I met Beth in 1981, shortly after she and Mark had moved from Hawaii. I liked her right away. She was warm and a little reserved at the same time. Beth and Mark's apt. in SF was a crossroads for a menagerie of interesting people all trying to find their way in the world. I remember once finding myself briefly "between apartments" and spending a night sitting in an all-night donut shop. I guess Beth had heard about it and when I visited them the next day, she ushered me into a little side room they had off their kitchen. She had put clean sheets on a couch they had back there and also set up a little nightstand for me with a little vase and a fresh flower. This was Beth! Aesthete and humanitarian! I'm not sure she knew how much this touched me, but in my mind we became friends for life in that moment.

Beth gave me haircuts, relationship advice, healthy menu "suggestions" and twisted my arm to play on the KPFA co-ed softball team when I was reluctant, citing my "galloping sexism". (Playing on the team turned out to be one of the most fun times of my life). Mostly what she gave me was love and friendship without which my life would have been something less. That love and friendship will be a part of me forever.