A Tribute to Rachel Rice

This GoFundMe page is to donate a memorial bench in the memory of Rachel (Rae) Rice at the Cary Memorial Library in Rae’s childhood hometown of Lexington, Massachusetts, and for a dedicated acquisition fund used to purchase books in Rae’s memory for the people of Lexington.

Our dear colleague Rachel passed away on December 14, 2019. As all of those who are part of the online book indexing world know, Rae was instrumental in keeping us connected. First and foremost, by founding the Indexers Discussion Group, she gave our diverse and widespread community an accessible forum for sharing knowledge, comparing practices, and helping new indexers, along with establishing networks and working relationships among ourselves. Membership of IDG now encompasses the globe.

As someone who liked to be frank, Rae determined that we also needed a more casual group where we could share a bit of our less-than-professional fears, concerns, and frustrations. So she founded another online group, Rantexers, which also continues to be an important part of our online community.

For the last year and a half, Rae battled colon cancer; sadly it was discovered way too late. Despite her ongoing pain and discomfort, Rae’s exuberance and enthusiasm for friends and animals of all stripes never went away. But she determined to step back from her list-owner role, sharing and eventually passing on ownership of IDG to Joan Shapiro. Longtime list moderators Jacqui Brownstein, Jan Williams, Siusan Moffat, and Dan Connolly are continuing to co-moderate and assist Joan in carrying on Rae's work. Rantexers is now owned by Elliot Linzer.

Knowing that the indexing community would want to honor her memory in some way, Joan and the other IDG moderators were able to consult with Rae about what she might want. Her suggestion of some sort of memorial at her childhood hometown library, where she first fell in love with books, immediately appealed to us. We are in touch with the library and have discovered that they already have a process for memorial donations. The town of Lexington has indicated that a lovely bench dedicated to Rae will cost $2000. This includes the bench, installation, and plaque.

All additional funds beyond $2000 will go to a specified and dedicated acquisition fund that the library will use to purchase books that Rae would have appreciated in specific topic areas, such as indexing, publishing, animal husbandry and care, and mental health and well-being.

We welcome donations from all of Rae's family, friends, and colleagues in her various careers and roles throughout her life.