GUESTBOOK


NAME: Mark Bacilla
EMAIL ADDRESS: esfero@yahoo.com
DATE: May 17, 2005 08:00
COMMENTS: I have cherished memories of my time with Tevina, talking about anything and everything, hiking (or getting ready for a hike), singing, just hanging out. She treated me like family from the day I met her; as a matter of fact, she danced in the living room the day I met her. She was a freer soul than most, and what's more, she had range--one minute dancing in the living room, the next championing some important cause. Tevina was an inspiration to me in many ways, but most importantly because she valued the present. She savored every detail of an experience, every moment. I take solace in that thought.


NAME: Debbie Dexter
EMAIL ADDRESS: deb143@cox.net
DATE: May 17, 2005 07:56
COMMENTS: Tragedy claims a beautiful soul...indeed this world is a harsher place without her beauty and protection. Through tears emerge memories of joy and laughter as I watch her through life’s window – dancing in the fields, paying careful attention to each lovely detail more vibrant by her gentle touch – seek the mysteries life keeps hidden, Tevina embraced them - love will always guide you to safety – where ever that may be...my love will always surround you and yours, Debbie


NAME: Francesca Williams
EMAIL ADDRESS: francesca@poohoney.com
DATE: May 20, 2005 01:18
COMMENTS: I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know Tevina. I will always admire her and treasure her memory. I will miss her.


NAME: Anny Medve
EMAIL ADDRESS: annmedve@aol.com
DATE: May 23, 2005 02:06
COMMENTS: Tevina's life was fuller than most. A beloved family has much to proud of in her.


NAME: Ron Carl
EMAIL ADDRESS: ronsuejeff@yahoo.com
DATE: May 23, 2005 12:31
COMMENTS: My heart feels like it is literally going out to you, Dave, Erica and family. I had the honor and joy to be there as your marriage came to be, and to know Erica as a baby. I have learned much from your young family that resonates with mine [Our Jeffrey is 10 and Emily is 5]. Tevina's love wasn't just a feeling. She brought it into right action, and it will live on in all of our hearts.


NAME: Paula Weaver
EMAIL ADDRESS: pzwv@cs.com
DATE: May 16, 2005 08:12
COMMENTS: What a great tragedy! Tevy will remain with us forever!


NAME: adriana vieira belen
EMAIL ADDRESS: pionus04@yahoo.com
DATE: May 17, 2005 05:03
COMMENTS: I am very sorry for Tevina's passing, as I read the story of her life I saw my sister reflected, (I lost her when she was just 23, and because she wanted to make a difference in people's lives). I am very sad, because I know how it feels when you loose a loved one. Marianna, keep being strong and as sweet and caring as you always are. Love you Adriana.


NAME: Barbara Benedict
EMAIL ADDRESS: barbarabizinc@aol.com
DATE: May 19, 2005 04:56
COMMENTS: My Dear Tevina, You climbed every mountain. I'll think of you with every sound of music and we'll dance that last dance together, and always. I'll never forget the first songs you taught me as a child and singing them with you throughout our lives. "If I had a hammer", "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," and all the songs from The Sound of Music --plus that mystery story you'd tell about following the "Blue Light." You lived as you sang. I miss you more than words can say. ~ . ~ . ~ . ~ .~ . ~ .~ . ~ .~ . ~ .~ . ~ . My Day in the hills has come to an end I know A Star has come out, to tell me it's time to go But deep in the dark green shadows Are voices that urge me to stay So I stop and I wait and I listen For one more sound, for one more lovely thing that the hills might say The hills are alive with the sound of music The songs they have sung for a thousand years The hills fill my heart with the sound of music My heart wants to sing every song it hears My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds That rise from the lake to the trees My heart wants to sigh like the chimes That flies from a church on a breeze To laugh like a brook when it trips And falls over stone on its way To sing through the night Like a lark who is learning to pray I'll go to the hills when my heart is lonely I know I will hear what I've heard before My heart will be blessed with the sound of music And I'll sing once more --The Sound of Music by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers


NAME: Constance Albrecht
EMAIL ADDRESS: constance@cascadeisp.com
DATE: May 23, 2005 09:40
COMMENTS: 


NAME: Zan Tewksbury
EMAIL ADDRESS: zan@sstlr.com
DATE: May 24, 2005 09:52
COMMENTS: although I first met Tevina in the "trenches," doing progressive party politics, I remember her first and foremost as a loving mother to her precious "miracle," Erica, and a loving, devoted wife to Dave. Though the circle of your beautiful family has been broken in the physical realm by her tragic death, may it be ever unbroken in Spirit, and may she dance forever to sweet sweet music...and may you both be comforted by knowing she loved you without limit... with all my heart, Zan


