This week marks the one-year anniversary of Barbara's passing.  Over this year, I will confess to not completely living up to her request for "no tears,"  but do feel as though the feelings of sadness and loss are far over-shadowed by my gratitude for the blessing of being able to create so many wonderful memories together.   

I am certainly not alone in having a strong desire to cherish these memories and honor the legacy that Barbara left.  On what would have been her 62nd birthday, a dozen friends, family, colleagues and patients told the Barbara story from their perspective at her 10/15/22 Celebration of Life.     At ninety minutes, this may be on the long side but citing everything extraordinary that Barbara accomplished could have easily taken hours.

A number of other notable honoring events were enjoyed last year.  One of Barbara's favorite charity events was Temple's New Year's Eve Celebration in support of the local Youth Club.  This year a number of those providing support to Barbara through her illness gathered at a large table in honor of her.  The evening ended as a spectacular fireworks display sponsored by Bill and Michelle DiGaetano brought in the New Year in Barbara's honor.  This was followed in April by the reading of a State Resolution recognizing all that Barbara had done for State and Community.   Introduced and read by Representative Hugh Shine, the family and friends in attendance looked on pridefully.

Finally, last weekend,  twenty family and friends gathered in Crested Butte.  On the anniversary of her passing, all gathered in one of her favorite mountain meadows and shared stories of what Barbara's remarkable life meant to them.   This group also spent the remainder of "Barbara's Memorial Weekend" helping to complete the planned spreading of her ashes.  With this group's help, Barbara is now enjoys a vantage point from five of the most beautiful and prominent mountain peaks in the Gunnison Valley.

I'm certain that Barbara sees and appreciates these events of the last year but as those that knew her can attest, she was always one planning for long-term success.  With this this in mind, the family working in conjunction with the Temple Symphony Orchestra and the Central Texsas Orchestral Society have  coordinated the philanthropic desires of those that loved Barbara and created the "Barbara Weiss Probe Endowment for the Arts."  Current plans for this endowment are to support the Annual Van Cliburn Finalist Recital in perpetuity, the third week in October-her birthday week.

As we once again, celebrate this remarkable life, please join me in a special prayer of remembrance this week.

With love.

Bob

P.S.  Clicking on the attached pictures displays the full image.