Author: Larry Dansky
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4
“To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” ― Thomas Campbell
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the King Soopers store in south Boulder. It is important that we take the time to remember the victims who died that sad day. It is also important that we remember others who were affected by the tragic events of one year ago. In this way, we keep alive the memory of those who died, we aid those who may still be traumatized from the shooting, and vow to work toward a future without such senseless gun violence.
First, the victims who died. We remember:
Tralona Bartkowiak, 49. Known to friends as Lonna, Tralona co-owned a Boulder clothing shop, Umba Love, and was effervescent, friendly and loved music.
Suzanne Fountain, 59. A well-known community theater actress, Suzanne Fountain worked as a financial counselor in the health care industry.
Teri Leiker, 51. Teri was known to many as a personal cheerleader for the CU band. Teri worked at the Table Mesa King Soopers for 31 years.
Kevin Mahoney, 61. To his daughter, Kevin Mahoney was her hero and “all things Love.” Mahoney had worked in hotel asset management and investments.
Lynn Murray, 61. Described by her daughter as “the biggest light in everybody’s life,” Lynn was working as an Instacart shopper recently. Before she retired, she was a photo director for Glamour, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan magazines.
Rikki Olds, 25. Rikki Olds worked as a front-end manager at King Soopers. She was a Lafayette resident who attended Centaurus High School and Front Range Community College.
Nevin Stanisic, 23. Neven’s family fled Bosnia, though he was born in the U.S. Family friends at his church say he was “a very good, shy, hardworking boy.”
Denny Stong, 20. Denny was a King Soopers worker, a model plane aficionado and into dirt bikes and Civil War reenactments.
Eric Talley, 51. Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, who was killed while responding to the King Soopers shooting, was the father of seven. Talley was interested in using drones for policing and liked woodworking.
Jody Waters, 65. Jody worked in and/or owned boutiques along Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall for years.
We also remember family and friends of those who died, especially at this time of remembrance. Their lives have been forever altered. We remember those who were in the store at the time of the shooting. They may have escaped serious physical harm but have suffered emotional trauma. We remember those who were killed in other mass shootings, and those for whom this event triggers sad memories of other acts of senseless gun violence.
We remember all of us in the Boulder County community. As we pay tribute to these victims, many of us continue to feel emotions of anger and sadness. May we remain strong and continue to work toward our collective healing.
Holy one, we pray for healing as we remember all victims of senseless violence.
