Marianne
I sat home today in the midst of this crazy Covid-19 pandemic and thought about what you would make of it? I know that I am glad that you didn't have to be here with all of your health problems. I feel lucky that I and all your friends and family got to be with you before you passed. We got to celebrate your life and place your ashes in the place you loved most. Over 20 adults and kids hiked a mile and a half down river to honor you. None of this would be able to happen now. I am saddened everyday when  I hear that Covid-19 patients have to die alone. No one from their family is allowed to be there. I have spoken to friends in the cancer community and they tell me how frightened and hurt they are. Their healthcare is not the priority right now and so many resources are being used for Covid-19. They have to be so afraid knowing that it could kill them.  It is a scary time for all of us even without the underlying health conditions. We have to stay at home and practice social distancing. Did you ever think you would hear that or see the entire world not hugging or congregating or being together? It can be very isolating. I am happy to tell you that the country and world that was so divided a few months ago seems to be coming together and some wonderful things are happening. 
People are connecting like never before. We are connecting on video chats and video meetings. There are concerts on line from singers homes being done to bring us closer together. They want to give us some hope and connectedness. Songs to help us take our minds off this disease. There are people who even in their isolation at home our coming out each night to sing or offer claps for the brave men and women of the medical profession for their heroism. I personally have reached out more to everyone to check in on them to make sure they are ok. It seems simple now, why weren't we doing it before? That is a topic for another time. I feel so much more connected in some ways that I had in a long time. I know that if you were here you would be wanting to find a way to help others. I have felt the same way. I in my limited capacity have donated masks and gloves to paramedics. I am helping older friends who are at risk by helping them do shopping online or running errands for them. I dropped off needed items for seniors who can't go out. I wanted to thank anyone delivering food, mail, or packages by posting a note on my front door thanking them for keeping us supplied. I put a teddy bear in my living room window to wave at those walking by hoping it will make them smile.. Patricia and I walk everyday with Rio. She has now gotten so used to it, that if we aren't ready right at lunchtime she is upset. When we get up to go she jumps around the room in excitement. Our walks daily allow us to feel like we are part of the community again. (craziest part of that is that it has only been since the beginning of March where we had to stay home). I have tried to reach out to say hi to the neighbors I know and even the ones I don't. It is so important to be there for each other at this ominous time. Today was a beautiful day sunny and mild. I started working on the front lawn watering and  getting ready for spring. When I walked to the back yard I saw the first blooms of your Grandmothers Iris's and they reminded me of you. It made me smile and be grateful that you were in my life! We miss you so very much. I still find myself turning to tell you about things I hear on the news and then realize you aren't there. That's ok because even though I can't see or hear you, you are always there in my mind and in my heart. I feel that you are right hear beside me like a guardian angel looking down and watching over us. I hope that you are having a wonderful birthday in heaven. We will be celebrating today by Trish and I making brownies for your birthday. We couldn't go out to eat like she wanted to. Just know that we are ok and doing well. We miss and love you everyday. I know that you are up there loving us back. Take care and keep a watch over us always. Be easy on God, I realize now that he really does have a plan for all of us. I first thought, how could your passing have been a good plan? I know now over these last months that you were in so much pain that we couldn't have maintained. You didn't have a good quality of life at the end. I know you didn't think you were ready but I now believe that you were. I wouldn't have wanted you to be here through all of this madness; with the fear that we couldn't get you the medical care you may have needed; or that you could have caught Covid-19. I know now that you are in a place where you can be with your Mom, Dad, Grandmother, and so many others who have passed. I know they are with you celebrating with you today. WE LOVE YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE WITH US IN OUR HEARTS TODAY CELEBRATING WITH US. Thank you God for sending us a beautiful day and the first flowers of spring to celebrate Marianne's birthday! Love YOU!

