned. I realized early on that I had a lot to learn from this amazing young woman. Devon was not only my colleague, but my good friend as well. In fact, she became like a sister to me. We became especially close when she filled in for me during my maternity leave. She would make a personal visit to my home to ask me any questions she had, which was so thoughtful. When I returned to work, she had made a collage of family pictures for me to keep in my office, because she knew I would miss my baby.
I was able to really focus on and enjoy my daughter because I knew Devon was taking care of business. And I tried my best to return that favor over the last year and a half. I wanted to make sure Devon could focus on getting healthy and spending time with her family, not worrying about work.
Just before her first surgery, Devon asked me to come to the hospital and see her. Knowing her work ethic, I asked if there were anything she needed me to take care of at work. She told me to get out a pen and piece of paper. I covered both sides with feverish notes about projects I didn’t even realize she was involved in.
I also tried to help Devon outside of work. In early September, my husband and I were thrilled that Devon and Noureddin could use our timeshare in Newport Coast. It was an opportunity for them to have a vacation, to just be together … in the sun … with good friends. We’re so glad they had that special time.
The most important thing I learned from Devon is to look at opportunities, and not obstacles. To see possibilities, not potential problems. This is not my nature, but it was certainly Devon’s nature … to always see the positive and the good. I will do my best to live up to her example, and to pass along that positive spirit to my students and especially my daughter. I will never let them forget our precious Devon.
When Devon’s mom met my daughter for the first time, she said, “Mia is just like Devon!” My heart filled with pride. If Mia turns out to be half the woman Devon was, she will have an incredible life and make a tremendous impact on people, just like her “Auntie Devon.”
I feel so blessed, so grateful, to have spent some time with Devon just before she passed. It was a beautiful gift. We laughed a lot and talked about silly things like Jell-O, having no idea it would be our last conversation.
Devon, I love and miss you very much. I will never forget you …
By Karla Frizler Octavio
I am one of Devon’s colleagues and good friends. We taught together at Torrance Adult School, and I have been the liaison between Devon’s family and friends and the school throughout her illness. Something I’ve heard many times from Devon’s loved ones is how much they appreciate the love and support of Devon’s co-workers and students. I would just like to say on behalf of everyone at Torrance Adult School and TIMAC, it has been our pleasure to do anything in our power to help Devon and her family through this difficult time. And that love and support doesn’t end here. We are always here for you, whatever you need.
I remember the first time I met Devon. We had both just started working at Torrance, and she subbed for my Instructional Assistant. With very little guidance, she stepped into the classroom and immediately began helping students. She was warm and intelligent and creative. The students (and I) responded to her charm immediately.
Over the years, Devon & I exchanged ideas on an almost daily basis. Even when she was unable to work, she would email me ideas for class activities, or suggest topics for our class blog. I used every single one. We had such grand plans for our students, everything from interactive whiteboards in the classroom, to a “quad” or central gathering place on campus where students could meet and practice their English outside of the classroom.
One idea we were very excited about was creating an orientation video for new students. We wanted to make sure every student felt welcomed, and got the information they needed about the ESL program and the school. When Devon returned to work in May, her main focus was the Orientation. She did a great job, and in fact it is now installed on computers throughout the ESL classrooms, computer labs and registration areas. I will work with our students to make sure the orientation is updated regularly, and of course, that it is dedicated to Devon.
One of my favorite things about the video is that Devon had her students do the translations into various languages. It was a wonderful way for the students to give back to the program, and it was a nice way to honor the students’ accomplishments with the English language.
Devon was an old soul in the body of a beautiful young woman, wise beyond her years--but there were times when she reminded me of her age. We used to watch American Idol and send text messages to each other throughout the show. One time, Hall & Oates were featured. The next day, Devon asked me, “Who were those guys?” I asked, “What year were you born?” She said “1980,” and I told her I was 13 that year, listening to my Hall & Oates albums. I made her a Hall & Oates CD, and she made me a CD of Daughtry. It was a wonderful exchange.
Though we began our relationship with me as her mentor, the tables soon turned. I realized early on that I had a lot to learn from this amazing young woman. Devon was not only my colleague, but my good friend as well. In fact, she became like a sister to me. We became especially close when she filled in for me during my maternity leave. She would make a personal visit to my home to ask me any questions she had, which was so thoughtful. When I returned to work, she had made a collage of family pictures for me to keep in my office, because she knew I would miss my baby.
I was able to really focus on and enjoy my daughter because I knew Devon was taking care of business. And I tried my best to return that favor over the last year and a half. I wanted to make sure Devon could focus on getting healthy and spending time with her family, not worrying about work.
Just before her first surgery, Devon asked me to come to the hospital and see her. Knowing her work ethic, I asked if there were anything she needed me to take care of at work. She told me to get out a pen and piece of paper. I covered both sides with feverish notes about projects I didn’t even realize she was involved in.
I also tried to help Devon outside of work. In early September, my husband and I were thrilled that Devon and Noureddin could use our timeshare in Newport Coast. It was an opportunity for them to have a vacation, to just be together … in the sun … with good friends. We’re so glad they had that special time.
The most important thing I learned from Devon is to look at opportunities, and not obstacles. To see possibilities, not potential problems. This is not my nature, but it was certainly Devon’s nature … to always see the positive and the good. I will do my best to live up to her example, and to pass along that positive spirit to my students and especially my daughter. I will never let them forget our precious Devon.
When Devon’s mom met my daughter for the first time, she said, “Mia is just like Devon!” My heart filled with pride. If Mia turns out to be half the woman Devon was, she will have an incredible life and make a tremendous impact on people, just like her “Auntie Devon.”
I feel so blessed, so grateful, to have spent some time with Devon just before she passed. It was a beautiful gift. We laughed a lot and talked about silly things like Jell-O, having no idea it would be our last conversation.
Devon, I love and miss you very much. I will never forget you …
Portia La Ferla's Eulogy
My name is Portia and I was Devon’s supervisor I want to tell you about Devon at work, a place where she was loved, admired, appreciated, indulged, and adored.
When Devon first came to the Torrance Adult School, she was a volunteer in the GAC media center. One of our teachers, Michael told me about her and said she’d be a good candidate for our staff. She didn’t yet have a teaching credential, so we signed her up as an instructional assistant. Mike and Karla kept saying that we really, really needed to hire her and how much the students loved her. So we did, and she did such a great job with the students that, as soon as she was credentialed, we hired her as a teacher. And then we just kept giving her everything she asked for. We didn’t even know how much that was until she went on medical leave and it took 3 people to do her job…inadequately, I might add. We were floored when we figured out how much she was doing and what information she had kept in her head!
Well, you all knew Devon. Anything she did, she did fabulously and, it would seem to us mortals, without effort. She took over the media center class and owned it. The students praised her to me on many occasions and remained in touch and supported her throughout her illness. Our ESL program was on the verge of change beginning with our hiring Karla to help us with instructional technology integration. Devon was all over that! She began helping with tech support. She took over Karla’s job when she went out on maternity leave. Richard Rose, her principal, and I nominated her to the CDE’s Technology Integration Mentor Academy where she learned to train others how to use technology to enhance ESL learning. No big deal? It is to us old teachers who had TVs without remote controls as our starting point.
As the ESL Resource Teacher, it is my job to keep the program moving forward. With Karla and Devon, I could not stop it from doing so. Those two would sashay into my office or set up a meeting with Richard and me and what could we do? Whatever they wanted! Our sole purpose seemed to be getting them whatever they needed to do whatever they had cooked up and ambushed us with. We laughed about how we always felt like our pockets had got picked or like we had once again lost the 3 card Monte they had swindled us in to playing. But it was so fun and exciting! That was Devon! She took everyone along on her wild ride. She would come bounding into my office many afternoons and I would drop everything for Ms. Divine. I had to in order to make sure she didn’t get away with the whole store before she left. Richard and I really had a hard time keeping up.
