Remembering Karl and Marisa
Posted October 7th, 2008 by adminThis page is a dedication to the lives of Karl Heiss and Marisa Bauducco-Heiss, husband and wife who were taken from us far too soon in an accident on October 3, 2008. They were nurturing and devoted parents with a love and commitment for their two surviving children as strong as their love and commitment to each other. In an effort to find a way to make sense of this tragedy we have created this space to remember and tell stories, to share and to grieve. As their precious children recover physically and emotionally we send all our love to cradle and protect them.
Filed under:Memories
23 Responses to “Remembering Karl and Marisa”
October 7th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Karl and Marisa lived their lives to the fullest- simply, in the present, and always with the best interests of their children in mind. As I grieve I’m trying to focus more now on the fact that Karl and Marisa left this world happy and in the midst of one of their many adventures: they were traveling to see loved ones in Argentina for 6 months. My heart goes out to Alden and Aliana now -they have a long road ahead but if any children possess the ability to succeed despite the seeming insurmountable obstacle of the loss of both parents, it is these two. This I think is largely because of these very parents who took their responsibility as seriously as any parents I’ve ever known. Karl and Marisa, you will be dearly missed.
-Your friend Ginny
October 9th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I will miss Karl and Marisa very much. This shouldn’t have happened to them, but it did. They were extremely caring parents and also cared very much about others as was seen in their constant work and efforts to improve the world for everyone. And as Ginny said, they were not ones to sit back and let life pass them by, but instead lived life to the fullest. I am sad.
October 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I will always remember Karl and Marisa. I will remember them as the loving, generous, skilled, artistic, and engaging people they were. I will remember all of the wonderful moments we shared. I’m in absolute shock that they are no longer on this planet yet I can feel them so very much alive. As a three year child I had to deal with the anguish of losing my father is a fatal car accident so I can sort of understand what Aliana and Alden will be going through. I send them a tender hug loaded with my sympathy and prayers. To all the family and friends I share your grief, much love to you all.
October 12th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Todo mi amor para Alden y Aliana, también para Marisa y para Karl del otro lado. Aquí en Argentina, todos los que conocíamos a Marisa y Karl hemos llorado mucho por ellos y por la forma trágica y repentina en que se han ido.
Marisa: yo se que estás ahí cuidadndo de Aliana para que se recupere. Te amamos y sabemos que nunca podremos igualarte en el amor y dedicación con que hubieras seguido criando a tus hijos, pero ellos tendrán lo mejor que podramos darles para que crezcan con amor. Te extrañamos.
Gracias a todos aquellos que están ayudando a que Aliana se recupere y a que mis padres y hermanos puedan estar allá para fortalecerla. Se que es mucha gente y sus plegarias se sienten. Tanto mi hermana Marisa como Karl se los agradecen también.
Mi abrazo más grande y cálido para Alden, y otro muy afectuoso para los padres de Karl. Mi compañía a la distancia para papá, mamá, Carina y Alejandro. Mantengan la fe y el corazón encendido para darle a Alianita la energía que necesita.
Besos.
Gracias, Eduardo.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
My deepest sympathy to the family. I witnessed this accident and helped take care of Alden and put him in the ambulance. It breaks my heart every time I think about the children losing there parents. I know I still have nightmares from the accident. My heart goes out to all the family members. I pray for you every day. I know this hard time for all of you. Please let me know what I can do. I really would like to see the children so I have a memory of them healthy instead of broken. Sending my prayers….
October 13th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I only just met Karl, Marisa, Aliana, and Alden this summer, but I will miss Karl and Maria very much. They were such wonderful people. Aliana and my daughter became instant friends. Karl and Marisa welcomed my daughter into their lives and I know she is better for having known thier family. Our community has lost two wonderful people. We need to remember them always and try to live by their example.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
i loved my time with karl, marisa and their family. we haven’t been in touch with each other the past few years since we moved to Hawaii. i am sad i didn’t take the time to stay connected with them. we had always talked of them visiting us in hawaii someday, but, that never happened. i remember all their Love, for each other, for their children and for the world. Thank you karl and Marisa…thank you for all your love and wisdom and i pray that you are happy on the other side and i know you will always be with your children as love is not effected by space and time. one thing i have learned from your seemingly untimely death is to cherish these fleeting moments here on earth and love with passion. aloha, molly
October 15th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Karl and Marisa, Such a void is left in this community with you gone. It feels as if we have known each other for longer than the year that has actually transpired. Please know that you were loved and will be missed. Your children are such a testament to your love and commitment, both to each other and to making the world better just because you were here. I will keep praying for Aliana and Alden, and I know your strength will always be with them. Peace to you.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
con mucha pena en el corazon quiero recordar con una sonrisa a dos amigos especiales que solo vivieron su vida con amor, amor en todo y por todos. Me siento muy cerca a las familias que estan viviendo un momento muy dificil, animo!!!! Marisa y Karl dejaron unas preciosas semillas que no mas tienen que desarrollarse con los buenos principios que los padres les enseñaron. Un abrazo grande a la dulce Aliana y al siempre sonriente Alden. Un cariño a todos los que estan cerca. barbara
November 12th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
We just today found out about the loss of our dear friends. Words fail us. We will do all we can to help out their two precious children. They will be in our hearts forever.
