Remi Gawin

We lost our daughter and sister Remi on Wednesday, May 9. She chose to take her life at our home in Arvada, Colorado. She had battled depression for many years – it finally won. This may seem at odds with the gregarious, quirky, kind, gentle and incredibly creative person we knew – brilliant intellect and humor – and that many of you have described to us. Remi could not bring herself to follow a traditional path – even as she knew the path she chose was more difficult. Her definition of success was tied to purity of purpose, and she respected those with fierce commitment to ideals – even those she did not share. Her friends came from all walks of life, connected through music, anime, and transforming random stuff into quirkier stuff … and the occasional hookah. She was gentle and patient with her younger cousins, and loved a 20-minute set-up on a joke. While she was often characterized as ‘a square peg in a round hole,’ we think she was a star in a very special alternate universe that we didn’t always understand, but she had a highly structured sense of order and what was appropriate. Born and baptized in Maryland as Nikolai Joseph, Remi lived in Ohio, Florida, Switzerland, Scotland and Wisconsin as a child, and chose her identity while living in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago. She formed and played in numerous bands, inventing new musical genres as fast as she could think of them. She tutored her friends when they needed, told us all we were annoying when it suited her, and brought her unique perspective to just about any discussion. She moved with her parents to Colorado, working at several retailers, most recently, 7-11. For those who cannot join and wish to remember her, you can share your comments on this website, reach Matt, Max or Antoinette, or honor her by contributing to PFLAG, a group that provides support, education and advocacy for LGBTQ individuals, their families and allies. pflag.org/RemiMemorial You can also donate to the Fleis Family Fund, providing educational scholarships for residents and descendants of Leelanau County, Michigan.www.edandirenefleiseducationfund.com