Those were the most wonderful times of my 10 years in this position. I’ve always enjoyed my job, but I LOVED my job those days. We had everything and everyone we needed to make our already solid program an educational jewel. Devon was making a name for herself throughout the state and I had no illusions that she would be with us forever. I thought she would end up in Sacramento before long. But I never expected to lose her this way. We have lost 6 teachers in the last 10 years, all of these losses hurt and were hard to accept, but Devon was our favorite niece. She stepped into our little home away from home and made herself one of the family helping to arrange celebrations and getting greeting cards for all occasions. She was disarming, managing to get whatever she set her mind to with humor, kindness, and firmness and was never resented. And OK, Karla and I used her. If we needed to get something done that the teachers might object to, we got Devon to do it. And once she was diagnosed with cancer, she gave us full permission to use that to our advantage, too. The ESL teachers showed how much they loved and cared about Devon by contributing enough of their own sick leave hours to keep Devon in paid status with benefits for over a year!
Speaking of getting her way…Devon wanted and desperately needed to return to work. She missed the mental stimulation that work provided for her more than she missed a paycheck. But you can’t work in Torrance if you have medical restrictions. I had to tell her that and it broke my heart. I knew her doctors would never give her a return without restrictions. Well, I underestimated Devon. Saturday, May 17th I got an email from her that said, “I can’t wait to share this with you. See attachment.” It was a return to work form without restrictions! I told her I did not even want to hear how she got it, but she replied, “Persistence, that’s all. See you Monday!” That’s all?! That’s ALL! I still don’t know how she did it.
For me it was the chance I never thought I would get, to work with her again, to see her every day, to experience her brilliance at work, and to have a chance to try to make life just a little easier for her. I was able to savor the moments with her as if I had been given a “do over.” We don’t get a lot of “do overs” in life but Devon gave me one I had never dared hope for. Devon’s return to my daily life reminded met that we must savor each day. Every time Devon climbed “Mount Everest” (what she called the ramp to my door) to come see me, competing emotions of joy at having her with us and regret at knowing our time together would soon end overwhelmed me. One of our coworkers who knows something about loss wrote to us this morning the most comforting words. She wrote, “A long time ago I learned that the value of a human life isn't measured in years, but rather by the amount of love given and received.”
I am so grateful for the privilege of having had such a remarkable young person as a friend and coworker and for the legacy that she left our ESL program.
One last thing: I would like to thank my dear friend, Lucia Gallante Johnson, for providing Devon with Reiki treatments that helped lift Devon in mind, body, and soul, and for the love and care she gave to my friend. Lucia’s healing art meant so much to Devon and I will forever be grateful to her.
When Devon first came to the Torrance Adult School, she was a volunteer in the GAC media center. One of our teachers, Michael told me about her and said she’d be a good candidate for our staff. She didn’t yet have a teaching credential, so we signed her up as an instructional assistant. Mike and Karla kept saying that we really, really needed to hire her and how much the students loved her. So we did, and she did such a great job with the students that, as soon as she was credentialed, we hired her as a teacher. And then we just kept giving her everything she asked for. We didn’t even know how much that was until she went on medical leave and it took 3 people to do her job…inadequately, I might add. We were floored when we figured out how much she was doing and what information she had kept in her head!
Well, you all knew Devon. Anything she did, she did fabulously and, it would seem to us mortals, without effort. She took over the media center class and owned it. The students praised her to me on many occasions and remained in touch and supported her throughout her illness. Our ESL program was on the verge of change beginning with our hiring Karla to help us with instructional technology integration. Devon was all over that! She began helping with tech support. She took over Karla’s job when she went out on maternity leave. Richard Rose, her principal, and I nominated her to the CDE’s Technology Integration Mentor Academy where she learned to train others how to use technology to enhance ESL learning. No big deal? It is to us old teachers who had TVs without remote controls as our starting point.
As the ESL Resource Teacher, it is my job to keep the program moving forward. With Karla and Devon, I could not stop it from doing so. Those two would sashay into my office or set up a meeting with Richard and me and what could we do? Whatever they wanted! Our sole purpose seemed to be getting them whatever they needed to do whatever they had cooked up and ambushed us with. We laughed about how we always felt like our pockets had got picked or like we had once again lost the 3 card Monte they had swindled us in to playing. But it was so fun and exciting! That was Devon! She took everyone along on her wild ride. She would come bounding into my office many afternoons and I would drop everything for Ms. Divine. I had to in order to make sure she didn’t get away with the whole store before she left. Richard and I really had a hard time keeping up.
Those were the most wonderful times of my 10 years in this position. I’ve always enjoyed my job, but I LOVED my job those days. We had everything and everyone we needed to make our already solid program an educational jewel. Devon was making a name for herself throughout the state and I had no illusions that she would be with us forever. I thought she would end up in Sacramento before long. But I never expected to lose her this way. We have lost 6 teachers in the last 10 years, all of these losses hurt and were hard to accept, but Devon was our favorite niece. She stepped into our little home away from home and made herself one of the family helping to arrange celebrations and getting greeting cards for all occasions. She was disarming, managing to get whatever she set her mind to with humor, kindness, and firmness and was never resented. And OK, Karla and I used her. If we needed to get something done that the teachers might object to, we got Devon to do it. And once she was diagnosed with cancer, she gave us full permission to use that to our advantage, too. The ESL teachers showed how much they loved and cared about Devon by contributing enough of their own sick leave hours to keep Devon in paid status with benefits for over a year!
Speaking of getting her way…Devon wanted and desperately needed to return to work. She missed the mental stimulation that work provided for her more than she missed a paycheck. But you can’t work in Torrance if you have medical restrictions. I had to tell her that and it broke my heart. I knew her doctors would never give her a return without restrictions. Well, I underestimated Devon. Saturday, May 17th I got an email from her that said, “I can’t wait to share this with you. See attachment.” It was a return to work form without restrictions! I told her I did not even want to hear how she got it, but she replied, “Persistence, that’s all. See you Monday!” That’s all?! That’s ALL! I still don’t know how she did it.
For me it was the chance I never thought I would get, to work with her again, to see her every day, to experience her brilliance at work, and to have a chance to try to make life just a little easier for her. I was able to savor the moments with her as if I had been given a “do over.” We don’t get a lot of “do overs” in life but Devon gave me one I had never dared hope for. Devon’s return to my daily life reminded met that we must savor each day. Every time Devon climbed “Mount Everest” (what she called the ramp to my door) to come see me, competing emotions of joy at having her with us and regret at knowing our time together would soon end overwhelmed me. One of our coworkers who knows something about loss wrote to us this morning the most comforting words. She wrote, “A long time ago I learned that the value of a human life isn't measured in years, but rather by the amount of love given and received.”
I am so grateful for the privilege of having had such a remarkable young person as a friend and coworker and for the legacy that she left our ESL program.
One last thing: I would like to thank my dear friend, Lucia Gallante Johnson, for providing Devon with Reiki treatments that helped lift Devon in mind, body, and soul, and for the love and care she gave to my friend. Lucia’s healing art meant so much to Devon and I will forever be grateful to her.
Monday, September 29, 2008
A Father's Tribute
We often think that if a child turns out well, the parents must have done a good job. I think the opposite is true, too: a good child can make any parent look good! Sometimes I think this was the case with Devon. She had a quality about her—subtle, like a little breeze—that made everyone around her feel good and be better. Her infectious smile and joyful spirit left an indelible mark on all of us. As a daughter, she could make a good father out of a most ordinary man.
When Devon was two we took her to Flintstones Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She loved all the characters—Fred, Wilma, Bamm Bamm, Dino, Hoppy and the Great Gazoo—but her favorite was Pebbles. She ran up to Pebbles and gave her a big hug. She and Pebbles looked like twins, so from that day on I called her Pebbles. That was a happy moment, one of thousands I’ve had with her. For the rest of her life I’d call her Pebbles just for fun and she’d sign my father’s day cards or birthday cards, “Love, Devon, Your Pebbles.”
It is easy to idealize Devon. From her earliest days in social activities—whether it was hugging a Flintstone, playing with her friends or being part of more formal organizations, like soccer teams, Indian Maidens, ballet class, or a Munchkin in the Wizard of Oz—she could read the cues of people around her and respond appropriately—a hug for those who needed one, a pass to someone in the open field, sharing a bullfrog with a friend who couldn’t find one on her own. She had a finely tuned social intelligence.
