Rita was loved by many from New York to Sage Hill to Montecito. How did you first come to know Rita? Feel free to share by creating a new post or commenting below!

I met Rita in Ojai when she walked into the Bank of America branch that I was managing. She had this warmth about her,  and I knew I could trust whatever she needed. She instantly became a sister that I knew was to be a very special person in my life. I can feel her wrap her arms around me and tell me how special I was, but I knew that SHE was that special person in my life that taught me lessons that would last a lifetime.  She taught me how to live my life for me, and to not let others control me. The word, "boundaries" are a trigger  for wonderful memories and lessons I learned from her that taught me how and when I needed to use those lessons as well. I didn't know what a boundary was until she helped me to see how much I…

I met Rita in Ojai when she walked into the Bank of America branch that I was managing. She had this warmth about her,  and I knew I could trust whatever she needed. She instantly became a sister that I knew was to be a very special person in my life. I can feel her wrap her arms around me and tell me how special I was, but I knew that SHE was that special person in my life that taught me lessons that would last a lifetime.  She taught me how to live my life for me, and to not let others control me. The word, "boundaries" are a trigger  for wonderful memories and lessons I learned from her that taught me how and when I needed to use those lessons as well. I didn't know what a boundary was until she helped me to see how much I…

I met Rita in Ojai when she walked into the Bank of America branch that I was managing. She had this warmth about her,  and I knew I could trust whatever she needed. She instantly became a sister that I knew was to be a very special person in my life. I can feel her wrap her arms around me and tell me how special I was, but I knew that SHE was that special person in my life that taught me lessons that would last a lifetime.  She taught me how to live my life for me, and to not let others control me. The word, "boundaries" are a trigger  for wonderful memories and lessons I learned from her that taught me how and when I needed to use those lessons as well. I didn't know what a boundary was until she helped me to see how much I…

I met Rita back in the early 90s. She was teaching an exercise class in a private home in Westchester County, NY, and I was invited to be one of the participants. I was, at that time, 50, overweight, overworked, tense, mid-divorce, and running a huge company. I could hardly breathe and there was something about Rita that made me think she might save my life. I signed her up for weekly private lessons at my home.

Of course, within a few months, she was my best friend.

I visited Sage Hill many times and when my mother passed away in 2001, I stayed with Rita for a few weeks just to heal. We hiked together, of course, she much faster and stronger than I, and she reshaped my eating habits, my hormone regimen (I had been taken off pills; she put me back on), and tried (unsuccessfully) to get…

Rita was a dear friend who touched my heart and soul with her wisdom, wit and generosity of spirit, I especially loved the poems and quotes she would often share to beautifully illuminate whatever subject we were discussing at the time. I will so miss those wonderful exchanges. I recently read, however, the following quote from Marcel Proust which made me smile and softened the loss:

"People do not die for us completely, but remain bathed in some sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality, but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad."

     The pictures of Rita stunned me. Though we spoke at least weekly by phone for the last two years, Rita requested that I not visit for fear of exposing her vulnerable immune system to Covid or flu. Between the lockdown and her illness, I hadn’t seen her for at least two years when she died. Occasionally, she sent a photo of herself, always looking chic, even with her shorn head or dramatic weight loss. When I told her how beautiful she looked, she said, “I dress every morning, even if I’m not going to see anyone,” which expressed to me one of the many ways how Rita never stopped being fully alive.

    Despite her suffering, she spoke eloquently, sometimes for more than an hour, about the meaning of her experience with cancer, her relationship with her doctors, whom she delighted in (and, it seemed, cared deeply for her),…

I was fortunate to spend a weekend, along with a couple of friends, at Rita's roost near Ojai many years ago. It was memorable for the location,for the activities she led, and for the feelings of peace I had coming down that mountain. Funny thing. It was Rita's only "men's retreat" I was told later. I would have recommended being in her presence to everyone I know, male or female or whatever; old, young, weary, jumpy; satisfied, longing, healthy, ill. She had a recipe to help you fly right for yourself, and it was a different formula for each person. I'm sad to lose her and wish I had said all of this to her before she left us.