Great Spirit Prayer
Great Spirit, Great Spirit, My Grandfather,
All over the earth the faces of living things are all alike. . .
Look upon these faces of children without number
And with children in their arms,
That they may face the winds and
Walk the good road to the day of quiet. . .
There is no death. . .
Only a change of worlds. . .
Only a change of worlds.
Author Unknown
November 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Words fail me also. A poetic voice likely can find words where I am dumb-struck with grief. I love Karl and Marisa, and miss them very much. My heart is in great pain right now. And I pray the very best for their precious and beautiful children.
From Wendell Berry:
“The Peace of Wild Things”
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my childrens’ lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests
in his beauty on the water, and where the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief, I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
November 17th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
After hearing of the news of these painful, accidental deaths of our dear friends, and after spending a morning recently in their home with members of Marisa’s Argentine family, and with members of their “Bonners Ferry family,” and after letting the stories, the telling of our grief, the memories, the loving encouragement, and all that settle into me…
I took a late walk at the refuge, just after dark. And along a dike trail, under old cottonwood trees, I came upon a great horned owl on a low branch. He permitted my presence for the longest time. Even as I came close to him. And I leaned into, and absorbed his well-contained presence, and drew nourishment from that experience.
When at last he dropped away in flight, I think I came to understand, once again, what was prayed here by Pawnee and Deb:
“Walk the good road to the day of quiet. . .
There is no death. . .
Only a change of worlds. . .
Only a change of worlds.”
Thanks for your offered prayer, dear friends. It soothes the heart and gives strength. Marisa and Karl would appreciate that very deeply, no doubt.
December 10th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’m devastated I just found out about this by searching for Karl and family on the internet. I wanted to catch up and make plans to see him. It’s been about four years since he and beautiful family visited me in Long Beach.
Karl and I go all the way back to college days. We also traveled a lot to Baja and once to Oregon. Karl was the real deal.. he could live off berries and beans, he could play all kinds of instruments (taught me the guitar), he was also a gifted writer. I was proud to know him. Even when he was moving and traveling, I manged to visit him in San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Seattle. The only place I didn’t get to see was the Bonner’s Ferry house; but I got to know it through his website.
In life, I think we are only given two or maybe three good friends if we’re lucky. To me, Karl was one of those dear friends.
Both Karl and Marisa encouraged me grow up and start my family. They let me know that I seemed happier than ever with my girlfriend who is now my wife. They had that sensitivity and depth to see things like artists.
Karl and Marisa will be sorely missed.
My heart goes out to Karl’s and Marisa’s family. I will pray Aliana.
If there is anything I can do to help, please contact me at kharamis@gmail.com
Kimon Haramis
Long Beach, CA
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:21 am
Buscando en internet a mi viejo amigo con el que perdi contacto hace unos anios me encuentro con esta triste noticia, no estoy segura de si se trata de la misma persona pero parece indicar que si, saben donde puedo ver una foto de el?, agradezco y escribo desde Francia; mis mas sentidas condolencias
May 5th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I called Karl and Marisa one weekend morning during the spring of 2006 to ask about buying a tipi. Marisa was making Karl Breakfast and asked if I could call back later. I thought to myself, “I like these people already.” After a while, I called them back and Karl listened patiently to my story of the bear that came to me in a dream and told me to make a tipi in my yard in Dearborn, MI. I had the pleasure of a couple of years of correspondence with them about many things related to the tipi, the bear and general chit chat. These were beautiful people. The tipi they made for me with their own hands will always be a treasured item.
August 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Shocked and Saddened by the loss of Karl and Marissa. They were amazing people. We worked with Karl at the Green Tortoise in the early 90’s. We had the chance to meet Marissa and Aliana at a New Years party in Seattle when Alden was a newborn. A perfect family. Here’s a poem that Karl wrote and sent around in early 2003.
Movement of Atoms
Don’t all people feel the cold…
wondering when winter will end…
feel the sun on their faces
when the Earth’s wobble returns us?
How can serious, trenchant faces predict or mandate our atom’s movement, the flow of blood, sap returning to trees?
Our woods are cold, silent.
My children patter and totter about
searching hard through the ice
for buds, stones, mysteries.
My son has shown me
how to warm a cold stone in the mouth.
I explain the moon; the earth;
what is gibbous; what is waning;
but there are things I cannot explain….
In feeble sun I shiver.
There are formations of beauty she says
caused by melting.
My daughter has shown me where to stand.