Throughout her childhood Devon developed as if she were on autopilot. We only had to feed and clothe her and drive her to her activities—school, soccer, the dentist, a friend’s house—and then pick her up later when it was time. She was so independent—I should say, healthily interdependent—that she almost evolved on her own. I felt lucky to be such a participant-observer in a loving child’s life. The job seemed simple: Support Devon in doing what she wanted. Follow her: she knows where she’s going! As someone posted on her blog, Devon was “a person you couldn’t say no to!” –either because you knew she was right or you knew if you did say no, you’d regret it later! She had, as someone else wrote, “the ability to gently disarm you” without your knowing it and recruiting you into her service. Devon was an easy child to raise, if ‘raise” is the right word. She had advanced leadership skills by age 9!
I was fortunate to be Devon’s father, though at times I felt I had to live up to some pretty high standards! She literally showed me ways to be better at what I am, as a person, a father and a teacher. Three years ago, she showed me how to make PowerPoint presentations and set up my own blog! I was an old-school chalk and blackboard professor and a simple writer! I had fun with the new skills she gave me. I made nice slide presentations for my classes and wrote a lot of illustrated essays on the blog she set up for me. She was a good teacher, very patient with her forgetful and slow-learning dad, emailing me the same instructions over and over again on how to grade papers online using the Insert and Comment features.
Devon seemed born with the ability to do the right thing at the right time. She had a built-in guidance system, an awareness of the moment, of being in the moment, and of knowing whom she was with. While she was accepting of life, she was driven as an artist is driven to shape the stuff of life into the image of her ideals. She was unstoppable in the pursuit of her goals. When The Lion King came out on DVD in 1994, she persuaded me to buy it and watch it with her. It was about a father lion, Mufasa, and his son, Simba, and how the son had to overcome conflict within himself to rise up and take his rightful place in the pride, in “the circle of life.” She knew I’d like it because of my work conducting fatherhood workshops. She knew I’d connect with the story’s theme, voiced by Simba’s slain father in deep tones coming down from a darkened sky: “Simba, look inside yourself. You have forgotten who you are. Look deep. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.” Devon was 14 at the time and I was going through some personal struggles. Following her instincts, she led me to look inside myself through this animated drama and be more than what I had become. That afternoon I wrote an essay about fatherhood which was later published in the Fresno Bee. We all have emotionally significant events in our life, personal turning points, small bursts of insight—or, in this case, a quantum leap of understanding! Being nudged by Devon, driving with her to the store, buying this DVD, watching it with her at home, and then writing an essay that integrated for me my place in the “circle of life”—this was a major emotionally significant event. I imagine for Devon, watching and enjoying a DVD with dad, it was something deeper, too.
One of the more memorable moments I’ve had with Devon occurred the day she came home from school after having a unit in world religions. She was 16. She asked me, “Dad, What am I.”
We had never been active in any organized church or religion, so, given the context of her question, I said, “Well, you are whatever you choose to be. It’s your decision to make.” She then asked, “Well, what are you?” This was more difficult. I described my childhood identity growing up in a large, devout Irish-German Catholic family and how I had de-activated that identity during my university years and replaced it with something more philosophical and nebulous, like an existential-humanistic-phenomenological view of myself and the world. I then got concrete and told her that I was simply trying to live my life by being honest, caring, fair, hard-working and open-minded…with the emphasis on “trying.” I’m sure I lost her with the abstract mumbo jumbo talk, but she did get the basics—honesty, caring, hard-working, fair. I sometimes wonder if she learned to be these things or if they were just in her DNA! What struck me most about this discussion, though—the “teachable moment,” as we call it—is that she asked ME what she was. I thought of how much trust we place in people when we ask them to explain to us who we are. We wouldn’t ask a stranger, “Who am I?” Only someone we trust. I felt another notch of responsibility in this moment and sensed, too, that a shift had occurred in Devon’s development: She was seriously probing the depths of her spiritual identity.
Over the next 12 years, on up until her very last week, Devon continued working out her own answers to the question of who she was. Judging by her writings, the perceptions we all have of her, and the way she conducted herself on the last day of her life, it’s clear she succeeded in achieving a self-confident and well-integrated view of herself. She was authentic, genuine, exuberant and real—a measuring stick of how we might be. A mirror: In her we saw a reflection of pure principles—honesty, fairness, compassion, love of others, intelligence, organization, efficiency, confidence, competence, a great work ethic—the qualities of a beautiful and well functioning human being! How profound is her loss, how deeply we will miss her!
For Devon there were no complaints, no excuses. She believed we are as much the producers of our own destiny as we are products of our past. We are not victims, not martyrs, but determined men and women facing with vision, discipline and moral purpose every challenge life places in our way. She understood that we are interconnected with each other, whether we want to be or not. She was empathic yet maintained healthy boundaries. Her life exemplified how we continually create ourselves through our choices—in school, in friendships, in our work, in all our relations. We either do the right thing or we learn to do it. Even on the very last day of her life, she was trying to get nurses and doctors and her parents to do the right thing, directing us to rub here or there on her neck, organizing in her mind how she was going to get to work next week and use that giant desk and the table and chairs she had us gather from all around Los Angeles to get her work done.
But it was not meant to be.
“There comes a point in everybody’s life,” the novelist James Patterson wrote, “when you realize the stakes have suddenly changed. The carefree ride of your life slams into a stone wall and all those years of bouncing along, of life taking you where you want to go, abruptly end.” So it was with Devon—an abrupt and cataclysmic end to such a meaningful, vibrant life.
Maybe the most enduring lesson to be drawn from Devon’s life is about love and friendship. I experienced Devon’s love and friendship in a very special way, as everyone else did in their own special way. To me she was not just a good daughter—she had become in the end, a very special friend. The poet Gibran wrote that one effect of friendship is “the deepening of the spirit” and that when we part from a friend we needn’t grieve too long, for “that which we love in our friend may be clearer in her absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.” Today, Devon is the mountain and we are standing on the plain.
Louis F. Markert
Asako Kudo-Markert, Devon's Step-Mother
I want to share my memories about Devon.
The first time I met Devon was at a soccer field. She was 16 years old. It was in the fall of 1996. I had just come from Japan to begin working on my master’s at Fresno State to become a psychotherapist. Devon immediately accepted me as her dad’s girlfriend and welcomed me. We lived together 1.5 years, mostly during her senior year in high school. She was always active and having fun with her friends. Her daily life was filled with friends and activities. She came home from school, had her friends over or went out with them, or she studied, went for running, or relaxed in her room. She was also a very good student and efficient in her studies. I remember that she didn’t want to do swimming in the PE class because the chlorine turned her hair green. When I cooked, she said, “Eeh!” to seaweed and Japanese food, but loved my blueberry cheesecake. One day Devon began screaming, “Daddy! A storm came to my room!” Then, her dad vacuumed her room. After that, I could finally see the pink carpet on the floor. I had many culture shocks, including having the big dog Morticai sleeping on devon’s bed and seeing Devon making a green or purple color cake, but it was fun. I wish I could have spoken English then like I do now so we could have more conversations.
I remember our short trips. Once Lou, me, Devon and Stephanie went horseback riding in the mountains above Huntington Lake. Another time we camped out at Yosemite. The girls hiked up Half Dome. At night a raccoon tried to steal Devon’s backpack. When she was graduating from high school, she and I went downtown in Fresno to choose a dress for her prom. Lou and I attended a special dinner for Honor Students at her high school. I am glad that I was able to be a substitute mom for her while Di was working hard in LA.
When Devon went to Santa Barbara, she totally enjoyed her life there. She was blossoming into a talented, attractive and extroverted woman. She traveled all over the world, making friends everywhere. She loved people and people loved her. She learned life skills from her friends, particularly Tonya, who became her roommate and confidante and greatest role model.
In 2002 my brother was married in Japan and my mom invited Dev to the wedding as a gift for her graduation. At that time she was in Spain finishing up her school. My family loved Devon and she enjoyed Japan. She wore a traditional kimono and looked very beautiful. She also experienced a tea ceremony at my friend’s home. This was particularly special because very few homes have a tea room. She enjoyed traditional Japanese food, but didn’t say, “Eeh!” this time. One day she took a picture of a public toilet in Tokyo. It had a button to make a flashing noise to disguise the natural sounds of our going to the bathroom. She was impressed how sensitive Japanese were to each other, even in the toilet. We shared a lot of fun and many funny moments like these during our two week vacation in Japan.
