Friday, April 16, 2010
FOUND!
After 6 years of searching, we've located our Bill Smith. Ironically enough, we found him the same week we started this blog. (We didn't find him because of the blog -- the blog was just one facet of a reinvigorated and stepped-up search that ultimately resulted in success). Stacy spoke with Bill at length earlier this week. It was a very cathartic and positive call for both of them.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Are You Bill Smith of Edina, Minnesota?
Growing up in Edina, Minnesota, Stacy Lynn Isaacson and Heather Lynn Smith were best friends. On February 7, 1985, at the age of 13, Heather tragically died in a skiing accident at Hyland Hills. Stacy's family had moved to New Jersey a few months before the accident, but Stacy returned to Edina for Heather's funeral. She recalls being uncertain of how Heather's father would react to seeing her again. He spotted Stacy in the aisle of Aldersgate United Methodist Church and immediately held out his arms to her. She ran to him and they embraced. Bill had Stacy sit next to him during the memorial service, holding her hand the whole time. Like Heather, Stacy was only 13 years old.
Afterwards, Bill had Stacy come back to his home. While he was busy greeting family and friends, Stacy slipped away to Heather's bedroom. It was just as it had always been. She sat down on Heather's bed and held Heather's Cabbage Patch doll. It seemed impossible to her that her that her friend was now in Heaven. A short time later, Bill appeared in the room. They talked lovingly about the person Heather was, and Bill asked Stacy if there was anything of Heather's she wanted to keep. It was an easy choice: the doll. She has it still.
It was at that point that Stacy made her friend's father a promise - a promise that she would never forget the kind, caring, quirky, sweet person Heather was, and that when she had a child, she would give her Heather Lynn's name.
Eighteen years later, Stacy honored the second part of her promise when our daughter, Lila Heather, was born.
Over the years, Stacy and I have tried to find Bill Smith to let him know that Stacy never forgot her friend Heather nor her promise to Bill, and that Heather's memory lives on in our daughter. As you can imagine, searching for the "right" Bill Smith is quite a challenge. Unfortunately, Bill Smith no longer lives at his old address on Lee Valley Circle in Edina, and his old phone number is no longer in service. We've found many leads, and talked with many Bill Smiths in many parts of the country. Our daughter Lila Heather is already 6, but we have never given up hope that we may someday locate the right Bill Smith.
Are you Bill? Do you know him? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Please either leave a comment on this post, or feel free to contact us directly. We can be reached via e-mail at daniel.terner [at] gmail.com
Here's what we know:
Full Name: Heather Lynn Smith
DOB: April 30, 1971
DOD: Feb 7, 1985
Place of Death: Hyland Hills, Hennepin County (skiing accident)
Father’s name: Bill Smith (4/13/10 update: full name - William L. Smith)
Stepmother’s name: Janet Smith
Bio. Mother’s name: Julie Major
Bio. mother's husband: Harold Major
Step-siblings: David and Jason
Paternal g-mother: Dorothy C. Smith
1980's Address: Lee Valley Cir.
School: Valley View Jr. High, on Creek Valley Rd.
Pets: A golden retriever named Brandy
Activities: Competitive skiing - Member of the Hyland Hills Alpine Ski Team
Played the bells at her church choir
Church: Aldersgate United Methodist Church
St. Louis Park, MN, 3801 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park, MN
Funeral home: Enga Memorial Park Chapel, St. Louis Park, MN
Other: Bill was President of the Midwest Sport Ski Council from 77-78 (but they don't know where he is now).
Afterwards, Bill had Stacy come back to his home. While he was busy greeting family and friends, Stacy slipped away to Heather's bedroom. It was just as it had always been. She sat down on Heather's bed and held Heather's Cabbage Patch doll. It seemed impossible to her that her that her friend was now in Heaven. A short time later, Bill appeared in the room. They talked lovingly about the person Heather was, and Bill asked Stacy if there was anything of Heather's she wanted to keep. It was an easy choice: the doll. She has it still.