She commands silence to listen around us and in this trusting pause tiny noises as of single atoms splitting…
to my great surprise
stones frozen from months of winter–
having lost all but their dry, solid, and serious
nature–
slowly release themselves from ice
and speak.
–k. heiss
August 18th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I knew Karl through the Green Tortoise. The last time we saw them, Gaunt and I just dropped in on them in Idaho. No advance phone call or anything, just drove up. Karl was completely unsurprised to see us - it was as though he had known we would show up one of these days.
Karl and Marisa were unique in having the strength and passion to actually live their dreams. Many people talk about living lives more in tune with their core beliefs, but few have the courage to do it. Karl and Marisa did, and I am honored to have known them.
August 19th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Karl and I met in the spring of 1991 when we both trained to drive for the Green Tortoise. During that spring and summer we spent time together when we could, and were quite close. We later went our separate ways, but kept in touch. Karl is not a person you easily forget. Ray (another Tortoise driver, now my husband) and I were lucky to meet Marisa when Aliana was one or two, and later got a chance to meet Alden also. I always regretted that Idaho was so out of the way from anyplace I was likely to go, but figured we would visit them there eventually. It saddens me that we will never see the home they built there. When I found out today about the accident my first thoughts were for the kids. And their grandparents. Bless all of you. I wish I could do more.
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Karl and I used to be lovers on and off for three years before he met Marisa. Although we haven´t had any contact for years now, my heart is broken for how tragically his life has come to an early end. A life I admired for its courage, ideals and committment. I have learned only recently about the accident that happened one year ago and I am still having a hard time coming to terms with it. I´ve always believed we would meet again one day with our families.
The only thought that can comfort me a little is that Karl, as far as I know, has led an intense life with his wonderful family and succeeded in making many of his dreams come true. May be that´s more than many peolpe who live longer lives will ever experience! Now I hope the best for their children. May they find conditions under which new confidence in their future is able to grow - and the best recovery possible for Aliana….
I miss you, Karl and Marisa, and I´m sending all my love and thoughts today to your children and family, especially to Karl´s parents and Maia.
I wish I could talk to all of you.
I will keep your memory in my heart forever.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Yo soy el papá de Marisa y agradezco a todos los que estan en esta página con sus cartas de dolor y amor para con Marisa y Karl, como así también Aliana y Alden. Mis dos nietos , Alden (7y.o) y Aliana (12 y.o)estan viviendo en Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Is.Argentina, con su abuela Violeta, sus 5 tios y unos 10 primos de su edad.Estan rodeados de amor y atención. Aliana se recupera parcialmente y muy,muy lentamente con muchos médicos especialistas a su alrededor, se la lleva a una escuela especial.Alden esta muy bien, va a la escuela, esta absolutamente integrado y la casa de su abuela es SU casa.Salvo los padres , nada les falta a los dos niños .Gracias a todos por la preocupación por ellos un abrazo RAUL BAUDUCCO raulbauducco@yahoo.com
September 6th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
gracias a quienes han visitado esta pagina a lo largo de los dos años pasados. Alden esta muy bien y Aliana ha seguido recuperandose , medicos y especialistas estan sobre ella permanentemente , la tencion es de muy buena calidad , rodeada de mucho amor por parte de la familia de marisa, mi hija .Han estado de visita los padres de Karl .Se ha llevado a Aliana a EEUU donde amigos y medicos le han encontrado con progresos en su rehabilitacion.Los dos estan al cuidado de su abuela materna, Violeta con el apoyo de todos sus tios y primos .Gracias a todos en nombre de la familia de Marisa y Karl .RAUL sept 2010
September 12th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
It was Jan. 5th, 1987, on a special flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, when I first met Marisa. I still remember that day clearly, as Marisa was a very special person. We made it all the way to Alaska and worked together the summer of ‘87, then situations changed and we lost contact. I always wondered what happened to her after our seperation, and was so sad to find this website and discover that her life had been cut way too short. In our short time traveling together I came to appreciate Marisa’s extraordinary character, and had no doubt she would be a success at whatever she set her mind. I send my sincere condolences to Marisa’s Mother, and thank her for the only dinner I had with their family; they all made me feel at home in a faraway place, as Marisa’s new friend. I will never forget all those memories of Marisa, as you meet a person like her maybe once in your life. I hope her children recover from this tragedy and live their life as their Mother did, always to the fullest. Larry, Sept. 12, 2010
November 16th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
me da mucha alegria saber que los ninos estan creciendo felizmente. Karl y yo manejamos los autobuses hace 20 anos. Cuando se mudaron a Idaho de Seattle les lleve con el “Mothership”, el bus que Karl y yo hicimos juntos. Fue un artista con la madera y todo lo de mas. Les extrano mucho, fueron mu buenos amigos. Saludos a todos los miembros de la familia y a los amigos suyos. Con Carino, Taavi
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