NAME: David Oaks
EMAIL ADDRESS: oaks@mindfreedom.org
DATE: May 24, 2005 10:29
COMMENTS: I visited Strawberry Hill this Sunday, May 22, 2005, to try to even get a glimmer of understanding about this tragedy... I don't have insights from that yet... but below are excerpts based on an e-mail I had sent to colleagues in the mental health advocacy community: It was only in the past few months that I've gotten to know Tevina at the Lane County Mental Health Consumers Council meetings, Eugene Human Rights Commission meetings on mental health and human rights, a MindFreedom Roundtable or two, and the recent memorial Tevina helped organize for Hatoon. Tevina also made a special connection with my mother and me because of her affirmation of the part of her heritage that is Lithuanian-American, which we share. Viso gero Tevina! In the few months I had to get to know Tevina, like many others I was struck by her wonderfully eccentric passionate energy. I told her several times after meetings that when she did end up talking at length, I would often pause before saying anything... because what she was saying was often so interesting, relevant and perceptive. She had an amazing grasp of concepts about empowerment and self-determination and getting a voice for people in the mental health system. I hope there are ways we may recognize Tevina's contribution soon to our community for the empowerment, self-determination and human rights of people with psychiatric diagnoses. This is a tremendous loss, I feel she would want us to all keep her work and passion going. I send my deepest personal support out to all who loved Tevina. In support, David David Oaks, Director MindFreedom International Eugene, Oregon, USA


NAME: Keet Neville
EMAIL ADDRESS: keetn@shaw.ca
DATE: May 19, 2005 06:58
COMMENTS: Thank you for creating a venue for us to learn more about Tevina's life. I am Justin Neville's aunt. Justin lives with Erica in Eugene. I met Tevina years ago at my sister Helen's; Erica has played soccer with my daughter Emma and we've all partied together. My thoughts and love are with Erica, Justin and all of Tevina's family.


NAME: eugene gold
EMAIL ADDRESS: eugenelloyd2000@yahoo.com
DATE: May 24, 2005 01:23
COMMENTS: Estelle tells a wonderful story about the time she and Tevina met for the first time. It was at Estelle's house in Portland. I think they met because they were mutual friends of Jane. To Continue: It was their first meeting and at about 11 o'clock in the morning. They started talking and got so engrossed in conversation that, except to stop to eat something ,they continued talking until 7 pm. From then on Estelle considered Tavina a valued friend, and mentioned frequently how the first time they met they didn't stop talking to each other for at least eight hours. After one meeting they were valued friends !!!


NAME: Ryan Sparks
EMAIL ADDRESS: rj8@mail.com
DATE: May 24, 2005 02:58
COMMENTS: The world was a better place because Tevina was in it. May she rest in peace. Love, Ryan.


NAME: Craig Leavy
EMAIL ADDRESS: cleavy@uoregon.edu
DATE: May 24, 2005 04:08
COMMENTS: Fly, Tevina! You are free!


NAME:  David Sierralupe
EMAIL ADDRESS: sierralupe@comcast.net
DATE: May 24, 2005 09:26
COMMENTS: 


NAME: Marshall McGregor
EMAIL ADDRESS: mashug@gmail.com
DATE: May 26, 2005 08:21
COMMENTS: I always loved Tevina. She was all over the place. A jiggly bowl of human passion and compassion and humility. How fortunate those that remained close to her were. She was doggedly persistant in pursuing her passion and yet did it with such militant selflessness. I first met her when she was 12 at the Weaver's in D.C.. I was 9. She was playing the Oboe.


NAME: Constance Albrecht
EMAIL ADDRESS: constance@cascadeisp.com
DATE: May 26, 2005 08:57
COMMENTS: Junipers & Lilies In Memory of Tevina – May 2005 By Constance Albrecht You enjoyed our spring walk through the high desert, masses of yellow bitterbrush blooms dotting the dark basalt bedrock. We wandered through narrow pathways In a jumbled maze of rocks and ancient junipers. You chuckled as you poured water on black moss, instantly turning it chartreuse. Through similar terrain, I walked the day after I learned of your death. The junipers reminded me of you, bones showing, hardened sun-wizened skin gray before your time twisted and turned by life. One tree had been knocked parallel to the ground but it triumphantly survived, as you did through the many hardships and battles in your life. Another juniper, split to its core by lightening its red cedar interior exposed, gone, like you, in a flash, Leaving behind another level of life. I found masses of rare, white lilies four ephemeral petals hugging the sand, sharing their beauty. To the Cherokee people Such pure white means peace and happiness. May you have these. For Buddhists, white is hope, rest, power and enlightenment. May you have found all of these. As for me, I admired your purity of motive, your light shining, your wild essence. May I share these.