At their wedding party, Devon and Noureddin looked very happy. They developed their friendship and deepened their love in Long Beach. She became an excellent ESL teacher. One of my Japanese friends was her student and always told me how efficient and wonderful Devon was as a teacher. I knew she was capable and was very proud of her.
Devon was a wonderful step-daughter to me. I felt that I was like her step-mom/big sis/aunt/friend. I wasn’t sure who I was for her but it didn’t matter. We had a good relationship. She was definitely my family. She will be missed forever. When I saw a young girl wearing new style pants, I caught myself thinking like, “Oh, this might be good on Dev.” Then I felt very sad that I don’t have her any more. We have to keep our life without her, not just living but living fully and alive because this is also what Devon would want us to do. Devon, thank you for being my step-daughter.
I also want to say a special thanks to Devon’s co-workers, Karla, Portia and John, and all the teachers and staff at Torrance Unified School District, for all that they did during Devon’s illness. Also, a special thanks to all her and Noureddin’s friends for all you’ve done to make Devon happy during this past year and a half. Because of all of you, Devon was able survive and enjoy her life. And last, a special thanks to Tonya, Stephanie and Christian for organizing and coordinating Devon’s memorial service. Devon left her will, asking them to do so because she was concerned that Noureddin and the parents would be too grieving. She was right…again! Devon must be very grateful and proud of you guys.
Thank you so much.
The first time I met Devon was at a soccer field. She was 16 years old. It was in the fall of 1996. I had just come from Japan to begin working on my master’s at Fresno State to become a psychotherapist. Devon immediately accepted me as her dad’s girlfriend and welcomed me. We lived together 1.5 years, mostly during her senior year in high school. She was always active and having fun with her friends. Her daily life was filled with friends and activities. She came home from school, had her friends over or went out with them, or she studied, went for running, or relaxed in her room. She was also a very good student and efficient in her studies. I remember that she didn’t want to do swimming in the PE class because the chlorine turned her hair green. When I cooked, she said, “Eeh!” to seaweed and Japanese food, but loved my blueberry cheesecake. One day Devon began screaming, “Daddy! A storm came to my room!” Then, her dad vacuumed her room. After that, I could finally see the pink carpet on the floor. I had many culture shocks, including having the big dog Morticai sleeping on devon’s bed and seeing Devon making a green or purple color cake, but it was fun. I wish I could have spoken English then like I do now so we could have more conversations.
I remember our short trips. Once Lou, me, Devon and Stephanie went horseback riding in the mountains above Huntington Lake. Another time we camped out at Yosemite. The girls hiked up Half Dome. At night a raccoon tried to steal Devon’s backpack. When she was graduating from high school, she and I went downtown in Fresno to choose a dress for her prom. Lou and I attended a special dinner for Honor Students at her high school. I am glad that I was able to be a substitute mom for her while Di was working hard in LA.
When Devon went to Santa Barbara, she totally enjoyed her life there. She was blossoming into a talented, attractive and extroverted woman. She traveled all over the world, making friends everywhere. She loved people and people loved her. She learned life skills from her friends, particularly Tonya, who became her roommate and confidante and greatest role model.
In 2002 my brother was married in Japan and my mom invited Dev to the wedding as a gift for her graduation. At that time she was in Spain finishing up her school. My family loved Devon and she enjoyed Japan. She wore a traditional kimono and looked very beautiful. She also experienced a tea ceremony at my friend’s home. This was particularly special because very few homes have a tea room. She enjoyed traditional Japanese food, but didn’t say, “Eeh!” this time. One day she took a picture of a public toilet in Tokyo. It had a button to make a flashing noise to disguise the natural sounds of our going to the bathroom. She was impressed how sensitive Japanese were to each other, even in the toilet. We shared a lot of fun and many funny moments like these during our two week vacation in Japan.
At their wedding party, Devon and Noureddin looked very happy. They developed their friendship and deepened their love in Long Beach. She became an excellent ESL teacher. One of my Japanese friends was her student and always told me how efficient and wonderful Devon was as a teacher. I knew she was capable and was very proud of her.
Devon was a wonderful step-daughter to me. I felt that I was like her step-mom/big sis/aunt/friend. I wasn’t sure who I was for her but it didn’t matter. We had a good relationship. She was definitely my family. She will be missed forever. When I saw a young girl wearing new style pants, I caught myself thinking like, “Oh, this might be good on Dev.” Then I felt very sad that I don’t have her any more. We have to keep our life without her, not just living but living fully and alive because this is also what Devon would want us to do. Devon, thank you for being my step-daughter.
I also want to say a special thanks to Devon’s co-workers, Karla, Portia and John, and all the teachers and staff at Torrance Unified School District, for all that they did during Devon’s illness. Also, a special thanks to all her and Noureddin’s friends for all you’ve done to make Devon happy during this past year and a half. Because of all of you, Devon was able survive and enjoy her life. And last, a special thanks to Tonya, Stephanie and Christian for organizing and coordinating Devon’s memorial service. Devon left her will, asking them to do so because she was concerned that Noureddin and the parents would be too grieving. She was right…again! Devon must be very grateful and proud of you guys.
Thank you so much.
Carlee Barnes
My mind has been working tirelessly to try to understand and grasp Devon’s death since I saw her on Friday. I think it keeps on trying to search for a reason or a cause but it is exhaustingly inexplainable. Instead, I have tried to focus on what Devon has taught me and her legacy and keeping about an intention to retain her spark through my actions. I met Devon through Ruthie when she was living in the Alvocado. I had mentioned that I love the apartments in the complex and she invited me up right away. It was like we had known each other for years – she was so open and generous and like a child who shows a friend that comes over their room – their personal space – we became friends instantly. I thought it was amazing that her and Noureddin spoke to each other in their second language – Spanish and I thought she was amazing for her passion for English Language Learners. I was new to Long Beach and Ruthie and Devon and I were on a mission to have girl time whenever possible. We started a book club, and by book club I mean we all bought the same book – Love in the Time of Cholera – but I was the only person to actually finish it…it was an ongoing joke for a while…
I keep finding little gifts that Devon had given me and holding on to them even tighter now. she made me a keychain when my son was 3 months old. My son is almost 3 and I haven’t changed the picture and I don’t intend to – she told me what a pain it was to cut out the pictures to fit inside the flower-like design and I know she probably spent quite a bit of time on it knowing her…it was so thoughtful – for no reason she gave that to me – that was Devon. Her gift-giving abilities like Ruthie said were truly amazing. They showed her thoughtfulness and also her ingenuity – I passed by a Big Lots today and cried…she was amazing at finding the best stuff at that store and always bragged about it – always updated us on hidden sales and Costco specials. Along with her gift giving her planning was also impressive. I read some of her co-workers blog entries and laughed because when ruth and devon babysat my son once devon turned it into a power point presentation! Whenever I was having a party I called Devon and Ruth to help. They are the only people I know that drool over to do lists and planning…she always had ideas – she even knew where I should get a hula dancer for my husband’s 30th luau party. This was her list for me to do… she basically planned the whole party complete with recipes…
Hey C,
This is what I recommend:
· rent tables and chairs
· get table cloths, plates, napkins at big lots
· at costco get silverware, hawaiian rolls, alcohol, frozen meatballs, brie, veggie plate, cut up and canned pineapple, clear plastic cups, water bottles. they have lots of flowers too that would be good as center pieces.
· at trader joes get mango chutney
· at smart & final they have sweet and sour sauce and other party stuff that costco doesnt have.
appetizers
· shrimp (recipe from allrecipes)
· sweet and sour meatballs
· mango chutney brie (recipe from allrecipes)
· veggie plate
drinks
· I recommed making a large bunch of alcoholic punch, a bunch of hawaiian martinis and get the beer of people's choice
· water bottles
·
Love,
Devon
I am going to miss her so much. It goes beyond saying how unfair it is. She had an entire life ahead of her. I want to honor her through my life in little ways by her generous and thoughtful spirit – through her sense of humor and positive outlook – through her happiness and contentedness through her contagious smile and resourcefulness. I won’t be able to do it half as well as she did, but maybe through practice i can be better at it.