I was on one of Rita's legendary hikes at Sage Hill and I saw her pick up a feather, just an ordinary one. When we got back to the house she put the feather in a glass vase. She had several filled with feathers of all colors, sizes and varieties. I asked her why she picked the feathers up and she told me these were of angels who had lost a feather. When you find a feather it means that angels are near and they are watching over you, she said. I love that story and next time I find a feather I'll know you're near, dear Rita.

If she wasnt chastizing me about eating sugar she would make me feel like the most special, worthy, and strong woman on earth. She never greated me any other way then with pure joy and excitment like I was her favorite person on earth..... unless I wanted desert !!!

When I met her in a Church in Summerland, I wanted to be her and have her "accessories" she loved to talk about. Eventually I was thrilled knowing she would always be my friend and now feel so much regret I didnt reschedule that lunch she had to cancel feeling to unwell.

I introduced her to my neighbor who's house she rented prior to it catching fire. I called her when I got the message there was a fire. She answered from a train in India and said she had someone go to retreive her jewlry from a jar of protein…

Rita was a special person in my life who cared deeply, laughed heartily, and gave from the bottom of her heart. I will miss her biting wit, her loyalty, and her never-ending support. Rita often sent me funny dog pictures and videos and my pup adored her, even though our rambunctious golden retriever was a little overwhelming! She will be missed by all of us, including the four-legged member of the family.

I have known Rita for over a dozen years here in Santa Barbara. We have broken bread together, we have laughed together, we have cried together, and we have talked incessantly on the phone and face to face about work, the state of the world, and emotions—good things and difficult things.

We always felt we had a lot in common, especially when it came to matters of social justice and how the world ought to be run! But then we always recognized that while we could help change things here and there, we could not change everything that we wished to, and that we had to accept reality and deal with it as best we could. One thing that I remember her saying in a meeting that we were at together, was to remind us all that “we are members of the Carvan of Golden Souls”. I wrote that down…

In 1985 I went to Milwaukee to record with my friend and former bandmate Jerry Harrison (now a member of Talking Heads) and the first night there I met Rita while eating at the Coffee Trader. Her fitness studio "Stretch" was located in the same building and Jerry went there regularly whenever he was in town. Rita stopped by our table to say hello and I was immediately taken with her charm, humor and beauty and inner light. For some reason she drove me back to where I was staying that night in her very cool Mercedes 450 SL and in the course of that drive she changed the direction of my life profoundly. We began a long-distance relationship with me in NYC and her in Milwaukeee until she finally moved east and we were married in a modest but moving seaside ceremony on the Long Island Sound. But helas…

Rita brought so much joy. She is one of those people we were so excited to see whenever we made plans. She moved back to NY for a couple of years before she returned to California and it was so wonderful to have her here. She organized a major move for me and we had a blast together. Climbing in and out of the mover's truck that they asked us to watch and we would just laugh and laugh. She helped me by talking me through certain situations regarding work and life. She was so lovely and supportive. I will miss you Rita. This is a big loss for our little group here in New York. You were one heck of a gal.

I know how much you were driven to heal. We all heard you. You will never be forgotten and will be eternally missed. Your words and your laughter will live in my soul forever. You have fixed so many broken wings and have left us heartbroken. Fly now Rita. You gave more than anyone I know. I know you ran from this your whole life and now you can stop running and be at peace. Nothing to fear or fight anymore dear wounded friend and warrior. I will love you forever.

Love, Claudia

Rita was such a beautiful soul. Passionate, intense, wise, funny and determined. I miss her everyday. I cherish my memories and all the moments we shared .

Rita was a beloved part of our family for several decades. She was so thirlled to meet my daughter (the feeling was mutual!) and her present, "Rita Rabbit," still gets tucked into bed next to my kiddo every night.