Memories from Louise

Dear Nina and Jody,
I am not sure why I am writing now rather than last summer when Kibby
sent me your email about Anna. I don't think I had any words then. I
keep thinking about her today. Maybe because I saw Puppa's ghost in
the dog park yesterday, although what he was doing on a beach in San
Francisco, I can't figure out. I lived with Kibby and Anna (and
Puppa) on 105th St. from '96-'97 after I finished at Reed, and moved
back to NYC from Portland. I have never loved los Knicks as much as I
did then. Or dollar-slice pizza. Or shopping at Fowad.
The last time I saw Anna was in April 2003--we met on the steps of
the Metropolitan museum. It was cold, so Anna had her gator on her
head. Her hug made everything warm. The next day, it snowed.
You must miss her terribly. I only knew her a for little bit, and
that was hardly enough.
With love, Louise (Hornby)

Reed Obituary

A few months ago, several of us worked on an obituary for Anna for the Reed Magazine, which goes out to all Reed alum several times a year. I figured there were lots of people at Reed who knew Anna, but not so well that they would have heard about her death, and it looks like that is the case. Thank you to all of you who have already come here to share your memories of Anna - I think I am safe in speaking for Anna's family and close friends that it truly means a lot to hear your memories of her. (If you follow the links in this sentence, you will find comments made in response to the Reed obit). For those of you who didn't go to Reed (imagine that!) and don't get the magazine, here is the obituary:

Anna LoBianco ’92, June 29, in New York City, from breast cancer. Anna LoBianco received her B.A. from Reed in English. For several years following graduation, she lived in Portland, working as a youth counselor, playing guitar in the Reed psycho-rock band Lovebutt, training as a martial artist and self-defense instructor, and mentoring her beloved, crazy mutt, Puppa. She also worked in a Portland public elementary school classroom, assisting children with behavioral problems, before returning to her hometown, New York City. After earning a master’s degree in education from Bank Street College, she took a position as a special-education high school teacher in Harlem. Informally voted “strictest teacher,” LoBianco spent extensive after-school hours, focused on resolving her students’ academic and personal issues, and received, in return, their love and devotion. After becoming a mother, she took a position at Bank Street College of Education and also worked as a trainer for All Kinds ofMinds. Family and friends—including Hannah Demeritt ’92, who provided the details of this in memoriam—assert that while LoBianco’s dedication to others may be somewhat understood in this brief recounting of her life, “her inimitable personality, for which she will undoubtedly be remembered, and for which is already so sorely missed, is difficult to describe: self-assured, bold, bewitching; generous, principled, driven; zestful, passionate, loving love.” LoBianco is survived by her mother and father, two sisters; and her common-law husband, Bolivar “Chiq” Avila, and their two children, Ruby and Dario. [NOTE: Anna LoBianco requested that people share funny stories about her, following her death. If you have a memory or story—no matter how small—please take time to add it to the blog for Anna, www.annalo.blogspot.com. The stories are being collected on behalf of her children.]

There were a couple of pictures included as well, which hopefully Nina and Jody can post.