Share an Act of Kindness in Memory of Colleen Ritzer

Photo Credit: Colleen E. Ritzer: Her Legacy/Image: Kindness for Colleen

Not many people who knew Colleen Ritzer will ever forget her, her smile, or her legacy of being a “good, kind and loving,” person.

Ritzer tweeted on Aug. 11, 2013, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”

It has been two years on Thursday since Colleen Ritzer was brutally taken from her family, friends, and her students.

Since losing her best friend, Colleen Ritzer, on Oct. 22, 2013, Jennifer Berger has wanted to find a way to honor her friend and keep her memory alive.

Berger’s idea is to take the anniversary of her friend’s death, and try to make it a little bit better by remembering Ritzer might with small acts of kindness that the popular teacher may have done herself.

Ritzer was a beloved Danvers High School math teacher and a lifelong resident of Andover, Mass. She was the oldest of three children, and received tremendous support and encouragement from her large and loving extended family in her journey to teaching. She began teaching at Danvers High School in September of 2012 and through her passion for teaching and making a real impact in her student’s lives, quickly earned a reputation as a passionate and popular teacher.

“Colleen embodied this spirit of thoughtfulness in her day-to-day life. She didn’t have to do much to inspire others to follow in her footsteps and do the same,” Berger wrote, “Holding the door open for strangers, buying someone a cup of coffee, giving a compliment - these are just a few acts of kindness you can perform in support of #Kindness4Colleen.”

Acts of kindness have a way of making a difference in people’s lives, she said, and Berger is hoping that after you perform an act of kindness in Ritzer’s memory, that you share it with others on the Kindness for Colleen Facebook page or other social media by using the hashtag #Kindness4Colleen.

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