With much love,
Carlee
I keep finding little gifts that Devon had given me and holding on to them even tighter now. she made me a keychain when my son was 3 months old. My son is almost 3 and I haven’t changed the picture and I don’t intend to – she told me what a pain it was to cut out the pictures to fit inside the flower-like design and I know she probably spent quite a bit of time on it knowing her…it was so thoughtful – for no reason she gave that to me – that was Devon. Her gift-giving abilities like Ruthie said were truly amazing. They showed her thoughtfulness and also her ingenuity – I passed by a Big Lots today and cried…she was amazing at finding the best stuff at that store and always bragged about it – always updated us on hidden sales and Costco specials. Along with her gift giving her planning was also impressive. I read some of her co-workers blog entries and laughed because when ruth and devon babysat my son once devon turned it into a power point presentation! Whenever I was having a party I called Devon and Ruth to help. They are the only people I know that drool over to do lists and planning…she always had ideas – she even knew where I should get a hula dancer for my husband’s 30th luau party. This was her list for me to do… she basically planned the whole party complete with recipes…
Hey C,
This is what I recommend:
· rent tables and chairs
· get table cloths, plates, napkins at big lots
· at costco get silverware, hawaiian rolls, alcohol, frozen meatballs, brie, veggie plate, cut up and canned pineapple, clear plastic cups, water bottles. they have lots of flowers too that would be good as center pieces.
· at trader joes get mango chutney
· at smart & final they have sweet and sour sauce and other party stuff that costco doesnt have.
appetizers
· shrimp (recipe from allrecipes)
· sweet and sour meatballs
· mango chutney brie (recipe from allrecipes)
· veggie plate
drinks
· I recommed making a large bunch of alcoholic punch, a bunch of hawaiian martinis and get the beer of people's choice
· water bottles
·
Love,
Devon
I am going to miss her so much. It goes beyond saying how unfair it is. She had an entire life ahead of her. I want to honor her through my life in little ways by her generous and thoughtful spirit – through her sense of humor and positive outlook – through her happiness and contentedness through her contagious smile and resourcefulness. I won’t be able to do it half as well as she did, but maybe through practice i can be better at it.
With much love,
Carlee
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Maria
Devon was my computer teacher at Griffith Adult School, and writing about her breaks my heart. She was a wonderful person who inspired and influence many people around her, and when I think of her the very first thing that comes to my mind is her smile, so I a smile too. I still remember the way she used to talk to me and I feel her supporting hand resting on my shoulder. She was so sweet that really hurts to think that she’s gone. I know she is in heaven surrounded by angels welcoming her. She’ll never be forgotten. She’ll be always in my heart.
With Great Sadness my Deepest Condolence,
Maria
With Great Sadness my Deepest Condolence,
Maria
Andrea Brodsly
I worked with Diane in the early 90's while she was at Jefferson in Clovis. I remember her talking about her kids all the time, being involved in the kids soccer. It is hard to believe that her little girl had grown up to be a teacher just like her mom. I am so sorry to hear of Devon's passing. My thoughts will be with you.
Andrea Brodsly
Andrea Brodsly
Parking for Funeral on Monday
Just a quick note about the memorial services on Monday. If at all possible please carpool as there is limited parking. If you have any questions please send an email to: rememberingdevonmarkert@gmail.com.
See you all on Monday.
See you all on Monday.
Bill Saleebey
Waiting For the Yellow Rose to Bloom
It was January 24, 1980 and I was staying with Lou and Di in their apartment the day before my final oral exam for my doctorate at UCLA. I had fallen asleep, and in the middle of the night, they came running out of their bedroom, headed to the hospital. Devon Danielle Markert was born the next day, and I remember her birth as if it were yesterday. I was always Uncle Bill to Dev and Cory. Lou is my best friend, and I have seen Devon grow from that little kid with the bright blue eyes and crooked grin to the wonderful accomplished woman that she became. She was always the sweetest, kindest and most positive person you could find.
The Markerts stayed with me in Berkeley in the early 80s, and I stayed with them in Pleasanton and visited them often in Fresno and Clovis. I remember Devon playing soccer and we watched the movie Wildcats together with Cory and my son Billy. We were family. The ultimate honor was when Devon and Noureddin asked me to perform their wedding ceremony, which I did at my home. They took many pictures in front of the yellow rose plant in my front yard. I am hoping that another yellow rose blooms so I can take it to the memorial service on Monday.
I was reading the other entries on the blog, and it reminded me that we all knew Devon in a different way, a different context. Noureddin as her husband and love of her life, her parents, step-parents, and brother Cory, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, friends,co-workers, and of course Poppy. I always loved that Devon called me Uncle Bill. To her I was no less an uncle than her biological uncles. To me she was simply a niece. A niece I was quite proud of at that! I loved hearing Lou telling about her accomplishments at work.
The death of a young person is especially hard to understand and to take. It is deeply sad, and it hurts. But from this, as Devon would say, come lessons, strenghth and inspiration. What would Devon want? I think she would want us to stay connected to one another, especially her friends and cousins. She would want us to go on with our lives, and to remember her. We will always remember Devon Markert. She was one of a kind: wife, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, co-worker, mentor, teacher. She knew what people needed, as her friend said. She was a great hostess, if not the neatest. I remember visiting her and Noureddin in Long Beach shortly after her diagnosis. She had a big spread of cheese and crackers on the table when we arrived, even though she didn't feel well. She never complained.
We are all better for having had Devon in our lives. Her life was brief, but she made the best of it. We all have our unique memories of her, which no one can alter or take away. We also should be inspired by Devon's example to be kind, upbeat, generous, loving and to enjoy what life has to offer. I urge everyone to hang in there as she would have done and would have wanted.
I am waiting for that next yellow rose to bloom, and I will keep it forever in her memory.
I'll miss her...
Uncle Bill Saleebey
It was January 24, 1980 and I was staying with Lou and Di in their apartment the day before my final oral exam for my doctorate at UCLA. I had fallen asleep, and in the middle of the night, they came running out of their bedroom, headed to the hospital. Devon Danielle Markert was born the next day, and I remember her birth as if it were yesterday. I was always Uncle Bill to Dev and Cory. Lou is my best friend, and I have seen Devon grow from that little kid with the bright blue eyes and crooked grin to the wonderful accomplished woman that she became. She was always the sweetest, kindest and most positive person you could find.
The Markerts stayed with me in Berkeley in the early 80s, and I stayed with them in Pleasanton and visited them often in Fresno and Clovis. I remember Devon playing soccer and we watched the movie Wildcats together with Cory and my son Billy. We were family. The ultimate honor was when Devon and Noureddin asked me to perform their wedding ceremony, which I did at my home. They took many pictures in front of the yellow rose plant in my front yard. I am hoping that another yellow rose blooms so I can take it to the memorial service on Monday.
I was reading the other entries on the blog, and it reminded me that we all knew Devon in a different way, a different context. Noureddin as her husband and love of her life, her parents, step-parents, and brother Cory, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, friends,co-workers, and of course Poppy. I always loved that Devon called me Uncle Bill. To her I was no less an uncle than her biological uncles. To me she was simply a niece. A niece I was quite proud of at that! I loved hearing Lou telling about her accomplishments at work.
The death of a young person is especially hard to understand and to take. It is deeply sad, and it hurts. But from this, as Devon would say, come lessons, strenghth and inspiration. What would Devon want? I think she would want us to stay connected to one another, especially her friends and cousins. She would want us to go on with our lives, and to remember her. We will always remember Devon Markert. She was one of a kind: wife, daughter, sister, cousin, friend, co-worker, mentor, teacher. She knew what people needed, as her friend said. She was a great hostess, if not the neatest. I remember visiting her and Noureddin in Long Beach shortly after her diagnosis. She had a big spread of cheese and crackers on the table when we arrived, even though she didn't feel well. She never complained.
We are all better for having had Devon in our lives. Her life was brief, but she made the best of it. We all have our unique memories of her, which no one can alter or take away. We also should be inspired by Devon's example to be kind, upbeat, generous, loving and to enjoy what life has to offer. I urge everyone to hang in there as she would have done and would have wanted.
I am waiting for that next yellow rose to bloom, and I will keep it forever in her memory.
I'll miss her...
Uncle Bill Saleebey
Julie Pinkston
I clicked on Devon's blog last weekend---just checking, hopefully, to see if she had posted one last entry since her poignant entry "500 Miles". I couldn't believe what I saw instead: an incredible bouquet of loving tributes from her friends, colleagues, and students! It was as if the seeds of friendship Devon had sown in so many hearts had sprouted overnight from all the tears shed for her and blossomed into a beautiful garden!