It was at that point that Stacy made her friend's father a promise - a promise that she would never forget the kind, caring, quirky, sweet person Heather was, and that when she had a child, she would give her Heather Lynn's name.
Eighteen years later, Stacy honored the second part of her promise when our daughter, Lila Heather, was born.
Over the years, Stacy and I have tried to find Bill Smith to let him know that Stacy never forgot her friend Heather nor her promise to Bill, and that Heather's memory lives on in our daughter. As you can imagine, searching for the "right" Bill Smith is quite a challenge. Unfortunately, Bill Smith no longer lives at his old address on Lee Valley Circle in Edina, and his old phone number is no longer in service. We've found many leads, and talked with many Bill Smiths in many parts of the country. Our daughter Lila Heather is already 6, but we have never given up hope that we may someday locate the right Bill Smith.
Are you Bill? Do you know him? If so, we'd love to hear from you. Please either leave a comment on this post, or feel free to contact us directly. We can be reached via e-mail at daniel.terner [at] gmail.com
Here's what we know:
Full Name: Heather Lynn Smith
DOB: April 30, 1971
DOD: Feb 7, 1985
Place of Death: Hyland Hills, Hennepin County (skiing accident)
Father’s name: Bill Smith (4/13/10 update: full name - William L. Smith)
Stepmother’s name: Janet Smith
Bio. Mother’s name: Julie Major
Bio. mother's husband: Harold Major
Step-siblings: David and Jason
Paternal g-mother: Dorothy C. Smith
1980's Address: Lee Valley Cir.
School: Valley View Jr. High, on Creek Valley Rd.
Pets: A golden retriever named Brandy
Activities: Competitive skiing - Member of the Hyland Hills Alpine Ski Team
Played the bells at her church choir
Church: Aldersgate United Methodist Church
St. Louis Park, MN, 3801 Wooddale Ave., St. Louis Park, MN
Funeral home: Enga Memorial Park Chapel, St. Louis Park, MN
Other: Bill was President of the Midwest Sport Ski Council from 77-78 (but they don't know where he is now).
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Bill Smith Roll Call
If there is one thing Bill Smiths seem to have in common (apart from the name), it is that they are uniformly friendly. We've talked to dozens. Though we have yet to find the right Bill Smith, the reception we have received from the wrong ones has been heart-warming.
We already know that the following Bill Smiths from the Edina area are not our Bill Smith:
- Bill Smith, the General Manager of the Minnesota Twins.
- Bill Smith, President of Smith Decorating, LTD.
- Bill Smith, of Dexma, Inc. (Actually, this could still possibly be him, but this Bill Smith moved to somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona a few years ago and the good people at Dexma don't know how to reach him. The Bill Smith at Valley Academy in Phoenix is not him).
- William L. Smith, of Mantorville (though we learned today, 4/13/10, that our Bill Smith's full name is William L. Smith, which gives us more of a foothold in our search).
We also know that the following "Bill and Jan Smiths" are not our Bill and Jan Smith:
- Bill and Jan Smith of Breckenridge, Texas
- Bill and Janet Smith of Washington State
- Bill and Janet Smith of Marlborough, Mass.
We already know that the following Bill Smiths from the Edina area are not our Bill Smith:
- Bill Smith, the General Manager of the Minnesota Twins.
- Bill Smith, President of Smith Decorating, LTD.
- Bill Smith, of Dexma, Inc. (Actually, this could still possibly be him, but this Bill Smith moved to somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona a few years ago and the good people at Dexma don't know how to reach him. The Bill Smith at Valley Academy in Phoenix is not him).
- William L. Smith, of Mantorville (though we learned today, 4/13/10, that our Bill Smith's full name is William L. Smith, which gives us more of a foothold in our search).
We also know that the following "Bill and Jan Smiths" are not our Bill and Jan Smith:
- Bill and Jan Smith of Breckenridge, Texas
- Bill and Janet Smith of Washington State
- Bill and Janet Smith of Marlborough, Mass.
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