Lorenda Starfelt 1955-2011

basement angel's picture

My name is Brad Mays and I'm the husband of Lorenda Starfelt, AKA Basement Angel. I just wanted to let Lorenda's friends know that my beautiful wife passed away on Tuesday, March 16, 2011 at roughly 8:00 PM. Her death was the result of uterine cancer, which ultimately spread to her liver. She and I were in pre-production on a new feature film, "Beginning Blue," for which Lori wrote the story. We will continue work on the film without her physical participation, while honoring all of her intentions. A memorial service will be held for Lorenda sometime in mid-April.

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Brad, I am so sorry to read this news.

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family and friends; I always enjoyed basement angel's posts and comments, loved her take on the world, her sense of humor, her passion and energy.

She will be missed.

goldberry's picture

So sorry to hear this

I had no idea Lori was ill. This is very sad. She was a lovely woman.

Come together at The Confluence

editor_u's picture

This is not possible…

Dear Brad,

I am so sorry. What a bright light she was (is) here. editor_u

vastleft's picture

I'm terribly sorry to hear this news

Lori and I had the occasion to speak on the phone a while back, and I really enjoyed our conversation.

Brad, thank you for taking the time to let us know. Our hearts go out to you.

caseyOR's picture

Oh, Brad, I am so sorry to hear of Lori's death.

My heart go out to you, your family and loved ones. This is such sad news.

twig's picture

Brad, I'm so sorry, you must be devastated --

if only there were better words to offer. Her comments here were always so astute and knowledgeable -- what a tremendous loss to all of us, and especially you and your family.

Deepest condolences, and thank you for taking the time to let people you have probably never even met know.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." -- Albert Einstein

gormenghast's picture

I am shattered by this

I devoured everything Lorenda wrote or commented on and although I did not know her, had not met her, she felt like a sister to me. She was, indeed Starfelt, and will be sadly missed. Please accept my sincere condolences.

gormenghast

Rangoon78's picture

I am very sorry for your loss

I really loved her take on things. She wrote with wit and passion.

i'm so very sorry

my condolences.

i too devoured every word basement angel wrote here, and i especially loved that she was such a passionate champion of hillary clinton.

Yes! I always knew that when the inevitable

Hillary-criticism came, basement angel would be one of the first to set people straight on Hillary's history, her resume, her tireless work on behalf of women and children - she knew her stuff, that's for sure. I grokked that, having done quite a bit of it in the primaries when so many treated Hillary like a punching bag.

Oh, I just hate that it seems like the good ones always go so soon, hate that there is one less person like her here on earth.

Makes me more determined than ever not to be silent, to speak up, to make noise, and to hell with being well-behaved!

votermom's picture

So sorry for your loss

I only knew her from her posts here but I always enjoyed her reading them. She was strong clear voice and I will miss her.

Prayers & condolences.

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alas is crocheting daily at http://memorycrochet.blogspot.com/

letsgetitdone's picture

I, too will greatly miss her

I'm so sorry for your loss, Brad. Lori's posts and comments were incisive and wonderful and expressed a sensibility that made one want to know her better. Thank you very much for letting us know about her passing, and good luck to you in re-creating your life after this great loss.

danps's picture

Sincerest condolences on your loss, Brad

Please post here with her login if there's anything we can do for you.

BDBlue's picture

Very sad news

My condolences to you and the rest of her family and friends. I will echo danps comment about letting us know if there's anything we can do.

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right -- for you'll be criticized anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't. " - Eleanor Roosevelt

MsExPat's picture

I'm so sorry...

This is a shock. Basement Angel's posts and comments on Corrente were smart and fierce, passionate and beautifully written. And she didn't just post: she paid attention to the conversation. More than one time, when I would post something and feel lonely and disappointed that no one seemed to "get" it, she'd appear, well, like an angel, to rescue my thread. And move it forward.

She was your creative partner, too, I see. That's so hard. My heart goes out to you.

PA_Lady's picture

Deepest condolences

My thoughts are with you and your family. Basement Angel's posts and comments challenged me in all the right ways -- forcing me to think longer, harder, and more deeply about the issues. She will be greatly missed.

Fran's picture

Thank you for letting us know, Brad.

It is a shock to me, as it probably is to many, because we did not know she was ill. I am so very sorry.

Basement Angel will be greatly missed here. That is how I knew her, and respected her.

Having recognized your name, I now know of the work you two did together. I have seen a couple of the films.

libbyliberal's picture

a beautiful, strong and passionate woman ... I am so sorry

Basement Angel a/k/a Lorenda put a stout heart and strong mind behind every assertion she ever made here. We didn't always agree, but I ended up respecting her whether we did or we didn't. She role modeled maturity and resilience for me in terms of exploring bottom line realities... exploring them with me or with others. It didn't ever seem to become personal with her, even the strongest disagreement. She moved on until the next discussion and would endorse or disagree depending upon her honest and heartfelt take. It was all about finding truth and wisdom. She pushed for that full throttle each and every time. God bless her!!! I hope you will keep us informed about your and Lorenda's project.

Thank you for writing and letting us know, Brad. My sympathy. Corrente won't be the same without her.

Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare. (Japanese proverb)

lambert's picture

Many have said better what I would say

But let me especially echo the posters who said that if there's anything we can do, please let us know (and especially thank you for posting the news here). And do keep us posted on the progress and release of Beginning Blue. Because she would have wanted beginning, yes?

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. -- Mahatma Gandhi

gob's picture

Basement Angel, your beauty will live with us

a long, long time.

Thank you for being with us when you could be.

We will push and push and push until some larger force makes us stop.

okanogen's picture

Condolences, Brad

Condolences to you and your friends and both of your families.

Lorenda was a honorable, courageous and forceful voice here and she will be greatly missed.

Irreplaceable in every way.

You have my deepest sympathy on your loss.

Sorry, I don't fall in love with politicians. I'm not that desperate.....

nihil obstet's picture

Condolences

I will miss her writing. My deepest sympathy to you and the others who knew and loved her personally.

quixote's picture

Oh, no!

It's kind of you, Brad, to let us know. I'm so sorry to hear it. She was a Corrente / web friend for me, and it's a sad loss. My heartfelt sympathy to you and yours.

Randall Kohn's picture

I'm so sorry, Brad.

Deep sympathy to you and yours.

JFK has been shot, we miss him a lot
He always knew what to do

-- Philly Cream

Condolences to you and yours

Lori's wit, empathy, and deep commitment to what was right and just are all the more amazing in light of her own struggles. She will be missed.

Time for Real Change

Valhalla's picture

Oh no!

Brad, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I loved basement angel's comments. This seems so impossible.

Because the problem is not that we have too little condescension from our tribe. -- okanogen

lizpolaris's picture

Her voice will be missed,

here and elsewhere. I'm sorry for your loss.

DCblogger's picture

In deepest sympathy

This is a great loss to the Corrente community. This is very sad news. Thank you for posting this. I don't have words, she will really be missed. Please keep us informed on the progress on the film.

Joe's picture

Sorry to hear

Brad - Thank you for letting us know. This is very sad to hear. I'm sorry.

mojave_wolf's picture

My deepest sympathy

I'm so incredibly sorry.

Haven't been here in a while, but while I was reading and commenting regularly, Basement Angel was one of my absolute favorites to read.

She will be greatly missed.

Ga6th's picture

I'm so sorry

to hear this. I knew her by her other blogging name and she was a great advocate and very passionate about her causes. Prayers and thoughts are with your family at this time.

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