As someone who likes to garden, I have observed this phenomenon after a good soaking rain and it confirms my belief that much goes on unseen that we have little control over. I remembered how after her second surgery last summer I tried to help Devon start a garden, bringing her a pot, soil and seeds for radishes, nasturtiums and sunflowers. I see now how much she already knew about planting seeds---in human hearts and minds.
Devon is just a few months younger than my older daughter, Jennifer, and they played together often as young children. She was the youngest and smallest cousin for a few years, but it was evident very early that Devon was a force to be reckoned with! The strong wills of both her grandmothers showed up in Devon! I would watch her playing in the crowd of cousins as a small child. Tiny Devon would focus her blue eyes intently on finding an opening, then launch herself into the the midst of things with fierce determination, laughing with gusto at being part of the action.
We were disappointed when Devon and her family moved away to Fresno, but when the girls were in their early teens, I took a job transfer to Fresno so my family also moved there. It isn't easy when you are a teenager needing your own space, but I never heard Devon complain about having to share her house with me and my two girls for a few months. (Maybe it helped that once in a while Aunt Julie would cook a somewhat edible meal!)
As a teen, Devon showed the same focus and determination I had seen in her as a small child, exceeding expectations in school and sports---in spite of life being often rearranged at home. Although she otherwise seemed quite independent and self-confident, the social acceptance and comaraderie of her close circle of friends was very important to her, providing a much needed balance of youthful fun and establishing connections she would rely on for years to come.
Devon graduated and left Fresno and I didn't see her much for a few years, but had news of her college success, her stay in Spain, and her marriage to Noureddin.
After I moved back "home" to So Cal in 2004, I saw Devon more frequently--at family birthdays and holidays usually. One family Christmas 2 years ago, I watched this poised and lovely young woman across the room, enthusiastically playing games with her younger cousins and laughing uproariously (her infectious laugh!) It struck me that not only had Devon become a mature adult member of society with a responsible job, a college degree, and loving husband, but she seemed to have selected the best attributes of various family members and role models--parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, etc, and incorporated them along with her own unique personality into someone who gave back her very best in full measure to the people she was with, young and old. Her grandmothers would both have been proud of her---getting together with family, playing games, talking, laughing, taking pictures... just enjoying life to the fullest! I was very happy for my young niece, who had done so much in so few years. Devon was so many things to so many people: a rising star, an angel, a precious flower, bright, beautiful, courageous, determined, devoted, loving wife, daughter, granddaughter, friend, teacher.
We could list all the adjectives and all the nouns and then start on the verbs in talking of Devon. I am more of an observer, but Devon was definitely a person of action. I can hear her saying---not sure if I remember or if I'm projecting what I need to hear---"Just Do It, Don't worry whether you have it right or what people will think, Just Say It!" Definitely Devon would tell us: "Go, See the World, Reach Out to people, Smile, Laugh, Love life, Love each other every day you are given, for you don't know how many days you will have.
One can not comprehend why someone young, healthy and vibrant like Devon should get brain cancer or why our medical system couldn't come up with a cure for her. She fought the tumor with such amazing courage and determination. It was unthinkable that our Devon couldn't persuade the experts to do what needed to be done to help her. We all wanted to believe if anyone could beat the odds, Devon would. I watched her fight back from three surgeries, chemo, radiation and more chemo, wanting to do more, wishing I knew more that might help her. But we ran out of time and her body just couldn't come back anymore. It is so very hard to say goodbye when it seems you've just barely said hello. But I knew I had to be there to witness her leaving us last Friday nite.
Devon has done her 500 miles, and left us to carry her spirit forward in our lives. Thank you, Ruthie and all of you for thinking of this way to honor Devon and keep her memory alive. It is especially appropriate for someone who embraced technology and lived connectedness!
Thank you, dear Devon, for all you gave to each of us. My heart is with Noureddin, Diana, Lou, Cory, Poppy, Asako, Alan, Marla, Jason and all of Devon's family and friends as you grieve her loss. We will miss you.
With all my love,
Aunt Julie
As someone who likes to garden, I have observed this phenomenon after a good soaking rain and it confirms my belief that much goes on unseen that we have little control over. I remembered how after her second surgery last summer I tried to help Devon start a garden, bringing her a pot, soil and seeds for radishes, nasturtiums and sunflowers. I see now how much she already knew about planting seeds---in human hearts and minds.
Devon is just a few months younger than my older daughter, Jennifer, and they played together often as young children. She was the youngest and smallest cousin for a few years, but it was evident very early that Devon was a force to be reckoned with! The strong wills of both her grandmothers showed up in Devon! I would watch her playing in the crowd of cousins as a small child. Tiny Devon would focus her blue eyes intently on finding an opening, then launch herself into the the midst of things with fierce determination, laughing with gusto at being part of the action.
We were disappointed when Devon and her family moved away to Fresno, but when the girls were in their early teens, I took a job transfer to Fresno so my family also moved there. It isn't easy when you are a teenager needing your own space, but I never heard Devon complain about having to share her house with me and my two girls for a few months. (Maybe it helped that once in a while Aunt Julie would cook a somewhat edible meal!)
As a teen, Devon showed the same focus and determination I had seen in her as a small child, exceeding expectations in school and sports---in spite of life being often rearranged at home. Although she otherwise seemed quite independent and self-confident, the social acceptance and comaraderie of her close circle of friends was very important to her, providing a much needed balance of youthful fun and establishing connections she would rely on for years to come.
Devon graduated and left Fresno and I didn't see her much for a few years, but had news of her college success, her stay in Spain, and her marriage to Noureddin.
After I moved back "home" to So Cal in 2004, I saw Devon more frequently--at family birthdays and holidays usually. One family Christmas 2 years ago, I watched this poised and lovely young woman across the room, enthusiastically playing games with her younger cousins and laughing uproariously (her infectious laugh!) It struck me that not only had Devon become a mature adult member of society with a responsible job, a college degree, and loving husband, but she seemed to have selected the best attributes of various family members and role models--parents, grandparents, teachers, friends, etc, and incorporated them along with her own unique personality into someone who gave back her very best in full measure to the people she was with, young and old. Her grandmothers would both have been proud of her---getting together with family, playing games, talking, laughing, taking pictures... just enjoying life to the fullest! I was very happy for my young niece, who had done so much in so few years. Devon was so many things to so many people: a rising star, an angel, a precious flower, bright, beautiful, courageous, determined, devoted, loving wife, daughter, granddaughter, friend, teacher.
We could list all the adjectives and all the nouns and then start on the verbs in talking of Devon. I am more of an observer, but Devon was definitely a person of action. I can hear her saying---not sure if I remember or if I'm projecting what I need to hear---"Just Do It, Don't worry whether you have it right or what people will think, Just Say It!" Definitely Devon would tell us: "Go, See the World, Reach Out to people, Smile, Laugh, Love life, Love each other every day you are given, for you don't know how many days you will have.
One can not comprehend why someone young, healthy and vibrant like Devon should get brain cancer or why our medical system couldn't come up with a cure for her. She fought the tumor with such amazing courage and determination. It was unthinkable that our Devon couldn't persuade the experts to do what needed to be done to help her. We all wanted to believe if anyone could beat the odds, Devon would. I watched her fight back from three surgeries, chemo, radiation and more chemo, wanting to do more, wishing I knew more that might help her. But we ran out of time and her body just couldn't come back anymore. It is so very hard to say goodbye when it seems you've just barely said hello. But I knew I had to be there to witness her leaving us last Friday nite.
Devon has done her 500 miles, and left us to carry her spirit forward in our lives. Thank you, Ruthie and all of you for thinking of this way to honor Devon and keep her memory alive. It is especially appropriate for someone who embraced technology and lived connectedness!
Thank you, dear Devon, for all you gave to each of us. My heart is with Noureddin, Diana, Lou, Cory, Poppy, Asako, Alan, Marla, Jason and all of Devon's family and friends as you grieve her loss. We will miss you.
