When I was shocked to see Kristie's name "In Memory" I googled her, and found her obit in the Brainerd Daily Dispatch. I didn't know Kristie well, but she was in my homeroom class, and I do know that she was incredibly bright, and had an interesting sense of humor. How sad to have lost a classmate at such a young age. Here is the obit:
Kristie Hirschenberger MARTINEZ, Calif. - Kristie Hirschenberger, of Martinez, Calif., died suddenly from complications related to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome June 20, 2006. She was 34.
Kristie was born Sept. 29, 1971, in Lake Forest, Ill., a posh suburb of Chicago but lived through the stigma. Her love of learning began at the Child Development Experimental School in Carbondale, Ill., progressing to Montessori preschool in Iowa, Baxter Elementary, Washington Middle and Franklin Junior High. She graduated from Brainerd Senior High School and was named a National Merit Scholar. She attended the University of Minnesota-Morris, graduating summa cum laude with a major in English and philosophy (a far cry from the math and physics where she began). Kristie earned her doctor of philosophy in philosophy from the University of Illinois, Champaign. She obtained her juris doctor from the University of California-Berkley in 2002.
Her law career began in the public defender's office in Contra Costa County, California. Most recent, Kristie was deputy county counsel in the Office of County Counsel for Contra Costa County working with county construction contracts.
Kristie's passions included creating reproduction embroidered samplers, writing, debating any topic available, origami and commenting on the world.
Her journal entry from June 8 explains her best, "Art and writing will save me. I am not here to get married, buy a house in the suburbs and raise children. I am here to burn an incandescent flame, to scorch the world with my existence. You will know who I was and that I mattered. I will live my life without fear and apology. I draw people to me with the force of my passion and my strengths and my complete willingness to grab life... My voice shall be heard."
Kristie is survived by her parents, Rich and Nancy; her pugs, Max and Abby; extended family in Illinois and Montana; friends and co-workers in California; and an array of Internet friends.
Kristie will be remembered privately in Minnesota. A memorial gathering will be held in Berkeley, Calif. In lieu of memorials, hug your loved one.
When I think of Kristie, I picture her laughing. Do you remember how much she and Stacy Nichols giggled? Kristie was one of those rare people who was off the charts brilliant, but so down-to-earth and easy to talk to. Following university, my first job was working on the psych ward at the Brainerd hospital with Kristie's dad, Rich. He always had fun stories to tell me about Kristie's experiences, and he was obviously so proud of her. You could just tell he liked her a lot. I did, too.
Tanya Holk
When I was shocked to see Kristie's name "In Memory" I googled her, and found her obit in the Brainerd Daily Dispatch. I didn't know Kristie well, but she was in my homeroom class, and I do know that she was incredibly bright, and had an interesting sense of humor. How sad to have lost a classmate at such a young age. Here is the obit:Kristie Hirschenberger
MARTINEZ, Calif. - Kristie Hirschenberger, of Martinez, Calif., died suddenly from complications related to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome June 20, 2006. She was 34.
Kristie was born Sept. 29, 1971, in Lake Forest, Ill., a posh suburb of Chicago but lived through the stigma. Her love of learning began at the Child Development Experimental School in Carbondale, Ill., progressing to Montessori preschool in Iowa, Baxter Elementary, Washington Middle and Franklin Junior High. She graduated from Brainerd Senior High School and was named a National Merit Scholar. She attended the University of Minnesota-Morris, graduating summa cum laude with a major in English and philosophy (a far cry from the math and physics where she began). Kristie earned her doctor of philosophy in philosophy from the University of Illinois, Champaign. She obtained her juris doctor from the University of California-Berkley in 2002.
Her law career began in the public defender's office in Contra Costa County, California. Most recent, Kristie was deputy county counsel in the Office of County Counsel for Contra Costa County working with county construction contracts.
Kristie's passions included creating reproduction embroidered samplers, writing, debating any topic available, origami and commenting on the world.
Her journal entry from June 8 explains her best, "Art and writing will save me. I am not here to get married, buy a house in the suburbs and raise children. I am here to burn an incandescent flame, to scorch the world with my existence. You will know who I was and that I mattered. I will live my life without fear and apology. I draw people to me with the force of my passion and my strengths and my complete willingness to grab life... My voice shall be heard."
Kristie is survived by her parents, Rich and Nancy; her pugs, Max and Abby; extended family in Illinois and Montana; friends and co-workers in California; and an array of Internet friends.
Kristie will be remembered privately in Minnesota. A memorial gathering will be held in Berkeley, Calif. In lieu of memorials, hug your loved one.
Paula Nordby (Purcell)
When I think of Kristie, I picture her laughing. Do you remember how much she and Stacy Nichols giggled? Kristie was one of those rare people who was off the charts brilliant, but so down-to-earth and easy to talk to. Following university, my first job was working on the psych ward at the Brainerd hospital with Kristie's dad, Rich. He always had fun stories to tell me about Kristie's experiences, and he was obviously so proud of her. You could just tell he liked her a lot. I did, too.