Julie Cline Memorial Fundraiser

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Julie Cline on November 12, 2023. The loss of Julie has left an irreplaceable void in her family’s lives. Sister Jennifer is devastated, and parents Jim and Judi are in the unfathomable position of grieving their youngest child. In this swirl of sorrow and mourning, the financial strain of this tragedy is demanding too much of this family’s time, worry, and energy – which is why we have created this GoFundMe. But first we’d like to celebrate the beauty of Julie’s life.

Julie's humor was a cornerstone of her personality. In elementary school, the first line in 10-year-old Julie’s “About Me” survey was: “When I grow up, I want to be a FLY GIRL."

This manifestation paid off, because Julie was indeed fly. She loved fervently and was fiercely adored. She was kind and thoughtful, but also brash, unafraid, and hilarious. She embraced the strange and beautiful, collecting vintage oddities she valued for their past lives and stories. Julie was drawn to the quirky and peculiar, even adopting her elderly dog, Briefly, right off the streets (which reminds us of Julie’s favorite quote: “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”)

Julie was also a luminary mind. She contributed to the literary world as a lecturer in UC Riverside's Writing Program, and as co-founder of the L.A. Review of Books. She adored her students and the privilege of impacting their lives. She worked hard towards a secure future that included plans for buying a home she could share with her parents (who lost their home in the 2008 housing crisis).

But as is sometimes the case with brilliant minds, Julie battled mental health challenges for decades. One of her most extraordinary gifts was her capacity to love even in the face of her pain and suffering. She always put her family, friends and students first (often to the detriment of her own well-being).

Julie was her parents’ only family in Riverside, and despite grappling with her own struggles, she remained a pillar of support for them. They spent their evenings playing along to Jeopardy or watching Antiques Roadshow. She checked in every day via text, and seldom missed a “good morning”, “goodnight”, or “how are you doing today?”.

Julie's legacy and impact endure among those fortunate enough to have known her.

As Julie's family navigates this overwhelming sea of grief, they find themselves burdened not only by heartbreak, but by the sudden financial strain of an unexpected tragedy. Sister Jennifer, a single working mom hustling to make ends meet as a high school English teacher, is now driving to Riverside several times a week, missing work, paying for childcare, and constantly refilling her gas tank. She must put a system in place for her parents now that Julie is unable to regularly check in on them.

Unfortunately, the financial burden of supporting Julie through her more difficult times has depleted her parents’ modest retirement savings. They live on a very fixed income, have taken in Julie’s dog and two cats, and there are no funds to cover Julie’s final expenses and funeral services.

To assist Julie's family during this time of profound need, we extend our hands and hearts in support. The funds raised will go towards funeral services and unforeseen costs. Your contribution will make an immense difference to this family.

“She's made me laugh so many times and I can't think of a single example! Only how much we're going to miss her.” - Mom Judi

With heartfelt gratitude,

Jennifer’s friends Rachel and Katy