NAME: Tom Holser
EMAIL ADDRESS: tholser@comcast.net
DATE: May 28, 2005 08:36
COMMENTS: The comments below are from a letter I sent to fellow members of the Community Health Benefits Workgroup of Lane County and OHAC (Oregon Health Action Campaign) on May 10th...... "From my perspective Tevina was a true gift to our community, a rare individual who's work was always from the heart, passionate for a better life for others. True to her nature Tevina was one of the organizers for the memorial service held last month for Haaton, the homeless woman. " Tom Holser Community Health Benefits Workgroup of Lane County a project of Oregon Health Action Campaign


NAME: Leslie DeHay
EMAIL ADDRESS: lddehay1@prodigy.net
DATE: May 29, 2005 10:01
COMMENTS: Very sorry to have missed the opportunity to share in the celebration and memorial. I spent the time in my own way and felt connected to all who did make the reunion of her friends and family. The tribute to such a woman can do a little to fill the hole left by her passing. I am only one of so many that miss her and send deepest love and sympathy to all the family.


NAME: David James
EMAIL ADDRESS: shddemon_ewok@yahoo.com
DATE: May 29, 2005 02:06
COMMENTS: I didn't know Tevina but I'm sure that she was admired by many people in this community and I hope that you all find the strength to deal with your loss. I was planning on going to the memorial but I missed it because I was busy looking for work. I hope that you all are doing well. I don't really know what to say. I really admire the courage that people have standing up to those who would label us as being mentally ill. We need to support each other. A community that practices mutual aid will function much better than a community where people isolate themselves and cut off contact with other human beings. I don't know you but I wish you all the best. Take care of yourselves. Sincerely, David M James


NAME: Cynthia Tassell
EMAIL ADDRESS: cynthiatassellsmith@earth
DATE: May 31, 2005 06:05
COMMENTS: I remember a bright and cheerful Tevina from when we were in Poway High School. I was in the class ahead of her. I have notified another classmate who knew her of her demise. I hope to attend the memorial service in Poway as I now live in Escondido. My heart goes out to her whole extended family for the loss of such a loving and vibrant soul!


NAME: Wilma Gomez
EMAIL ADDRESS: wmgomezgomez@yahoo.com
DATE: June 01, 2005 03:03
COMMENTS: From the Gomez family. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of Tevina for their loss. My family knew the Benedict family when they lived in Fallbrook. My sister was a good friend of Tevina's sister, Nikki. We visited the Benedict family when they lived off of Old 395. Through all of these years have often remembered and prayed for the Benedict family.


NAME: Steve Benedict
EMAIL ADDRESS: stevebenedict@taconic.net
DATE: June 02, 2005 09:03
COMMENTS: Tevina, my first niece, was born in 1950 while I was in Paris, studying after a fashion and absorbing the Old World. Letters I’ve discovered that my mother and father wrote me during that period reflect their pride and pleasure at being able to welcome their first granddaughter. Not long after she arrived, she and her mother visited my parents at Villa Francesca in Palos Verdes. In the photo of her on the website, you will see her in my father’s lap, he happily slumbering while she is vibrating with energy. She has exhausted him and is ready for as many more rounds as anyone can take. In the intervening years, our connection was largely through those letters of hers that she could never quite finish, line after line of P.S.’s and P.P.S ’s circling the main text, creating a kind of Baroque cocoon that surrounded the thoughts that first prompted her to write. In retrospect, her letters now seem a vivid symbol of a life that could never really have been finished. One thought, one action always led to another, and the thought of conclusion was altogether alien. Only the limitations of space and time compelled some kind of ending, and even when that had to happen, it was clear that for her, life, in whatever form, would go on as intensely as ever.


NAME: Colleen Paull
EMAIL ADDRESS: ocfgirllove2002@yahoo.com
DATE: June 02, 2005 10:41
COMMENTS: Dear Family, my heart and soul reach out to you all at this time of huge loss. I met Tevina at the Wow Hall, 3-4 years ago. She was so friendly and alive and vibrant!!!! And my oh my how that girl could DANCE!!! I had the great honor and priviledge to have danced with her a few times and she always was an inspiration to me and she was always kind and loved to talk with me and my daughter, Genevieve. She was so very real and present, she always had a few minutes (which often turned out to be way more than that!!! Those of you who knew and loved Tevina, know how she loved to talk!!!! She had the gift of gab!!! She was so passionate about so many things. She had a deep belief in social justice for all and she worked tirelessly to create this. I have some very sweet memories of her and I know and believe I truly am a better person for knowing her. I will miss her, at the Wow Hall, and just seeing her around town, dancing, talking , living life, and loving so deeply. I know she loved her family dearly, she was a devoted daughter, wife and mother. I don't know the family but I would like to. I have met a few of you briefly at the Wow Hall, through the years. I wish you all the love and support in the world. I deeply miss her and still find it very hard to believe I will not see her again, here on earth , that is. I believe her spirit lives on and she is still with us!!! She would want us all to celebrate hers and our lives---God and Goddess bless you dear Tevina-- I hope to dance with you again one fine day!!! I am very sorry I didn't make it to the Memorial--I am sure it was beautiful. I just found out about it today-June 2. Blessings to you all, and remember to Love each other!!! Lots of Love and blessings, Colleen


