In Memory of Barbara Steinwachs
By Garry Shirts
I first met Barbara Steinwachs when she attended a course I was teaching at UCSD on simulation and game design in the early 1970's. She remained a close friend until she passed away at the beginning of this year. There are no words that can adequately capture the essence of her personality and character. It's easy to be optimistic, friendly and interested in others when one is young, healthy and engaged in an active professional practice. But she remained optimistic, engaged and interested in others when she knew she was dying. She and her husband Art came to visit us in Del Mar before she died. She'd already had several several operations to treat her breast cancer. She'd received years of chemo therapy with all the highs and lows of remission and then return of the disease. So when they came to visit we were prepared to offer her support and comfort in her dying days. That didn't happen. She expressed the same exuberance for life I'd experienced during the many years of friendship during her healthy years. We discussed politics, friends we knew in common, religion, her experiences running BaFa' BaFa'. By the time our visit ended, I'd forgotten that this was a person who had only a few months to live.
We could all take lessons from her on how to face difficulties and death with dignity. Her courage and strength is an example for all who knew her.
She was fortunate to have such a loving, supportive husband to be with her during last days. Our thoughts go out to him during these difficult times. He's suffered a great loss. Fortunately, he has memories of their wonderful years together to help him during these difficult days.
I first met Barbara Steinwachs when she attended a course I was teaching at UCSD on simulation and game design in the early 1970's. She remained a close friend until she passed away at the beginning of this year. There are no words that can adequately capture the essence of her personality and character. It's easy to be optimistic, friendly and interested in others when one is young, healthy and engaged in an active professional practice. But she remained optimistic, engaged and interested in others when she knew she was dying. She and her husband Art came to visit us in Del Mar before she died. She'd already had several several operations to treat her breast cancer. She'd received years of chemo therapy with all the highs and lows of remission and then return of the disease. So when they came to visit we were prepared to offer her support and comfort in her dying days. That didn't happen. She expressed the same exuberance for life I'd experienced during the many years of friendship during her healthy years. We discussed politics, friends we knew in common, religion, her experiences running BaFa' BaFa'. By the time our visit ended, I'd forgotten that this was a person who had only a few months to live.
We could all take lessons from her on how to face difficulties and death with dignity. Her courage and strength is an example for all who knew her.
She was fortunate to have such a loving, supportive husband to be with her during last days. Our thoughts go out to him during these difficult times. He's suffered a great loss. Fortunately, he has memories of their wonderful years together to help him during these difficult days.
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