<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings to my Federation Family!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are overcome with feelings of warmth and boundless appreciation to you all. I want to thank Scott for posting the notice of Bridget’s passing the other day. I want to thank each and everyone of you who have called, texted, posted on social media, made contribution to NFBCO and or sent along your incredible federation love support and joy. Bridget lived a joyful life. Bridget’s passion was me and her Federation Family. When you hear the expression, “Blind at heart” that was Bridget. Bridget, and her non blind sisters in the movement make the organization whole, full inclusive, effective and powerful! In Bridget and my experience. People who are truly blind at heat are few and far between our affiliate has been blessed with people who are blind at heart. Parenthetically, we have observed that those who are truly blind at heart, tend to be women. Not always the case. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bridget was a doer she was an organizer she really understood our philosophy and advocacy as well was anybody. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mostly her passion was our children. Most wouldn’t know of her financial genericity to families of blind children, kids at CSDB and elsewhere. First and foremost our son Nijat. Nijat is truly grieving this week. This has been extremely hard for him. Bridget was always proud of the young people with disabilities for whom she found jobs going way back to the late 1990s. Bridget would always remind me, “That kid worked for us in 99” “remember that guy! I had to fire him after only 3 weeks” “Tracy! She was such a dear.” She loved having middle school and high school kids over to the house. Back in the day, before all of the scandals we could actually take a blind youngster with us to the National Center, National or state conventions etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She loved her babies! Of course the #1 grandbaby Finley. My daughter Megan, Debbie Wunder, and 3 year old Grandbaby Finley were able to visit from Columbia Missouri only days before Bridget left her body.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is so much I could write. SO much I would like to say I don’t yet know how to say it. She helped us change the world and she did it with kindness, capacity, and strength. When a thing had to be done you didn’t want to get in her way.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So, again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts I’ve got some grieving and life stuff to do but I wont be long away from active effort in our movement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As you might know Bridget wanted no great celebration, no service for mourning she wanted her body donated to science. This we have done. Bridget respectfully requested that her family no matter how dear or distant make contributions in her honor to The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado. Rather than flowers or other tangible remembrances. Donations to the Federation is a fitting tribute to my best friend, partner and lover for almost 30 years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.nfbco.org/donation-payment-form?fbclid=IwAR0jMOh_awtCgaSoSlBSDCrt7gw7aQFFWMPHdSqcsXsnRO5cL-9tqfmQJf4">https://www.nfbco.org/donation-payment-form?fbclid=IwAR0jMOh_awtCgaSoSlBSDCrt7gw7aQFFWMPHdSqcsXsnRO5cL-9tqfmQJf4.</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I will get back to those of you who have reached out to me in coming days. We thank you all. <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>