By David Li, bostonese.com
Boston, Oct. 24, 2013, — For once, you won’t read the name of the suspect. Let’s remember the victim and honor her legacy. Danvers High School math teacher Colleen Ritzer, 24, was brutally murdered on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Boston Red Sox held a Moment of Silence for Colleen Ritzer at Fenway Park before Game One of the World Series.
Picture of Colleen Ritzer was displayed on the score board at Game one of World Series (from R.I.P. Colleen Ritzer Facebook page).
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind,” wrote Colleen Ritzer in an Augest 11, 2013 twit. However, a person with such a beautiful mind was not treated fare by life at all.
The sudden death of Colleen Ritzer saddened all of her students. They and many others held a candlelight vigil Wednesday night to remember their beloved teacher.
Jennifer Rosso wrote on R.I.P. Colleen Ritzer Facebook page: “As a Danvers mother of a middle schooler I know that my son would have had a great teacher. From everything I have read you had already made quite an impression on our youth, and our community has lost a wonderful teacher. Please rest in peace.”
“Nothing can assuage the pain of losing a child, a sibling or a friend. May Colleens altruistic heart live on forever,” commented Sean MacDonald on the same Facebook page. He wrote the following poem for Colleen Ritzer’s family.
Sister Colleen
By Sean MacDonald
Sister Colleen who could dare to put out the sun that was your soul
Now we are stuck in such a darkened place,
we’d give anything to see your face
You are never really gone though because everywhere that we go
you’ll be deep inside our hearts,
like you’ve been from the very start
We can’t see you but you’re not far
watching us high up from those stars
We can’t touch you but you hold us when we need the strength to carry on
Sister Colleen we’re all crying
and there is no denying that these wounds are gonna need some love,
please send us some from up above
You are in the air that we breathe
You are all the leaves on the trees
Though your sun set far too damn soon
The light will stay to conquer doom