In Your Neighborhood: Anthony Almeida

Showing posts with label Anthony Almeida. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Anthony Almeida. Show all posts

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Anthony Almeida

It was ten years ago this week, August 28, 1999, when our friends Art and Edie Almeida allowed their son Anthony to go on a vacation trip from their home in Roy to Ocean Shores, Washington with family friends.

At the ocean, Anthony and a friend were wading in shallow water when Anthony was knocked to his knees by a wave and pulled out to sea, powerless against a rip current during the outgoing tide. All efforts to save him were futile against the power of the current. His body was not recovered for weeks. His death left family and friends devastated.

Anthony Almeida was the second oldest of four sons. He was a star athlete, a good student, and loved by all.

For the past year Anthony's mother, Edie Almeida, has been planning and preparing a 10th Anniversary Memorial Celebration of Anthony's life. She produced a slide show of family photos and even burned commemorative CDs with a collection of favorite songs and gave each person in attendance a copy of the CD in a jewel box case tied with raffia bow. Edie walked through the picnic shelter with a huge basket on her arm full of the CDs and stopped at each table to talk with every person who came and to give them a copy of the CD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUQSj2INyk

There was a buffet line with beautiful ethnic foods, fresh fruits, berries, and desserts. The event was last weekend, August 22, 2009, at Yelm City Park. More than a hundred people came. People of all ages were on hand: kids played on the lawn, older boys tossed a football back and forth as the music played, and people brought their family pets along, too. Everyone -- including the pets -- were all made to feel welcome. Family members came from out of state, as well.

The celebration was such a beautiful thing and Edie did so much to prepare for it. One special thing she had wanted to do was to perform a special hula as an expression of her forever love for her husband Art, for her three surviving sons, and all in memory of her undying love for Anthony. It was a beautiful tribute, unlike any I have ever seen before. Here is the video of the memorial hula. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR2PI4xlUec

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Stephanie Frieze

Stephanie Frieze
…has always liked to write. Her experience includes three years at the University Washington School of Communications studying journalism. She had a stint at the Chinook Observer in Long Beach. Raised in Bellevue, she’s lived in Gig Harbor for nearly 18 years. She and her husband have a home in Ilwaco, where they spend as much time as possible. This mother of four loves books, spending time with family and the color purple. Contact her at dbandstefery@comcast.net.

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...is a blog contributor from Greenwater. Greenwater is the last stop before Crystal Mountain, Mount Rainier and the surrounding wilderness areas. When not exploring the next mountain peak or forest trail, Tracy also contributes to the Greenwater Community Council and the Explore-Greenwater.com web site. He writes about topics ranging from favorite foot, bike, and snow trails to community events, local merchants and politics. Contact him at dmountains@explore-greenwater.com.

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…is a third-generation Japanese American living in Federal Way. She’s married and a parent of one adult child. A lifelong resident of the Puget Sound area, she graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Washington School of Communications. and served on Federal Way’s Diversity and Art Commissions. Her interests are politics, art, the history of minorities in Washington and family history. She’s written a self-published family history about her paternal grandfather. Contact her at mizusugi@yahoo.com.

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…is a Grit City native who was born and raised in Tacoma’s Old Town neighborhood by the gulch. She boasts that she’s a former Lowell Leopard, Mason Mustang and Wilson Ram, a short-time PLU Lute and a longtime UW Husky. This former corporate businesswoman is a wife, a mom, a school volunteer, a substitute teaching assistant, a writer and a born-again distance runner. She has convinced friends from Bellevue that Tacoma is worth the drive. Contact her at kimricksy@comcast.net. ugi@yahoo.com.