News and notes from Imagine! and the Imagine! Foundation.

Good News Friday!

Oct-09-2020

Services

Robert Strieby, who accepted services from Imagine! and lived in Imagine!’s Mark Emery Foothills Group Home, passed away unexpectedly in April 2019, at the tender age of 53. He has yet to have a headstone placed next to his father and his grandfather like he had planned, and a couple of months ago Imagine!’s own Chelsea O’Day created a Facebook fundraiser to make that happen.

The fundraiser was hugely successful, and Chelsea gratefully shared this update:

We purchased a headstone for Robert Strieby III and it’s scheduled to be set in place by December at the latest.

We have raised enough money to include engraved mountains on the headstone that look just like the rolling hills outside of the Mark Emery Foothills Group Home where Robert used to live. Coming out from the mountains are engraved musical notes, representing Robert and his unshakable love for music. Robert’s Uncle Jim requested that a quote also be on the stone with a theme of it “taking a village” in honor of Jim’s gratefulness for the Imagine! services that supported Robert to not only survive, but to blossom and flourish.

I contacted former caregivers and friends of Foothills Group Home who supported Robert over the years to brainstorm a quote with a “village” theme. They came up with some great ideas! The list of quotes inspired Robert’s uncle to make his own versions and we finally found one to settle on:

“In memory of this gentle soul and the village that grew with him.”

I am in love with the quote because it speaks to the fact that supporting folks with disabilities is not a one-way street. It reminds me that the “village” are not only providers, but receivers; receivers of love, care, and incredible wisdom from our clients and from the work that we do. Any DSP who is in the field with their heart knows that our clients support us, too. This quote highlights the impact of Robert’s life and how he has blessed the lives of many and helped others to grow. He has influenced my own practices of kindness, gentleness, courage, and self-respect and I know he has done that for others.

Due to the cemetery requirements and plot size limits, we ended up with leftover money. This money has been donated to the Imagine! Foundation on behalf of Robert to purchase a karaoke machine and art supplies for Imagine!’s Community and Employment Services … again, remembering Robert’s creative spirit and love of singing.

Below is a picture of what the stone will look like.