Terri A Gilbert ’65
Bates Foundation Student
Memory of Iris Critchell
Submitted by Terri Gilbert
I still see us in the lemon grove—her red setter pup bounding alongside me, a descendant of the movie dog Old Yeller. I was tending to the irrigation, but really, I was being nurtured too. Living with Iris and her family was one of the most loving, powerful, and essential chapters of my life. She offered not just shelter, but a kind of fierce, graceful support that helped shape the person I’ve become.
Even now, decades later, her love continues to guide and inspire me. She embodied generosity without fanfare, brilliance without ego, and a steadiness that I reached for in times of doubt. I carry her with me—in the way I live, in the way I try to love others as she loved me.
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