A memorial service for Annais Rittenberg, a UC Santa Cruz student who was killed by a falling tree near Yosemite on July 3, was held Tuesday at the Alumni House at UC Berkeley.
Rittenberg was working as a camp counselor at Camp Tawonga, a popular Jewish summer camp. She was eating breakfast outside with friends when the tree cracked and fell. Four others were also injured in the accident.
At the service, about 200 of Rittenberg’s loved ones remembered her life and spirit with personal stories and songs.
According to family and friends, 21-year-old Rittenberg was a lively, passionate and free spirit who loved nature and was majoring in environmental studies.
“Annais loved animals,” said Adam Rittenberg, her brother. “She went to Burning Man and Coachella. She was spunky, fearless, free and artistic.” He added that she was “a true hippie … she pierced her own nose. She absorbed life like a sponge.”
Rittenberg was born in Berkeley before moving to New York City as a child. She graduated from LaGuardia High School in 2010 before attending UC Santa Cruz, where she would have been a senior this year. She served as the world music director for college radio station KZSC Santa Cruz.
“She was one of the most talented, creative writers I have ever read,” her brother said. “She did more in 21 years than most do in 60 or 70.”
Rittenberg’s mother, Penny Kreitzer, said Rittenberg loved her life and herself.
“What gives me comfort is that she was so, so happy with her life at that point,” Kreitzer said. “She loved her friends.”
At Tawonga, a summer camp known for its community and nature-loving attitude, Rittenberg thrived.
“She was very helpful with the kids and really nice to everyone around her,” said Nathan Frankel, a Tawonga counselor in training. “She always seemed to be smiling.”
Rittenberg’s family and friends remembered her compassion for others and the environment.
“She was a flower child,” said her father, Mark Rittenberg. “No matter how bad it got, she always reached out to others. She was one of a kind. No pattern or mold — a true original.”
A second service will be held on Saturday in San Francisco.
Contact Madeleine Pauker at [email protected]