Avielle Richman, age 6

picture from People magazine

From the Avielle Richman foundation website:

Avielle Rose Richman was born in San Diego, California on October 17^th, 2006 into a family of story tellers. With a spitfire personality, and a love of laughter, Avielle was rarely without a giant grin, and was often barefoot. Like her parents, she loved stories and demanded them as she was falling asleep, taking a bath, riding in the car, and on every walk she took. She already understood that her life — her growing up — was going to be a series of stories. Avielle had a grand spirit of adventure and was willing to bravely try new things...when the family moved to Newtown, Connecticut in late January of 2011, Avielle was excited by the prospect of living where she could play in the snow, and quickly became a fearless sledder. She loved Barbies as much as superheroes, and would readily switch between fairy and pixie play and her superhero persona, Bombs Galore – all with her faithful sidekick, super-dog Max, of course. She had no problem transitioning from playing with her dolls to practicing archery in the yard, and was happy to go from a kung fu workout with dad to a cooking lesson with mom. Avielle loved music and would sing everything. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Avielle would reply that she wanted to be an artist… and a spy…oh, and a fairy princess, and a writer. Her open-minded willingness to try new things made for a long list of hobbies...soccer... painting and sketching, hiking, fishing, and — perhaps most of all — riding horses and swimming. Avielle’s sense of wonder, inherent in all children, drove her to love the magic of fireflies and all things that glowed. Having a fairly unique name, Avielle had grown comfortable helping people pronounce it. She’d say “Ah-Vee-Elle,” and proudly spell it out “A-V-I-E-L-L-E.” Avielle also loved to name things and, without hesitation, named her beta fish Khaihawana Punk. The large sugar maples next to her house? Efford and Maeve. And the gargoyles perched above the patio door, Galen and Grolig. She was always amazed when two people shared the same name.

 

 

Avie's parents have set up a foundation in memory of their spitfire daughter. The mission of the foundation is "preventing violence through research and community education".

 

http://www.aviellefoundation.org/

 

I will remember Avie on November 1st by naming the fire that night "Avielle"

 

I will also spread the word of her foundation and mission throughout the Hopkins community.