With all my love,
Aunt Julie
Kim Vass
Hello everyone,
My name is Kim Vass and I am a childhood friend of Devon's. Devon named my daughter, Meadow. I had plans to visit Devon which had to be rescheduled due to the move. Devon was an angel. She was my first friend in elementary school at Cole Elementary. I have great pictures from our childhood which I would like to post if I can please get that login info. My mom Nancy, who is a close friend of Diana's, just left to attend the funeral on Monday. I am unable to go now but will be down in the near future to visit, pay my respects and hopefully meet all of you and share our experiences and love for Devon. My email kvassk4k@yahoo.com. I love you Devon, I know you are with our Father in Heaven. My deepest condolences to Nordeen, Di, Lou and Corey.
~Kim Vass
My name is Kim Vass and I am a childhood friend of Devon's. Devon named my daughter, Meadow. I had plans to visit Devon which had to be rescheduled due to the move. Devon was an angel. She was my first friend in elementary school at Cole Elementary. I have great pictures from our childhood which I would like to post if I can please get that login info. My mom Nancy, who is a close friend of Diana's, just left to attend the funeral on Monday. I am unable to go now but will be down in the near future to visit, pay my respects and hopefully meet all of you and share our experiences and love for Devon. My email kvassk4k@yahoo.com. I love you Devon, I know you are with our Father in Heaven. My deepest condolences to Nordeen, Di, Lou and Corey.
~Kim Vass
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Karen
Remembering My Little Cousin Devon...
When I think back to my childhood, I have the greatest memories of all my Markert cousins. We were a big bunch and a fun bunch who spent many weekends, summers and holidays together. From the moment Devon was born there was just something extra special about her. Her light blonde hair, big Markert blues eyes and infectious smile, she was just the sweetest little girl. Since I'm the youngest of four, I always looked at Devon as my baby sister I never had. She was so precious as a little girl.I moved away from California 18 years ago and missed seeing Devon grow into the amazing women she became. Reading these recent postings about Devon and how she inspired so many doesn't surprise me at all. We are all blessed to have known her. I remember one of my first trips back home to see the family and a bunch of my cousins, including Devon, all got together to hang out and catch up! We cruised the beach being silly and jammin out to the radio and then went for frozen yogurt. I still remember what Devon was wearing, dark jeans with those strong soccer legs and a simple white t-shirt. She was beautiful, happy and upbeat as always. Her smile gorgeous and eyes that lite up the room, just like they did when she was little....( my tears begin)Through emails and blog postings like so many of you who knew Devon, I am deeply inspired by her and so sad that she is gone. Through her difficult treatments and dead ends, she was so brave and full of life and hope. Her positive energy and spirit never left her and it will never leave those of who knew and loved her.Devon, an angel on earth and now our angel in heaven. Forever we will miss you and forever we will love you.
Love Always,
Your cousin Karen
When I think back to my childhood, I have the greatest memories of all my Markert cousins. We were a big bunch and a fun bunch who spent many weekends, summers and holidays together. From the moment Devon was born there was just something extra special about her. Her light blonde hair, big Markert blues eyes and infectious smile, she was just the sweetest little girl. Since I'm the youngest of four, I always looked at Devon as my baby sister I never had. She was so precious as a little girl.I moved away from California 18 years ago and missed seeing Devon grow into the amazing women she became. Reading these recent postings about Devon and how she inspired so many doesn't surprise me at all. We are all blessed to have known her. I remember one of my first trips back home to see the family and a bunch of my cousins, including Devon, all got together to hang out and catch up! We cruised the beach being silly and jammin out to the radio and then went for frozen yogurt. I still remember what Devon was wearing, dark jeans with those strong soccer legs and a simple white t-shirt. She was beautiful, happy and upbeat as always. Her smile gorgeous and eyes that lite up the room, just like they did when she was little....( my tears begin)Through emails and blog postings like so many of you who knew Devon, I am deeply inspired by her and so sad that she is gone. Through her difficult treatments and dead ends, she was so brave and full of life and hope. Her positive energy and spirit never left her and it will never leave those of who knew and loved her.Devon, an angel on earth and now our angel in heaven. Forever we will miss you and forever we will love you.
Love Always,
Your cousin Karen
Ms. Thone Ritch
I’ve literally known Devon since before she was born. Some of my best earliest memories of her are of her beautiful platinum hair flying and her sparkling white teeth as she laughed and raced around playing with her cousins, either in my home or her aunts’ homes. These memories are followed by memories of her talks of her soccer games, travels, teaching experiences, and the love of her life, Nourdin. She was so proud of him, how wonderfully well he could cook, how lovingly he cared for her grandmother, Betty Noke, how much he loved her, etc. Devon and Nourdin were one of the handsomest of couples, their love of life radiating to all around them.
Diana Pendley, Devon’s mother, and others tried desperately to locate possible clinical trials and to seek out sources where money could be borrowed in an effort to save Devon’s life and send Devon and Nourdin to live in whatever states those rescues could be achieved. But Devon’s poor body could not keep up with her sprit; the trial studies were not to be.
If we turn from what we wanted for Devon, a long life, and look at what she did achieve, there is a bitter sweetness there. She accomplished so much in so short a span of time. She lived so fully that most cannot begin to live as completely as she did.
Devon will certainly live on through Nourdin, her students, and all her friends and family, as hopefully they will live by her example of getting everything possible out of life, however short or long.
Ms. Thone Ritch
Diana Pendley, Devon’s mother, and others tried desperately to locate possible clinical trials and to seek out sources where money could be borrowed in an effort to save Devon’s life and send Devon and Nourdin to live in whatever states those rescues could be achieved. But Devon’s poor body could not keep up with her sprit; the trial studies were not to be.
If we turn from what we wanted for Devon, a long life, and look at what she did achieve, there is a bitter sweetness there. She accomplished so much in so short a span of time. She lived so fully that most cannot begin to live as completely as she did.
Devon will certainly live on through Nourdin, her students, and all her friends and family, as hopefully they will live by her example of getting everything possible out of life, however short or long.
Ms. Thone Ritch
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Valentina
Dear Devon,
I believe you are in heaven, you deserve that. Devon was my English teacher in Griffith School, Room 1.She was so professional, sweet and patient. She taught me a lot: about English and computers. She inspired me as a teacher and as a person. She will be my inspiration forever. I will keep good memories of her in my heart. She will be always in my prayers. With Great Sadness and Deepest Condolence,
Valentina
I believe you are in heaven, you deserve that. Devon was my English teacher in Griffith School, Room 1.She was so professional, sweet and patient. She taught me a lot: about English and computers. She inspired me as a teacher and as a person. She will be my inspiration forever. I will keep good memories of her in my heart. She will be always in my prayers. With Great Sadness and Deepest Condolence,
Valentina
Sanghee Lee
The Great Memories with Devon at Griffith
The first time I met Devon was 4 years ago in the Media room at Griffith adult center. I still remember when she greeted me with her bright smily face in the room. Devon was so intelligent, positive, happy and fun, and such a warm-hearted young lady.
Devon always was a good listener. Whenever I talked about my personal stories with her, she always listened my stories interestingly. Two years ago in Fall, Devon joined room 1 friends private dinner meeting, so we went to the most popular Korean crab restaurant at the Redondo Beach pier. I was only Korean among us so I ordered some steamed crabs and korean dishes included sashimi (raw fish and sea food). Everybody wore a plastic bib for preventing from messy their shirts while they pounding a wooden hammer to break the crabs' legs on the table. It was so funny looking. And, Devon even the first try to eat a piece of a raw sea cucumber that some other friends didn't even try, but she just swellowed it and she said " it tastes so weired." That comment made us laughed so hard. We had very fun dinner time together I never ever forget.
The first time I met Devon was 4 years ago in the Media room at Griffith adult center. I still remember when she greeted me with her bright smily face in the room. Devon was so intelligent, positive, happy and fun, and such a warm-hearted young lady.
Devon was the first person who taught me how to do "chicken dance" and " hocky pocky dance" at the auditorium stage in the Torrance Park for the summer term ending festival in 2004.
