Valerie Burgher — a contributor to this magazine, a journalism colleague, and a dear friend — passed away last week. She and I had worked together at the same newspaper several years ago, and last fall she became involved with InTheFray. I believe the last article she wrote was published in these pages.

Valerie was an exceptional writer, whose personality shone as brightly in her prose as it did in person: at turns bold or light-hearted, spirited or wry, thoughtful or mischievous. She was a determined reporter who had a passion for social justice and a heartfelt concern for the ordinary people whose lives she put to pen. She also had a brilliant wit, lethal when skewering celebrities at the Oscars or politicians at a legislative session.

She was intelligent and gifted beyond belief, always surprising friends with new talents. Like that time when she got up in front of the newsroom and strummed a guitar. Or her recent decision to embark on a promising new career in filmmaking.

She also suffered, like many people, from bipolar disorder. Yet Valerie managed in spite of this to do great things, and leave so many of us the wiser and happier for having known her.

I remember her laugh — a laugh so full of life you’d have to call it a guffaw. I remember the gleam she’d get in her eye when telling a joke. I remember how, in 34 years of work and play, she succeeded in making a life of her art, and an art of her life.

I’ll remember Valerie for all the ways she blessed us, before she left us too soon.

p.s. Valerie’s memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4714 Glenwood Street, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363. The Burgher family writes:

“Friends who would like to share thoughts about Valerie are warmly invited to do so at the service. I am hoping this will be more of a celebration of Valerie. Burial will be following the service at Pinelawn Cemetery [on Long Island].

“Valerie’s mom, Sonia Burgher, has asked that instead of flowers, contributions be made in Valerie’s name to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org).”

Victor Tan Chen Victor Tan Chen is In The Fray's editor in chief and the author of Cut Loose: Jobless and Hopeless in an Unfair Economy. Site: victortanchen.com | Facebook | Twitter: @victortanchen