Gabriella Muelher-Roosevelt

August 9, 1960 - October 17, 2005

Gabriella Muelher-Roosevelt, born August 9, 1960, died tragically on October 17, 2005.

Gabriella was a brilliant woman, fluent in at least four languages, who earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology on a full scholarship at Western, worked as a research coordinator at the University of Washington, and counseled grieving parents and women who had been in abusive relationships. She was an outspoken advocate for women and children, participated and volunteered for many organizations that supported healing grief and loss of children and loved ones. She was also an accomplished artist and photographer in all mediums and had many works published. She was a dynamic, outgoing, brilliant and passionate person whose life was about helping other people. She herself lost her only beloved five year old son in a sailing accident in Germany.

Gabriella was from Munich, Germany, and built an enormously successful professional life while here in America and Seattle. She was loved and highly respected among professionals and among her peers. Gabriella was a particularly dynamic person who enjoyed adventure and especially riding her motorcycle across country. She loved creatures great and small and was a professional Persian/ Himalayan Cat Breeder and Fancier. She was known as a very courageous woman who never would stop when there was a challenge ahead.

Gabriella tragically died as a result of a hit and run accident in Edmonds early Monday morning while commuting on her motorcycle to work. Her family and friends around the world are horrified, shocked and grieving their tremendous loss. Gabriella walked among us here in the U.S., in Germany, and in South Africa, making friends and helping people wherever she went. She has left a large, unique footprint behind that will never be filled.

A service celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday October 22, in the chapel of Beck's Funeral Home, 405 - Fifth Avenue South, Edmonds, Washington. A prior public viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday as well.

She is survived by her loving parents, Karl and Irma Mueller; sister, Andrea Mueller-Voglar, her husband, Robert Voglar, and their sons, Philipp and Lukas; brother, Heiko Mueller, and his daughter, Amanda Brueckner; and brother, Juergen, his wife, Brigitte Mayhoff, and their children.

Gabriella has requested that friends keep flower gifts to a minimum. Rather, make donations to children's charities of your choice.

Her family will take her remains where she wishes to be buried in Unterschleissheim, Germany, next to her deceased son.

Published in the Daily Herald on 10/22/2005.

Published: Wednesday, October 19, 2005

'Brilliant, passionate' woman mourned Gabriella Muelher-Roosevelt was killed Monday when a pickup pulled in front of her motorcycle

By Diana Hefley Herald Writer

EDMONDS - Gabriella Muelher-Roosevelt was fluent in at least four languages, earned her master's degree in clinical psychology on a full scholarship, worked as a research coordinator at the University of Washington and counseled grieving parents.

She also was a biker.

She loved the freedom of cruising on her street bike, a Honda Shadow. She embraced the strangers and adventures she met on the road.

She cherished her connection to the other women of Throttle Jockettes, a regional all-female riding club.

"She was a dynamic, outgoing, brilliant, passionate person, whose life was about helping other people," friend Sonya DeWitt said Tuesday.

Muelher-Roosevelt, 45, was killed Monday when a pickup pulled out in front of her motorcycle on Highway 104.

The Edmonds woman was left on the road to die.

The pickup driver, an 18-year-old high school student, drove off, police said. She was later arrested at her home and booked into jail for investigation of vehicular homicide and hit and run.

Court records show the teen has received five speeding tickets since late 2003. She posted bond and was released from jail early Tuesday morning.

"What began as a tragic accident became a crime," Muelher-Roosevelt's friend Lesley Dryer said.

Dryer, other friends and fellow riders gathered at the crash site Tuesday. They brought flowers and prayed. They studied the orange spray paint marks left on the roadway by accident investigators.

They want the community to remember their friend.

Muelher-Roosevelt's family is flying in from Germany.

"She did everything with grace," said friend and former partner Jeanette Boyd. "She was an amazing soul who will be missed around the world."

Muelher-Roosevelt came from Munich, Germany, in the early 1990s. She needed a part for her motorcycle and a break, Boyd said.

Muelher-Roosevelt also wanted more than just the general education diploma she had earned in Germany.

"She came from really nothing and built an enormous successful professional life," DeWitt said.

She was called to help grieving parents after her own son drowned in a sailing accident, Boyd said. She volunteered her time with local organizations devoted to helping victims of domestic violence and child abuse.

She also shared her passion for motorcycles. Muelher-Roosevelt rode across country several times. She encouraged other women to ride and advocated for motorcycle safety with new riders.

"If you were new, she'd ride with you. She'd never leave anyone behind," Dryer said.

Her friends hope Muelher-Roosevelt's death will be a reminder for drivers to watch for motorcyclists.

There is an inherent risk on the back of a motorcycle, but riders need fellow drivers to take the time to recognize they're sharing the roadway, Dryer said.

The group plans to organize a memorial ride for their friend.

"She was fearless. She was kind. She was more than just a 45-year-old motorcyclist who was killed," DeWitt said. "Her death is a horrible loss for so many."

To learn more about Gabriella, visit her friend's blog