NAME: Gus and Gwen Bacilla
EMAIL ADDRESS: gilla@cableone.net
DATE: June 04, 2005 04:51
COMMENTS: We wish we there to hold you through your ordeal, Marianna! With our love, good wishes and prayers, Sincerely, Gus and Gwen


NAME: Kevin Adkins
EMAIL ADDRESS: lkevinadkins@earthlink.ne
DATE: June 06, 2005 12:48
COMMENTS: Dave, I was crushed to learn of your devastating loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. -kevin


NAME: Julia Wenckus
EMAIL ADDRESS: wenckus@sbcglobal.net
DATE: June 09, 2005 08:44
COMMENTS: Dear Julie & Family I'm sorry to here about your daughter.Thinking of you in your sorrow.


NAME: Justin Neville Kaushall
EMAIL ADDRESS: jneville@gladstone.uorego
DATE: June 11, 2005 05:12
COMMENTS: Tevina was totally authentic--her thoughts and emotions matched her actions--and held, it seems to me, an uncompromising committment to life, political thought and action, and creativity. She was the one person whom I saw as genuinely engaged with living, and who kept her excitement and wonder at people, places, books, and the everyday. She had the energy of at least ten other people! Tevina first introduced me to Neruda and Piercy and always, with the best of intentions, kept trying to press books on me whenever I saw her. She gave me awesome writing advice on some of my papers, probably writing more than I had. She also must have worked incredibly hard to have read as much, gone to as many meetings, and known all the people that she did...We should have had coffee at some point and yakked up a storm but I kept putting it off into the indefinite future. She cared deeply about other people and had a strong bond with the world. I will miss her.


NAME: Sarah Conway
EMAIL ADDRESS: Mozartmelody@cox.net
DATE: February 24, 2006 07:51
COMMENTS: Hi Aunt Mariana! I love you lots and I can not wait to see you agian. I love you both and give Teddy a hug for me, same with Rebbeca when you see her. Write soon! Love, Sarah


NAME: Gary Meller
EMAIL ADDRESS: Garymeller@csi.com
DATE: October 17, 2005 04:44
COMMENTS: I learned so much from Tevina. From the first moment I met her, I knew that she was blessed and beloved by many people. Her kindness, curiousity, wide knowledge, and deep concern affected everyone she met. My love to her daughter and family.


NAME: Alora Peterson
EMAIL ADDRESS: iluvjnbaby@aol.com
DATE: August 26, 2005 03:49
COMMENTS: I didn't know her personally, but anyone related to my aunt must have been a wonderful person. I hope she's gone to a better place. Always, Alora P.S. Aunt Mari and Uncle Mark, I love you both with all my heart. Take Care, A.


NAME: Sarah Conway
EMAIL ADDRESS: Mozartmelody@cox.net
DATE: February 24, 2006 07:20
COMMENTS: I never knew her, but-She must have been a wonderful person if she knew you. I am so so sorry for the tradgedy. Many blessings always. Love, Sarah P.s.Love u lots!


NAME: Mel McClain
EMAIL ADDRESS: melmcclain@hotmail.com
DATE: March 07, 2006 12:29
COMMENTS: I continue to think of Tevina: especially her vibrancy and her enthusiasim for almost anything. A walk down the street in NYC was a new experience whenever I went walking with her on one of her visits: it became a very friendly place with lots of talk and laughing, everybody exchanging personal stories. She was a personal vortex going along in her own way; it seemed to refresh everyone as they enjoyed her. To say "a breath of fresh air" would trivialize the impact of her personality. I think her effect remained as she walked on. And Oregon appeared to suit her personality well: she certainly brought the same personality of excited interest everywhere she went. Really, what seemed to be a casual day for her of talking and enjoying people could be exhausting to the uninitiated or recently unexperienced (and be so unexpected in the way it opened up others to talk about their life with her) -- a pleasure. And a pleasure to remember, every time I continue to remember. Mel


NAME: hvaqsexop xjvzlcge hvaqsexop xjvzlcge
EMAIL ADDRESS: crnalkepd@gmail.com
DATE: September 29, 2008 03:16
COMMENTS: bnvglt ahlot rzmnx yijqa ufqwehkaz xqfth xwbenz