Damian Meins Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015 was a day that was marked by horror and has birthed a great sorrow. That day, Damian Meins was brutally and savagely taken from us, in an act of senseless violence. While we continue to seek answers and information, we are aware that ultimately, nothing we learn will bring solace, nothing will make any of this make sense, nothing will bring this amazing man back. However, in the days since this horrific attack, we’ve also been overwhelmed by an outpouring of love and support, from family, friends, and the nation. Everyone’s offers of love, prayers, and support are truly appreciated and greatly needed. Even in our time of great sadness, we have gratitude; we know that the world is still filled with love. We’re grateful for the time we had on earth with Damian, and we’re grateful that all that knew him saw the same person we did. Damian was a bright light in this world. His family was the most important thing in his life, his raison d’etre, and as such, he was an amazing husband, son and brother, and the perfect father. He was extremely selfless, extremely intelligent, and had an awesome sense of humor. He loved unconditionally, and was calm, creative, humble, tolerant, patient and kind. He did not believe in intolerance, he possessed no hatred or ill will towards anyone. He loved to read, to learn, to travel, to paint, to garden, and to sit by his pond. He was creative and talented, hardworking, and generous with his time and talent. Throughout his life, he painted many murals, he traveled to Europe, Asia, and all throughout the United States. He played basketball, he coached his daughters’ soccer teams, and he worked as part of the “chain gang” for the Notre Dame High School football team. He enjoyed working on cars, and always had a “fixer-upper” in the garage. He loved to decorate for all the holidays, and would always put elaborate light displays and decorations on the house and yard every Halloween and Christmas. Overall, he believed that life was good, and he lived life by the motto, “amplecti possiblitate”. He was a very good, kindhearted man with a gentle soul, and he will be deeply missed.
Damian was born on February 2, 1957, in San Pedro, to Erna Josephine Kirchner and Douglas Leroy Meins. He has three sisters Marie Janis, Christine Keepers, and Patrice Rindock. He was raised in Jurupa and Rubidoux, and lived for close to 40 years in Riverside. He attended St. John’s elementary school, Mission Junior High, and Notre Dame High School, where he met the love of his life, and future wife, Trenna Hofmeister. Damian married Trenna in May and graduated from the University of California, Riverside, in June, in 1979. Damian and Trenna had two daughters Tina and Tawnya Meins. Damian worked at Alpha Beta as a department manager for several years, but began working with Riverside County Department of Environmental Health in 1984. He later attended the University of Redlands, where he obtained his MBA. He worked for Riverside County until retiring in 2010, to be able to spend more time with and take care of his ailing mother. He returned to work in 2013, as an afterschool care coordinator, PE teacher, substitute teacher, and later, art teacher at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria, in Riverside. He loved working with the kids, and loved to dress up for the kids as Abe Lincoln during Halloween, and Santa Claus at Christmas. He had only recently begun working in San Bernardino County, as an Environmental Health Specialist. He was very excited about what a diverse, multicultural department he had. On Wednesday, December 2nd, Damian cancelled a previously scheduled inspection to attend a General Education Meeting. He sat with his coworkers, and his life was ended when people that did not value human life decided to take his. He is survived by his wife, Trenna, his daughters, Tina and Tawnya, his sisters, Marie, Christine and Patrice, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Marlene and Allen Hofmeister, his sister-in-law Sharon Duncan, brother-in-law, David Hofmeister, nieces and nephews Tom, Corey, Casey, Patrick, Shawn, Nikki, Steven and Sean, his close friends, and all those whose lives he touched.
We ask, as a family, that people fight hatred with love, and that they seek to perform small acts of kindness for others, as Damian always did. “Many small people who in many small places do many small things that can alter the face of the world.” Please choose love, compassion, and kindness. Thank you.
Damian was born on February 2, 1957, in San Pedro, to Erna Josephine Kirchner and Douglas Leroy Meins. He has three sisters Marie Janis, Christine Keepers, and Patrice Rindock. He was raised in Jurupa and Rubidoux, and lived for close to 40 years in Riverside. He attended St. John’s elementary school, Mission Junior High, and Notre Dame High School, where he met the love of his life, and future wife, Trenna Hofmeister. Damian married Trenna in May and graduated from the University of California, Riverside, in June, in 1979. Damian and Trenna had two daughters Tina and Tawnya Meins. Damian worked at Alpha Beta as a department manager for several years, but began working with Riverside County Department of Environmental Health in 1984. He later attended the University of Redlands, where he obtained his MBA. He worked for Riverside County until retiring in 2010, to be able to spend more time with and take care of his ailing mother. He returned to work in 2013, as an afterschool care coordinator, PE teacher, substitute teacher, and later, art teacher at St. Catherine’s of Alexandria, in Riverside. He loved working with the kids, and loved to dress up for the kids as Abe Lincoln during Halloween, and Santa Claus at Christmas. He had only recently begun working in San Bernardino County, as an Environmental Health Specialist. He was very excited about what a diverse, multicultural department he had. On Wednesday, December 2nd, Damian cancelled a previously scheduled inspection to attend a General Education Meeting. He sat with his coworkers, and his life was ended when people that did not value human life decided to take his. He is survived by his wife, Trenna, his daughters, Tina and Tawnya, his sisters, Marie, Christine and Patrice, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Marlene and Allen Hofmeister, his sister-in-law Sharon Duncan, brother-in-law, David Hofmeister, nieces and nephews Tom, Corey, Casey, Patrick, Shawn, Nikki, Steven and Sean, his close friends, and all those whose lives he touched.
We ask, as a family, that people fight hatred with love, and that they seek to perform small acts of kindness for others, as Damian always did. “Many small people who in many small places do many small things that can alter the face of the world.” Please choose love, compassion, and kindness. Thank you.
Organizer
Tina Meins
Organizer
Riverside, CA