Stories
The People Behind the Numbers
Every statistic was a person. These are some of their stories.
Bruce Snodgrass
Before he could walk, Bruce Snodgrass was climbing onto counters and opening kitchen cabinets. By high school, he coached at the local rock climbing gym in Anchorage. “We moved to Alaska for the mountains,” said Bruce’s mother, Sandy Snodgrass. “That was his life, climbing and being in the woods.”
Faith Loren Berndt
Faith grew up close to her mother, Julie K. Berndt, who left an abusive marriage when Faith was a baby and built a new life for the two of them. “Whatever we went through, I made sure she knew I loved her,” Julie said. Faith carried that love with her — a bright student who enjoyed math, history, English, and psychology, and was deeply drawn to people, their lives, and their struggles.
Joshua Gillihan
An only child, Joshua was outgoing, funny, and comfortable with different groups of friends — “the spoke in the wheel” who brought people together. He seemed older than his years. He and his family cherished their trips together, including to Colorado, Tennessee, the Dominican Republic, and especially Disney World.
Lauren Cole
Lauren Cole had a rare gift for making people feel seen. From a young age, she listened closely, without judgment or pretense, and met others with a warmth that was genuine. She was the kind of person who never met a stranger — because they immediately became friends.
Nicholas Rucker
Nick Rucker gravitated toward nature from an early age. He loved the rhythm of footsteps on a trail, and enjoyed being outside with others. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in high school, he didn’t want the label to define him; instead, he craved belonging. “He was empathetic, thoughtful, and sensitive,” said his mother, Angela Parkerson.
Rebecca Hope Leween
Born Cree but raised Mohawk after she was adopted at two weeks old, Rebecca Hope Leween was a “proud Native woman,” said her mother, Kathy Leween — though “urban Native,” raised in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. Rebecca was an artist and poet who brought creativity and flair to everything she did. She loved to sing and draw, and was a dedicated mother to her three young sons.
Reggie Thomas
Reggie Thomas was affectionately known as “Player,” said his daughter Crystal Lipscomb, because “beautiful women were drawn to him.” Born on Christmas Day in 1954, Reggie was famous for his sharp clothes and his outgoing personality.
Ryan & Matt Williams
Ryan and Matt were fraternal twins, but when their sister arrived two and a half years later, people started thinking of them as triplets. A natural comedian, Ryan did Jim Carrey impressions at the dinner table and could rarely sit still long enough to finish a meal. Matt was the opposite: calm, easygoing, a people pleaser who took his sister to her first concert and Christmas shopping just to be sweet.
Vincente Romero
He had a huge, loving personality — the kind of person with a contagious smile that could make anyone smile. Anytime he saw you, he greeted you with a huge bear hug.
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The full collection lives in the book.