It’s clear that a huge part of her life centered around

But soon I’d join because she looked so happy singing along, Her even though I was self-conscious of singing. Other times, bursting out into a song, she encouraged me to sing with Then she’d proceed to invite me to an Ultimateįrisbee practice, coaxing me yet again. I was reluctant to play competitive sports, but she would convince me toīike to North Beach and 'just toss the Frisbee aroun'” in the water. Work, heading to soccer or Ultimate Frisbee games, encouraging me and others to In the mid-1990s when I met her, she was often busy after Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo (Adjective, noun, verb,īuffaloes could be added, actually, but I no longer can explain that. (diagrams and all) how the word “buffalo” could be the only word in a sentenceĪnd still be linguistically correct. She and I met at Chittenden CommunityĪction in Burlington in 1995 when we were both in our early '20s. Grinnell College in Iowa in 1994 with a degree in Linguistics. Of mine, and a little bit about her life:Ī native Vermonter from Brattleboro, Guen graduated from Obviously, each person who met Guen will have unique She was one of the most thorough, pensive people I’ve ever Guen lived a very thoughtful life –Ĭonsidering pros and cons, examining how her actions would affect those around She will continue to be an inspiration to us all.'Īn outstanding woman, Guen, 37, died on NoveminĬalifornia while paragliding, one of her greatest passions in the past decade. She championed and the pursuit of her passion.

Obituary put it: ' She is remembered by all for her fullĪnd fearless engagement with living, in her devotion to her work, the causes Vermont community, as well as those thousands of miles away, is beyond what I can I’m sure that the scope of Guen Gifford’s impact on the If you are so inclined, please make donations to the PeaceĪnd Justice Center (80) and/or to The Caroline Fund for Women in All are invited to attend to celebrate Guen's life, and mourn the loss of her presence on this planet. at the Unitarian Universalist Society at the top of Church Street. Jen would like to add that a memorial service will take place in Burlington this Saturday, November 14, at 2 p.m. She invites others to share their memories of Guen in the comments attached to this post. Jen has been a community activist friend and fan of Guen since their early '20s. She was an acquaintance of mine, but I didn't feel I knew her well enough to memorialize her here, so I'm grateful to Jen Matthews for sending her thoughtful remembrance, below. She was a dedicated and outspoken community activist, and an athlete. Guen was a staff attorney at Law Line of Vermont. Like everyone who knew her, I was shocked and saddened to hear it. Burlington resident Guenever Gifford, 37, died in a paragliding accident in California last Sunday, November 1.

A Modest Independence by Mimi Matthews