Kimberly Kimmie B. Kimberly Ann Bright Hetrick

When someone is identified as a free spirit, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of an independent, creative, unpredictable, and eccentric person who marches to their own drummer. Kimberly Bright Hetrick fits that image, but was much more. She was also an intelligent, caring and compassionate soul who loved her family deeply. She will be remembered as being a caring mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and wife, whose journey was not easy, whose suffering was difficult, and who did the best she could in everything she undertook. To the moment she passed, her mind was full of creative ideas, even though her physical being lacked the energy to make those ideas a reality.

Kimberly was born on September 16, 1949 at Glens Falls Hospital in Glens Falls, New York. Her parents were John and Ruth (Laderach) Bright. Growing up Kimberly resided in upstate New York; Westport, Connecticut; and Tucson, Arizona. She attended Lake George High School and Mother Cabrini High in New York City (junior year) and graduated from Lake George in 1967. She enjoyed some courses more than others. English, history, and art were her favorite subjects; math, not so much.

Kimberly was blessed with two children, son Warren Roy and daughter Chesney Spirit. Her four grandchildren, Justin, Kierstyn, Victoria and Michael meant the world to her and she was deeply saddened by her inability to visit them in Illinois as her health diminished. They were always in her prayers.

She was a born artist who first displayed her creative abilities as a young girl with prize winning sewing projects. After winning a McCall's sewing contest, she started modeling as a Banlon Girl while still in high school – a part-time career that lasted several years after graduation. It was also in high school where her art teacher, Mr. Bolton, recognized her artistic talents, instructed her on how to express herself in water colors, and oils and encouraged her to attend classes at Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. Years later she expanded her artistic skills to include commercial art and she earned her Commercial Arts degree from the Colorado Institute of Art. Kimberly worked as a graphic artist at several organizations including Central Services of the City and County of Denver, several other graphics/printing companies, the last being Clements Printer, before she was forced to limit her activities due to ill health.

Kim was also a born “storyteller.” Through these stories we can fashion a sense of who she really was. For example already as a toddler, Kimberly displayed her independence. While the family lived for a brief period in Arizona, she recalled playing in the backyard that to her seemed like the world’s largest sandbox, digging holes in the sand with her older brother Doug. She said it was always hot and clothes were constricting. So her dresses, shirts, shoes, and undergarments often ended up at the bottom of these holes and covered up with sand. Her mother, Ruth, made frequent trips to the store to replace missing items.

Being the oldest girl in a combined family that eventually included seven brothers, young Kimberly learned how to survive in a male dominated world. On one occasion after incessant teasing by her older brother, she bit his ear and unfortunately nearly removed a portion of it. She said she was sure she was getting to get in trouble, but her doting father’s only words were directed to his elder son, “I told you not to mess with Kimmie.”

Kimberly led a colorful life. For example, in 1969, several years after graduating from high school she worked for Michael Lange, producer of Woodstock, as one of his personal assistants. He gave her the title of Spiritual Adviser for the event. She recalls meeting Jimmie Hendrix and flying from Manhattan to the Woodstock event in a helicopter with him and other celebrities. The music of that era was forever imprinted in her psyche. Other lifelong music favorites include: Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Mahalia Jackson, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, and Eric Clapton to name a few. While visiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, Kimberly was able to re-live many of those earlier memories of her involvement in Woodstock.

Friends knew Kimberly as outgoing, outspoken and oftenspoken (sociable) and having an unforgettable sense of humor. To Kim no one was a stranger. She would strike up a conversation with the person behind her in the grocery line, or the person shopping next to her in the clothing store and everyone with a small child. Because she was always so straightforward, friends and family generally knew what Kim thought about a topic. She enjoyed being with a group of friends and wasn’t afraid to confront her friends, when necessary, and challenge them to justify their stance on issues important to her.

One of Kimberly’s endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends. She loved to “throw a party” on special occasions. She also loved to hand write letters, long letters, with colorful fountain pens to her distant friends. Although she had an Email account for many years, rarely did she read her Email or send a reply – it just wasn’t her style.

Kim was probably not a true perfectionist, but she did set high standards for herself as well as others. Whether it was a water-color painting, a cross-stitch project, a sewing project or a tray of appetizers for a party, redecorating a room in her home, gift wrapping a birthday present, or getting dressed up to attend an event, Kim had to make it her best.

In high school, Kimberly played basketball and was also a strong swimmer. She enjoyed sailing (passed down from her father), canoeing and playing golf. She enjoyed watching football but had a love–hate relationship with the Denver Broncos. There was a period of time when it appeared that tops on her sports entertainment list was torturing her daughter by making her watch golf on a black and white TV (according to Chesney).

A civic-minded person, Kimberly was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. She was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Kimberly was a member of several community social action groups. She volunteered for the Swedish Medical Gerontology Center in the late 80’s and met other volunteers at the center who became lifelong friends. Politically, Kimberly was a staunch Democrat and a strong advocate for women’s reproductive rights (NARAL).

Spirituality was important to Kimberly. She held high ethical standards and was distressed about the moral decay she saw around her often by those who professed publicly to be “religious.” She was raised as a Unitarian Universalist and later in life embraced the teachings of Jesus and the power of prayer. Church membership in Colorado included the Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden , CO where she was involved in youth religious education, and later First Universalist Church, Denver, CO. It was at a joint retreat (Laforet) of the two churches where Kim & Milt met for the first time. They were married on February 21, 1987.

Kimberly loved animals and cherished her pets. One of Kimberly’s favorites was Pavi (short for Pavarotti), a special black cat with a unique white marking that resembled the tuxedo of the famous opera singer. They were together for 18 years.

Kimberly passed away on September 2, 2009 at her home in Centennial, Colorado after a long illness involving Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL) and COPD (emphysema). She died peacefully midday with her faithful Teddy Bear lapdog, Amos, snuggled at her side.

She is survived by her husband Milton, her two children; Warren Roy and Chesney Spirit; step-sons, Sean and Benjamin; four grandchildren; Justin, Kierstyn, Victoria and Michael; siblings, Matthew, John J., Kenneth, Angus, Rick and Martha; and father, John K. (Diana) Bright. Preceded by her mother Ruth, brothers Douglas and Keith, and sister Jane.

A private family visitation was held at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary in Centennial, CO. The memorial service was on 19 September 2009 at 1:00 pm at First Universalist Church, 4101 East Hampden Ave, Denver CO. Kimberly’s ashes are scattered in several places that were her favorites during her colorful lifetime.

Despite her suffering, Kimberly Bright Hetrick did her best to ensure that the lives of her family, friends, loved ones, (and everyone whose life she touched) contained a little more joy and another perspective to think about. She walked in beauty, cared about others, and lived joyfully. God Bless.