Remembering Brysacz
Donation protected
We’ve lost a dear friend, suddenly and unexpectedly. Stephanie Brysacz was one of the most intelligent, hilarious, and genuinely friendly people I ever met. She knew no stranger, was always quick to offer a helping hand, and bestowed her generosity on my family frequently. She was our “nephew whisperer” and somehow got my irate toddler nephew to sleep, babysat our kitties for a decade, shuttled us to the airport, and doted on my parents who adored her. She professed that every meal I cooked was delicious even though it wasn’t. So many can echo the myriad of ways she helped them out. Helping came naturally to her and was her go-to MO. Her friends were her world and we will miss her presence, humor, and heart.
Brysacz was always up for an adventure. She could have written a book on “Adventures in Urban Biking.” I can’t keep track of the number of times I either took her to the ER or met her there due to adventures gone wrong. Each time, she could retell the disaster in a way that had you both in stitches. Her humor was unintentional, witty, and organic.
As many others who came to know her in DC, we met on the soccer field. I was actually scared of her at first - she was a very opinionated goalie - but we instantly became friends once I realized there wasn’t a bite behind the bark. She loved soccer and left an indelible imprint on women’s soccer in DC with the many teammates she impacted and opponents she pissed off (she was an excellent goalie!).
Brysacz called many cities “home” over her lifetime, but Washington, DC is where we met and where she was when she left us. She frequented Congressional Cemetery for walks and events, and we have fond memories of spending time with her there. For those not from DC, Congressional is more than a cemetery - it became a dog park in order to pay maintenance fees years ago and is now a popular place for community and social events. Congressional provides acres for intriguing walks among a beautiful landscape peppered with American history. So it is here that we would like to designate a memorial bench (instead of a tombstone) on a plot to remember and visit her. We are reaching out to help cover the estimated costs of $6,700. As Brysacz was not on Facebook, please share this widely with those you know who cared about her and for whom she impacted.
Brysacz was always up for an adventure. She could have written a book on “Adventures in Urban Biking.” I can’t keep track of the number of times I either took her to the ER or met her there due to adventures gone wrong. Each time, she could retell the disaster in a way that had you both in stitches. Her humor was unintentional, witty, and organic.
As many others who came to know her in DC, we met on the soccer field. I was actually scared of her at first - she was a very opinionated goalie - but we instantly became friends once I realized there wasn’t a bite behind the bark. She loved soccer and left an indelible imprint on women’s soccer in DC with the many teammates she impacted and opponents she pissed off (she was an excellent goalie!).
Brysacz called many cities “home” over her lifetime, but Washington, DC is where we met and where she was when she left us. She frequented Congressional Cemetery for walks and events, and we have fond memories of spending time with her there. For those not from DC, Congressional is more than a cemetery - it became a dog park in order to pay maintenance fees years ago and is now a popular place for community and social events. Congressional provides acres for intriguing walks among a beautiful landscape peppered with American history. So it is here that we would like to designate a memorial bench (instead of a tombstone) on a plot to remember and visit her. We are reaching out to help cover the estimated costs of $6,700. As Brysacz was not on Facebook, please share this widely with those you know who cared about her and for whom she impacted.
Any funds raised in excess will be donated in Brysacz’ name, to DC SCORES, a non-profit that creates neighborhood teams in DC that give kids in need the confidence and skills to succeed on the playing field, in the classroom, and in life.
Organizer
Jennifer Fritschi
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC