In Memoriam

Elizabeth Rasche González, J.D. (1949-2016)

Elizabeth was the Executive Director's radiantly loving mother. Born to an extraordinary family, she was co-baptized by her maternal grandfather and one of her father's brothers, both ordained theologians within antecedent denominations of the United Church of Christ. Both of her parents earned doctorates from Ivy League universities, and her father was also a career army officer, rising to the field-grade rank of full colonel. So her childhood was in many ways very priviiged, but that was interrupted by scoliosis at the age of ten, and then the onset of severe depression and anxiety a few years afterwards.

Her immense talents as a writer of poetry and prose began to be recognized in high school, when she began winning regional and national prizes for her writing. She attended the University of Wisconsin at its flagship campus, where she majored in English and was very active in anti-Vietnam protests. After graduation, she embarked on what would become an illustrious career in the nonprofit sector, medical journalism sector, and work as a health lawyer. Further back problems emerged after she gave birth to her son, and then once again in 1998. She endured great suffering, but this rendered her more radiantly loving.

When her son Matthew struggles with doubt about God's presence, he is reminded of what he knew from the time he was a little boy: If God had come to him before his birth and told him he could have any mother he wanted, Matthew could not have chosen a mother as extraordinary as his. Only an awesome God could.

Elizabeth died of acute myeloid leukemia and organ failure on November 30, 2016. When Matthew thinks of his mother he is reminded of a quotation here paraphrased from Abraham Lincoln: "All that I am, all that I will be, all that I aspire to be, I owe to my angel mother."