Lighting a candle for Caitlin tonight, wishing her peace and power. Sending all good thoughts to her beautiful family on this first Christmas without her. Each 'first without' can be hard, and they came so fast after her passing - birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day. May this Holiday Season bring reasons to celebrate treasured memories of Caitlin.
1
In 1993-94, I was a faculty colleague of Caitlin's at the River Oaks School in Monroe, Louisiana -- my first grown-up job after college and I think it was Caitlin's, too. One glorious October weekend she and Mike took me to New Orleans to help them drive back a second car (dueling Nissan Sentras) from her parent's house (she was 8 months pregnant). It was quite a year. She had her first child, our boss got fired, and then we both sent resumes to schools around the country. By chance, we both wound up with teaching jobs in Los Angeles in the fall of 1994 (seven months after the Northridge Earthquake, two months after the Bronco Chase). Mike and Caitlin were the first people I knew to start having babies, so I watched them with awe and fascination as they adroitly took up child-rearing. For all her friends, Caitlin became a resident expert and advisor on taking charge of your fertility. Over the years I dropped out of touch, but I am getting caught up by reading all the articles and remembrances. Clearly, Caitlin remained the same devoted friend, spouse, parent, and teacher that I knew over thirty years ago. Since I heard about a month ago (on "On the Media"), she has been in my thoughts daily.
1
2018, Baltimore, MD, USA
While petsitting for me, Caitlin captured evidence that my Scooby had finally accepted her. ❤️ I am privileged to have had both of them in my life and will miss them always.
— with
Caitlin and Scooby
1
I didn’t know Caitlin. I heard her story from the Washington Post. Please know that her story has inspired me and so many others. I hate the way that she and so many dedicated government employees have been demonized.
0
While I only knew Caitlin professionally, I admired her commitment to maternal and child health. She brought passion, rigor, and excellence to her role at CMS. May she rest in peace. May her memory be a blessing. Kay Johnson
2
I was very privileged to work with Caitlin at CMMI on the MOM Model. Caitlin has been in my thoughts since I heard of her passing. She was so brilliant and so generous with her knowledge. Caitlin was also spectacularly warm and kind. One day I mentioned to her that I wanted to crotchet a hat for my cousins baby. The next morning when I got to work I found many spools of beautiful red yarn sitting on my desk and a note saying that in lieu of payment I could make a donation to planned parenthood. I am reaching out because yesterday at my new job (since CMMI I went to law school and am now working as a lawyer) one of our practice groups disseminated the Washington Post article discussing her passing. I just wanted to let you know I made sure to take the opportunity in my corner of the world to share how wonderful of a person Caitlin was and how much she was revered at CMMI. With Caitlin in my thoughts, after work I went to purchase a repro justice book (Killing the Black Body, Dorothy Roberts), read it in the park, and donated to planned parenthood. Her passing is such a loss. But she truly made such an impact. Thinking of Caitlin inspires one to do good, work hard, and be kind. I am holding your family in the light.
6
I was heartbroken and shocked to learn about Caitlin’s death this morning. We were on the same team at CMMI at the start of my career, and I adored her. She was a bright light, a joy to work with, a deeply caring colleague, and had an exemplary commitment to making the world a more liberated place, beginning with our community in Baltimore. The world is better because she was here. I feel so lucky that I got to work with and learn from her for a time.
I want to express my deepest condolences to Caitlin’s loved ones. I never met you, but by the way she talked about you, I know she loved you all very much. Thank you so much to Mike and Emily for your vulnerability in talking to the Washington Post about your loss. It was a beautiful way to honor Caitlin’s legacy and passion for destigmatizing mental health. You helped give voice to what federal workers are navigating right now, working within a work culture of trauma and fear.
I was heartbroken to read that Caitlin told Mike that she wasn’t good enough during her job search this spring. Because she was. Caitlin was indispensable to many federal health care reform efforts, especially in the realms of maternal and child health, lending invaluable program evaluation expertise to measure and prove impact. The number of bright, hardworking, experienced people competing for the same set of jobs right now is making job searches all but impossible. Any organization would have been lucky to gain Caitlin on their team.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.
2
2023, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Hanging out and telling stories at the Beans' B'nai Mitzvah
— with
Mike and Caitlin Cross-Barnet
1
2017, Baltimore Home School
Caitlin knitting at Rebecca Wald's Jeopardy party. Notice the hat. This was 8 years ago.
— with
Mike and Caitlin Cross-Barnet
1
Caitlin was my next door roommate when I went into residential treatment for my depression. We bonded immediately and spent our days together walking, birdwatching, swapping books, discussing literature and supporting each other while missing our children. She was a luminous human being who radiated love and compassion even in her darkest hours. I will miss her terribly for the rest of my life. The first week I was there she produced three beautiful crocheted woodland stuffies for my younger children. My daughter Eleanor carries her beloved fox everywhere now and it reminds me that Caitlin is everywhere now, loving all of us as she always did.
6
I met Caitlin in 2018, after hearing her speak so passionately about maternal health and maternal mental health, and asked her if she'd like to advise my organization's work in mental health policy. She was an incredible advisor to our work, and always really thoughtful. She was supportive to me personally when I was about to become a mom. I loved how dedicated she was to supporting others, and how honest she was when she didn't agree with a direction we were going in. Thank you, Caitlin, for all that you've done for so many. I'll always treasure your guidance and support, and for being so real. Your legacy will continue. We will keep fighting.
2
Caitlin’s wellspring of righteous indignation against injustice has always been immensely inspiring. She was courageous and unapologetically human. Her legacy of scholarship and activism will live on.
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