Natalie Schwartz (Richmond, Virginia) had posted on June 18, 2012 on facebook:
I'm very sad to let all who knew her know that Anel Van Rooy, our wonderful intern from South Africa passed away this week. She suffered a massive stroke following surgery for a brain tumor. I didn't know anyone who was more full of life and she had such wonderful plans for helping those with challenges in South Africa. She will be greatly missed.
I [Danny Pettry] had the opportunity to meet Anel at
the 2011 American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) conference in
Indianapolis, Indiana. I had sat beside her during one of the training
sessions.
During an ice-breaker activity, each person shared
aloud their name and their favorite place. Anel Van Rooy told me that he
favorite place was her parent’s farm. I noticed that her accent was differnet
from ones that I know, but I couldn’t place where she was from. Naturally, the
ice-breaker activity prompted more conversations. I asked Anel where her parent’s
farm is at. She told our small group ciricle that she is from South Africa,
which, I think is really awesome.
Anel earned her B.S. in Recreation from North
Western University and her graduate degree at Eastern Washington University.
During the 2011 ATRA conference, she told me that she was going to take a lot
of neat things (activity ideas) back to South Africa with her. I was glad I had
the opportunity to meet her.
I had asked Anel to write a piece on Recreational Therapy/
Therapeutic Recreation in South Africa. In a November 11, 2011 email, she had
written, “Sorry,
still want to write a piece on TR in SA, just don't have time now, but will do it!” I regret that I'm writing an entry about her now regarding her death.
On
March 3rd, 2012, she had given me an update saying:
"TR is
starting to find its place [in South Africa] and I am having two Grand Valley
Students over for their 10week fieldwork practice! I've organized a program
with various clients and settings, looking forward having the here in May! Have
a great day, all the best!"
I help with a youth group in West Virginia. I teach
skills like acceptance of others, tolerance, empathy/ concern for others. I was
working to get a pen-pal program started with Anel and some kids in South
Africa.
The Anel Van Rooy Scholarship has been established in her memory. Per their facebook page:
We are saddened to announce that Anel Van Rooy, our wonderful 2010 intern from South Africa passed away this past week from complications following surgery. No one was more full of life than Anel and she had such wonderful plans for helping those with challenges in South Africa. While working at the Williams Syndrone Association (WSA), Anel touched the lives of many, working at all 3 of the WSA camps and with the WSA GANG at the national convention in St. Louis. She added her special energy to every program. We will miss her tremendously. We have established a scholarship fund in Anel's memory to help individuals with WS attend any camp or special recreation program.
For more info. go here:
I had only met Anel for a small group session, but I
know I’ll never forget her. I thought she was so amazing. Here is her facebook link: Anél Van Rooy.
Thanks for the nice blog about Anel! My name is Tia and Anel came to the U.S. to Stay for 5 months to complete her internship. We would laugh at how we met and talked for approximately 3 hours when I was in South Africa to promote Recreation Therapy and then invited her to come and complete her internship with me! That speaks volumes at the kind of person Anel was! I was truly blessed by her and knowing her! So many memories were made. What does sadden me however is how the Williams Syndrome Association has made this about them. If they truly knew Anel - a memorial would have been set up to continue the education process of Recreation Therapy in South Africa! That was her dream! Anel was the most driven, passionate, inspirational person I know - and she deserves to be remembered in the way that would most honor her!
ReplyDeleteTia Sager, CTRS