Tragic Loss

Contributed by Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute

We were about to publish this newsletter in July, when a terrible tragedy occurred – Annais, beloved daughter of our founder Mark Rittenberg, died in a tragic accident in Yosemite. Annais holds a very special place in the hearts of our staff and students as she assisted with the logistics during the coaching certification program.  She was always available to help with her bright and sunny smile and sparkling personality. Our deepest condolences to her family - Mark, Penny, Adam and Ingrid. 

Annais loved nature. Here is a beautiful piece she wrote after sunset, during a visit to Gamboa point with some friends.

"We are connected forever, because of love" 
by Annais Maya Rittenberg

I got to experience seeing where the land meets the water, where the starry night meets the warm vibrant day.  Seeing the ocean and its vastness, huge turbulent waves look so gentle, magically pulsing, as if fueled by a giant heart. To love and be loved, that is what I felt tonight coursing through my body, flowing through the golden washed grass, between all of us siting on that hill, some in deep thought, some with ear to ear grins, pensive, weeping, smiling, holding each other the space for one another. Thinking about all those who came before us who walked among the pines, whose legs the grasses grazed.  Who goes to experience our Blessed Star, in all of its glory, descending off the edge of our earth, leaving the red, orange, yellow, greens  of its light as it gives over to the night. I felt so part of it all tonight ..... I feel so honored, just everything, to be in the presence of these sacred lands and this phenomenal group of people. 

Read more about Annais here. Donations can be made in her honor to SanWild, the nature preserve that Rittenberg loved since she was a child, at http://www.sanwild.org, or to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, http://www.marinemammalcenter.org.