Marianne yes was a sorority girl! I know some may find that hard to believe. She is in fact a legacy of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Her mother was a member of Adpi at UNM. Talk about coincidences I too was an Adpi at the University of Pittsburgh. When we met I did not know that she or her mom was in the same sorority I was. We all became very involved in the Alumnae group in Albuquerque. Every month we got together to play Canasta. We also had a group that purchased season tickets to Popejoy Broadway series each year. It was always a Sunday of lunch with good friends and sisters then off to the play. She loved going to the shows and spending time with her sisters. The sororities motto lives true in Albuquerque "We live for each other"  Blue is the color of friendship. The diamond is its symbol for "enduring strength and value of friendship". It's mascot is Alphie Lion. Lions represent Strength and Courage. Marianne embodied all of these attributes in her life. She was a true sister, albeit occasionally (maybe a little more than occasionally :}) a rebel. She was sincere in her love for her sisters and her commitment to living her life with integrity, friendship, loyalty, and love.

She was passionate about teaching. Her grandmother Fayna was her inspiration and gave her the desire to be a teacher. Her sister Patricia was her reason for choosing Special Education after a start in Physical Education. She felt that she knew first hand how to understand and teach and inspire those who had developmental challenges. She was determined to make sure that her sister Patricia was always going to have an advocate for fighting against biases against people with developmental disability. She carried that passion into her teaching career. As her teaching career progressed she was asked to move from side by side to teach Biology, Chemistry, and Physical Science to higher level special education students. She absolutely loved this level of teaching. She believed in science and did everything to make it real for her students. She had an inquisitive mind and always wanted to make these scientific principles she was teaching applicable to every aspect of her students lives. To make the principles she was teaching to have useful applications in the real world. She wanted to teach discipline and boundaries to her students, knowing that these would be challenging for most of them. She wanted them to know that she loved them. She taught them well because so many have come back over the years and and thanked her for her passion, concern, and love for them. If it hadn't been for her they never would be successful. The best proof of the legacy you have made is to have your students come back to say Thank You!

Marianne was honored in 2003 by being chosen teacher of the year!
This is a culmination of her passion and professionalism!
Please find a summary of the presentation of the award:
"In this changing educational climate, teaching has become an increasingly thankless job. Needless stress, cumbersome activities, and a time when teachers feel they just aren't getting through to their charges. Teachers hang in there pushing, chugging, and churning like the energizer bunny. Giving their all despite the challenges that face them and their students. The Educator honored today is a personification of how teaching should be, always their for their students. Always willing to listen and help. Willing to share experiences as a teaching tool not to glorify days long past, As one student said "This person is a good teacher always helping me out all the time. This person has given me the courage to graduate from High School." Another student said "She makes sure you understand the subject before you move onto something else." The third student sums it up how people feel about this teacher. "She helps people with family problems, Helps with boy and girl problems. Helps with school problems. This person never turns away anyone who needs help."
This educator enjoys life to the fullest. Whether she is on the golf course, fly fishing, or bowling. This Chatty Cathy continues to be athletic and enjoys years of coaching; sacrificing her time and talent to athletes and their endeavors. She is extremely supportive of faculty and can be counted on to be there at critical moments." Marianne Evans Teacher of the Year."
OF COURSE TYPICAL OF MARIANNE SHE TURNS THE TABLES ON HER OWN AWARD!
Marianne tells everyone that she LOVES teaching and I we always hope that we give you something, but at the same time I want you al to know that you have no idea of what you give to us. Our hearts grow bigger as you come back to visit. Nothing excites us more than when you come back and tell us what you you've been doing and show us the kind of person we knew you could be. Now all of you  seniors in the class of 2003 have that same opportunity. Know we will always be there for you. I know I will. 

Marianne was not afraid to jump to action when needed. If it was to save an animal or a person, it didn't matter. She would jump in with both feet and hands. No hesitation at all. One day she was in her classroom when a group of students next door came running in. They said that one of their classmates collapsed and was not breathing. Marianne immediately ran into the room and began doing CPR. She worked alongside the teacher to try to resuscitate him using CPR and AED while they waited for the paramedics to arrive. She found later that the Physician had told the young man's mother that if it had not been for Coach Evans her son would not be alive today. She was so grateful. CPR is usually only effective 10-15% of the time. I know that the angels were over everyone that day to allow this scenario to unfold positively. This young man is alive and well and graduated. I know that for a few years following this incident Marianne kept in touch with his mother. I am hoping that she will see this and pass this site address onto him. I would love him to write a memorial to Coach Evans. She was so thankful that she was available to make a difference. She never hesitated and never questioned she just did it.. If that is not a definition of a hero I don't know what is. YOU GO GIRL!

