One of the fatal ones involved a young biologist named Erin K. Johnson who was killed by a black bear while collecting geological samples near the Pogo Mine at the time of the attack.
Erin's mother is a fan of IM, and she reached out to me last night asking if I would post a link to a memorial fund established in her daughter's name.
I said of course I would.
Just click here to visit the Erin K. Johnson Memorial Fund.
The money will go toward science education and youth outdoor activities, which seem like very worthy causes to me.
I can only imagine this mother's immense grief at losing her daughter, and hope that at least with donations from kind strangers some good can be done in her child's name.
Thank you for reading this and for any support that you feel you can provide.
Gryph,
ReplyDeleteI attended Dick Griffith's 90th B-Day party last night with my lady Suz, both Erin's parents Steve and Barb were there too.
I didn't recognize Steve as I hadn't seen him in 30 years when I first met him when he, Dick, myself and others skied Arctic to Indian.
I was mingling as was Suz, and after the party Suzi told me that she was talking to both Steve and Barb about Suz's brown bear mauling 3 years ago up-valley behind her house in Bird Creek, talking to them had a profound effect on Suz reliving her encounter after the fact, but Barb felt so helpless for not being able to have helped her daughter.
Suz told them in hindsight that when the brown bear was mauling her that she couldn't feel any pain when the bear was biting her head, neck, shoulders and back.
Suz told me afterword that that comforted Barb to a degree - all the same, what a tragedy ...
I didn't know Erin but have a family member connection to her husband. I would not have known about the fund if you hadn't passed it on. Thanks,
ReplyDeleteBT
Thanks for the link!
ReplyDeleteSo tragic. But don't focus on bears and Alaska. Bears are just animals that live everywhere. And sometimes they kill people. It's terrible this woman died. Sadly it just happens sometimes. Not an Alaska thing, Gryphen.
ReplyDeleteHun,this unfortunate incident occurred in Alaska... I'll bet THAT'S why the narrative focuses on Alaska. And bears, too(Yep, living everywhere. especially lower East Side Chicago).
DeleteDid you even bother to fully read the post? Jesus!!
Thanks for posting Gryph. Barb and I appreciate that you are always there to help Alaskans and support their causes. The Erin K Memorial Fund is very important to us and her husband, Abe.
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