Family, Friends Remember Stephenie Glas as a Warrior for the Environment

With many tears and some laughter, nearly 60 friends and family members came together Sunday to remember Malibu activist Stephenie Glas during a special Chumash ceremony.

One-by-one each person sprinkled an offering of tobacco into a ceremonial fire and shared memories of Glas in a gathering area, known as a Sil'i'yik, at the Wistoyo Chumash Village in Western Malibu. Glas died of an to the head on June 9.

"It's never supposed to happen the way it happened," Glas' father, Stephen, said through sobs. He said he remembers his daughter and her love of the outdoors, especially kite boarding, snowboarding and mountain biking.

A graduate of UCLA, Stephenie Glas served as firefighter for several years. She also had recently started up the Real Malibu 411, a website dedicated to providing information about the Malibu Lagoon Restoration Project and other issues in Malibu.

During the ceremony, Glas' mother, Patricia, read a statement reflecting on her daughter's strength, athleticism and dedication.

"You had the makings of a warrior when you were just a little girl," she said.

She also praised her daughter's steadfast support of environmental issues, including the Malibu Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement Project.

"What you did for Malibu did not alone define you. It's what you did for me, your dad, your boyfriend, your firefighting team," Patricia Glas said. 

Stephenie Glas' boyfriend, Steve Woods, her friend Cece Stein and others also shared memories.

"Stephenie, I love you," Woods said through tears. 

Mati Waiya, a Chumash ceremonial leader who led the ceremony, said the event was meant to bring healing to the community and honor the service of Stephenie Glas, who was not a member of the Chumash.

"Our community needs to remember to take time to heal," Waiya said. "This is about a person who has lost her life. This is a person who cared about the health of the environment."

Waiya opened the ceremony with a spirited prayer to the Four Directions. Waiya and his wife, Luhui Isha Waiya, sang songs with other Chumash tribal members honoring Glas.

Following the ceremony, nearly 20 surfers walked silently in a single file line from the Wistoyo Chumash Village to the nearby beach. Once out in the water, the group held hands, shared memories and released some of her ashes.