Devon always was a good listener. Whenever I talked about my personal stories with her, she always listened my stories interestingly. Two years ago in Fall, Devon joined room 1 friends private dinner meeting, so we went to the most popular Korean crab restaurant at the Redondo Beach pier. I was only Korean among us so I ordered some steamed crabs and korean dishes included sashimi (raw fish and sea food). Everybody wore a plastic bib for preventing from messy their shirts while they pounding a wooden hammer to break the crabs' legs on the table. It was so funny looking. And, Devon even the first try to eat a piece of a raw sea cucumber that some other friends didn't even try, but she just swellowed it and she said " it tastes so weired." That comment made us laughed so hard. We had very fun dinner time together I never ever forget.
Both Devon and I went to the same school, Cal state Long Beach. In the spring term last year, she was in graduate program and I was in undergraduate program. We often had met on the campus walk way so we could have short talks about our classes each other. When I complained about my difficulty of study in English, she understood my situation and comforted me feel better. "Sanghee, you can do it. Don't worry I'll help you". that was Devon! I wrote these Devon's memories with deepest sympathy from the bottom of my heart.
Sanghee
Yoonjung Hong
Dear Devon,
I believe you are in heaven nearby our God Father very peacefully....
I still remember you very clearly.
You was my first esl class teacher in room 1 four years ago....
At that time, I was very shy to speak English but you encouraged me very nicely. It was really sweet and helpful.
I will keep good memories with you in my mind.
Love,
Yoon
I believe you are in heaven nearby our God Father very peacefully....
I still remember you very clearly.
You was my first esl class teacher in room 1 four years ago....
At that time, I was very shy to speak English but you encouraged me very nicely. It was really sweet and helpful.
I will keep good memories with you in my mind.
Love,
Yoon
Monday, September 22, 2008
Branka Marceta and TIMAC
I met Devon towards the end of her participation in TIMAC as a [Link]Cohort 2 member. I was very impressed by her presentation in May 2006 (you can see the 13 minute video of that presentation at http://drop.io/devonmarkert, along with some photos of her during TIMAC ). We met again, later on that year, at NECC in San Diego (July 2006). We were both very excited about the sessions we attended about technology integration in education. We also had a very nice dinner at a Brazilian churrascaria and spent hours enjoying food and good conversation. It was very interesting to learn about how Devon spent some time in Spain where she met Nourredin. Their relationship had many parallels to mine with my husband, one of us being an immigrant and a non-native speaker. It was my first time eating at a churrascaria, and now it will have a very special place in my memory because it was with Devon. The following school year we asked Devon to be a Super Mentor for our new TIMAC Cohort 3, because we knew how great of a fit for a support mentor she was - very professional, yet caring and enthusiastic about technology in education. She agreed to do it and we were very pleased because we knew that the new teachers in TIMAC are in very good hands with Devon’s kind moral support and strong technical skills. In October 2006, Devon attended a rap-session by Technology Enhanced Language Learning Interest Group with CATESOL (California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). I gave her my camera to snap photos and take videos. You know how it usually takes a little bit of time for most people to learn how to use a new gadget? Not Devon. She picked it up right away.
Then in March of that school year the news came about the headaches and the tumor. Since that faithful time, we have been following her amazing fight, being very hopeful that she would be back with us and TIMAC very soon. Devon has touched many of our lives and we will miss her immensely. She will live on through the wonderful relationships she has formed with many of us and through the fruitful results of her work with her colleagues and ESL learners. We have been very fortunate to have had her in our adult education community. With the heavy heart, we say goodbye.
Branka Marceta and TIMAC
Then in March of that school year the news came about the headaches and the tumor. Since that faithful time, we have been following her amazing fight, being very hopeful that she would be back with us and TIMAC very soon. Devon has touched many of our lives and we will miss her immensely. She will live on through the wonderful relationships she has formed with many of us and through the fruitful results of her work with her colleagues and ESL learners. We have been very fortunate to have had her in our adult education community. With the heavy heart, we say goodbye.
Branka Marceta and TIMAC
Sunday, September 21, 2008
A Student of Devon's
The joy and love you gave us will never die.Forever missed forever loved.Our angel on earth has gone home. Devon was my teacher at Griffith School. She was the best teacher in the world.I have no words to express my sorrow in this big loss my deepst condolences to Devon's family and friends. Devon will be my inspiration forever.
Billie Lee Langley
This is so difficult to write. To me Devon was a breath of fresh air. She gave me so much hope for what the younger generation was about. I got to know Devon while teaching ESL in Torrance Adult. I knew she was a wonderful caring person the minute we started talking. Devon brought me into the 21st Century by teaching me technology stuff. She was a wonderful, gifted mentor. And she made me feel so good about what I was learning. I loved her laugh and her genius. I will miss her so much and I know I was fortunate to be her colleague for even our short time. My heart and prayers go out to her family and friends. Thank you so much for sharing her with us.
With great sadness,
Billie Lee Langley
With great sadness,
Billie Lee Langley
Daniel
There are no words. It was an honor to share so much with Devon and to be inspired by her. I will always remember her bursting into a room -- full of energy. We'd talk about classes...then music...and then...always...movies: "Did you see..!" "I loved the new...!" "...was so cool...!" "Oh my gosh...I just saw...!" "You have to...!"I don't think she ever got through 5 minutes without a smile or that infectious giggle either. She was a bright light.
My deepest condolences,
Daniel
My deepest condolences,
Daniel
Renee Frigon
Devon and I met on the soccer field as young girls. Years later Ruthie and Devon became great friends and I realized how small this world truly is. As her friendship with Devon grew, Devon and I were able to reconnect through email. All of her emails were always so warm and positive. Also I was able to come from Fresno to attend the Blue Party. We still talk about that night and I even have a picture on my refrigerator of the party. I will miss Devon and pray for her family and friends.
Love
Renee
Love
Renee
Karla Frizler Octavio
Devon & I worked together as ESL Instructors at Torrance Adult School since 2003, and in that time we became good friends. I spoke with or saw her on an almost daily basis for the past few years, and her passing has left a tremendous hole in my heart.In my entire career, I have never worked with anyone as dedicated, creative, productive, dynamic, powerful, sweet and friendly. She was a visionary who was always looking for new and interesting and more-effective ways of doing things. In that way, we were very similar, champions of thinking outside the box ... constantly challenging our students, our colleagues, our bosses ... ourselves. And having fun along the way! But Devon was different than me. I'm a bull in a china shop. She had a way about her that was so damn sweet and completely disarming. You didn't know she was convincing you to do something or agree to something. I never heard ANYONE say no to her. Never. She just had that certain charisma, that intangible something that drew people to her and made them want to be part of whatever plan she was concocting.
Devon & I began our relationship with me as her mentor, but that dynamic quickly shifted. We ended up mentoring each other. I couldn't believe how much I learned from this "young girl" (I'm 13 years older). I taught her about teaching strategies using technology, dealing with people's fears, etc., but she taught me patience and understanding and how important it is to encourage people even if their ideas are wacky or unrealistic. It didn't matter. Passion is passion, and if she saw even a shred of passion or interest from a student or teacher, she ran with it. I loved that about her. It was just simply her nature to look at the positive in everything and everyone.
After Devon stopped driving, we carpooled to and from work a couple days each week. I cherish those memories now. Sometimes we hatched work plans, other times we talked about American Idol, and lately we talked a lot about things like medical marijuana. But we always talked, and we always laughed. Well, almost always.
I'll never forget one Monday morning in May this year. Over the prior weekend, it was announced that Senator Ted Kennedy had been diagnosed with a glioma. All the news reports seemed to focus on the fact that it was a death sentence. Coward that I am, I was dreading the ride to work the next morning with Devon, and secretly hoped it wouldn't come up. But, being who she was, Devon got into the car and immediately asked me, "Do you think everyone thinks I'm going to die, just like Ted Kennedy?" I responded, "No. I think everyone thinks if anyone can beat cancer, YOU can." She smiled at me, and we proceeded to talk about Britney Spears or some other innane topic for the rest of the drive.
Devon was my colleague, my friend, my "little sister," and "Auntie Devon" to my 3-year-old daughter, Mia. Telling her that Devon passed was one of the hardest things I've ever done. In her infinite wisdom, Mia hugged and kissed me and said, "We miss Auntie Devon. It will be OK, Mommy."
Devon--I will never forget you and all the lessons you taught me, and I vow to make sure you are remembered at school and in my home. You were one of a kind and I feel so blessed to have known you for the time that I did. I love you and miss you terribly, and send all my love to your family and friends.
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