I know this sounds like a strange way to say she was a fishing guide. She was so much more. She was willing to learn all different methods of fishing: Bait, Lure, Fly (wet and dry), or Pole fishing.
She was so willing to share her knowledge with others. She learned fishing when she was just a kid. As she would always tell me, she had been going to El Vado Ranch since she was in a basinet. She and her brother were allowed to go fishing with life preservers on at a very young age. She had a passion for the river her whole life. What a natural progression to share that passion with others. She was known at El Vado not by her name but by her companion. She was the fishing lady with the dog. Tasha was her first golden retriever. Whenever she went fishing, Tasha was always by her side in the river watching that line no matter how cold or how much she was shivering. She was going to stay in the water next to her side waiting til the rod and line would start to move. She knew a fish had been caught and she was going to help her mom bring it in. She was the fisherman who could walk anywhere at El Vado and catch fish. I remember the first time we went to El Vado we were walking the trail back to the cabin and she was talking about fishing and where to look and what to look for. As she was talking she would effortlessly and without thought throw her line in as we continued to walk. She would do this to demonstrate the point she was making. Believe me just as she threw in the line a fish would jump on the line. I was dumb founded. She knew her river so well. Every nook and cranny where the fish were and what they liked and what they wanted to see. She knew how to give it to them. She knew how to teach it. She really wanted to become a guide at El Vado after she retired. Circumstances didn't allow for that to happen but it didn't stop her from continuing to be the fish whisperer at El Vado. She always loved this river. It is only fitting that her final resting place will be in that very river she respected and loved so much. 

Coach Evans loved Softball. She loved her Alma Mater Manzano HS. She worked tirelessly to make her players the best they could be. To reach for state titles but more importantly to learn the value of teamwork. Teamwork which can make you feel part of something bigger than yourself. Building character, building cooperation and communication skills. All of this as equally important as winning. Of course she liked to win and hated to lose. She would drive her teams to win and do it the right way. To learn the fundamentals and practice those daily and as you will be successful in sports you will be successful in life as well. Coach Evans wasn't always liked but she was respected. She always approached coaching in the same manner she approached teaching with passion. Passion for the game that she loved to play herself. Passion to continually work to improve your skills. Pride to see the growth of her athletes as they progressed from freshman to seniors. Saddness that she saw her peeps graduate and move on to other life experiences. Happiness to see them years later and know the wonderful people they grew up to be. 

Marianne took the Athletic Director job at the behest of Principal Tim Whalen. She was glad that she did. She used her same drive to make sure that Manzano had the best sports programs in Albuquerque. She believed in her coaches and made sure that she held them accountable for doing things the right way. She wanted to build on the MONARCH reputation. She believed they were royalty and could be an example to all sports programs. She wanted each and every program to be successful. She was supportive for all the coaches to give them the tools that they needed to be positive mentors for their athletes. She wanted them to be successful.

Marianne joined Civitan at my urging. She wasn't sure at first. Once she met everyone and saw all the work that was being done to make the community a better place, she jumped right in. She loved her fellow civitans and the comradery that they shared. She loved the projects and would jump in and lead whenever she could. She was President of both Northside as well as River of Hope. She really loved going to district meetings and the Convention in Cancun, New Orleans, and Birmingham. She made Civitan her extended family. Marianne led by example in the things she did in her everyday life. She never found an animal or a human she would not be willing to help if they needed it. She wasn't afraid to step in and do any job she was asked to do. She loved learning of new ways to help her community with the large number of projects she saw all the clubs doing. She loved Balloon Fiesta and getting out there collecting money for parking each and every morning during fiesta. She always wanted to be at the front the last person the public saw before parking but the first person to welcome them and show how friendly Albuquerque was. She was such a wonderful ambassador for Albuquerque and Civitan. She was small but mighty she surely was not going to let any car get by her without paying she would track them down. She always made sure her crew was doing their job and keeping up. That all the money was turned in and the count correct. She respected the job and she knew how much the Balloon Fiesta meant to Albuquerque.