UCSD Hosts Memorial Service for Karen Reis

The Athletics Department held a memorial in honor of former student and women's volleyball player Karen Reis on Thursday evening at RIMAC Arena. Reis, 24, and her brother David Reis, 25, a Navy pilot, .

Karen and David's parents Tom and Patty Reis, of Bakersfield, spoke at the memorial, as did their younger brother and sister Melanie and Mark.

"Her infectious laugh and fun loving spirit inspired everyone around her," said Patty Reis, Karen and David's mother.

Additional speakers, including numerous close friends, shared stories about Karen over the 2.5 hour service. Friends and family gathered after the service for a reception and were invited to make scrapbook pages of their favorite memories.

The following program was distributed at the service:

Karen Elizabeth Reis was born in Ventura, California on October 7, 1987. She moved to Bakersfield at age four and attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Garces Memorial High School and UC San Diego.

Blessed with gifts of height, agility and an abundantly generous spirit, Karen passionately played volleyball for Garces, club teams and UC San Diego. Karen was a alter server at OLPH, helped run Pebbles Pathway youth program and actively participated in bible study groups at The Rock Church in San Diego. Karen loved working at in La Jolla and enjoyed coaching club and high school volleyball. She also attended community college pursuing prequisites to become an occupational therapist.

She was an avid runner and beach-goer, and relished playing a spirited game of NERTZ with anyone who dared to play against her. Her overwhelming joy for life was often expressed by singing in her car, especially when stopped in traffic. Karen was an incredibly creative and selfless young woman, with an authentic loving smile for everyone. She will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.

To donate to the David and Karen Reis Scholarship Fund, mail checks payable to Garces Memorial High School/David & Karen Reis Scholarship Fund to 2800 Loma Linda Dr., Bakersfield, CA 9330.