In Memoriam 1992-1997/Zorana Rinaldi

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ZORANA RINALDI 1978—1996

cm into a bicultural family in Cali,

Colombia, February 10, 1978, Zorana Rinaldi was the second of four children of Enidia Alfaro and Wiley Rinaldi, a pioneer From the Unted States.

Her parents met at a Bahá’í youth conference in Cali, were married in 1973, and were active in mass teaching efforts and in the development of the Ruhi’ Institute. When Zorana was only eight months old, she accompanied her parents and older sister, Kendra, on a four-month traveling teaching trip to Ecuador and Peru. Since they were constantly on the road, the car became their second home, and Zorana would slip down between her mother’s legs to curl up and sleep on the floor. As a child she was taken to all the local and national Bahá’í events.

The spirit of the Faith touched her at an early age. When only four years old, while on the way home from a Bahá’í summer school, she joyfully sang the name of Baha’u’llah with a memorable melody she had made up. One day her mother said goodbye to her saying, “Que Bahá’u’lláh te acompafie!” (May Bahá’u’lláh accompany you!), and that phrase became Zorana’s favorite farewell. From her early years Zorana sparkled with the lovely gems of devotion, love, joy, self—discipline, order, courtesy, respect, tenderness, and sacrifice.

As a student, Zorana, besides earning the admiration of classmates and teachers, proved herself to be a conscientious and excellent student. She was advanced from the second to the fourth grade and was chosen For several years to represent the school in poetry Festivals, despite her inherent shyness. After a year in Santa Monica, California, where she stayed with an aunt while finishing tenth grade, participating

in Bahá’í activities and building strong bonds of friendship, Zorana returned to Colombia with even more strength and certitude. An honor student respected for her individuality, one teacher remembered her “for her interest in bettering herself, for her capacity to work,” and “for the tranquility transmitted in her face.” She was ualways very convinced about what she was doing, at times without caring if others understood or not.”

Zorana put her heart into everything she did—Bahá’í youth activities, her work With the regional secretary in updating lists of Bahá’í communities, and an ecological project of making compost and developing a garden in a small Bahá’í elementary school.

She attended the Bahá’í World Congress in 1992 with her family and was so moved by the display on ‘Abdu'l—Baha that when she heard the recording of His voice, she fainted.

She participated in the 1993 International Youth Conference in Ecuador and stayed

Zorrm/z Rirmldi

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to participate in teaching projects. Zorana was a member of the committee organizing the 1996 Colombian National Youth Conference held at the Ruhi’ Institute. She designed the T-shirt and was in charge of many aspects of that event.

Zorana had a burning desire to give a year of service after graduating from high school and receiving her International Baccalaureate. She chose to follow in her older sister’s footsteps by joining the Diversity Dance Workshop in August of 1996. This she felt was an exciting and dynamic way to serve the faith, so, as a volunteer dancer, she put all her energy into the work. She integrated herself into the group, learned its routines, and was featured in many of the dances which interpret such Bahá’í—inspired messages as unity in diversity, antiracism, the equality of men and women, and abstinence from drugs. The Diversity Dance Workshop toured the states ofWashington, Oregon, and Utah. It was on December 17, 1996, after a performance for the local police department ofKent, Washington, that the automobile accident occurred in which Zorana was fatally injured.

Written testimonies ofDiversity Dance Workshop staff and dancers reveal the deep appreciation they had for this dedicated Bahá’í youth:

Zorana, without fail, was always focused, attentive and reliable. She was also a gifted artist and moved many, many hearts with her radiant smile, and her powerful performance both as an actress and dancer.

She had achieved a level of spirituality I have rarely seen. Everyone wanted to be with her, to have a part of her. She gave everything she had, with all her heart, to all around her.

THE BAHA’I’ WORLD

In those three months I came to know her as one of the most caring and loving persons I have ever met.

Zorana was the type of person that everybody had no choice but to love. She was the most kind—hearted person that I have ever known and don’t think that it is possible for anybody to achieve her level of kindness. Her smile was enough to brighten the darkest of days.

Coming upon us like an angel

from above

You’ve taught us many things of

reverence and love.

We have been moved by your

service and sacrifice,

And in this short life, you have

paid the highest price.

Zorana’s family and friends in Colombia and elsewhere felt that her passing had touched hearts and stimulated teaching activity and receptivity to the Faith at that critical moment. They are privileged to have had her as part of their lives and look Forward to that eternal reunion. On December 25, 1996, the Department of the Secretariat expressed the sympathy of the House of Justice:

The Universal House of Justice was grieved to learn of the recent automobile accident in which the members of the Diversity Dance Workshop were involved in the Seattle, Washington, area, and Of the passing ofMiss Zorana Rinaldi, a dedicated young maidservant Of Baha’u’llah. Kindly assure Zorana’s family of its ardent prayers at the Sacred Threshold for the progress of her soul in the Abhá Kingdom, and that their hearts may be comforted through the divine grace of

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the Blessed Beauty. It will also oHer prayers for healing and solace on behalfof the other youth who were injured in the accident.

7171.) Rinaldi Family.- Enidia, Wiley, Kendra, Katlm'in, and Daniel Badz'