Christina Marie Bivins

Christina Marie Bivins, born November 14, 1972, aged 42, died unexpectedly, but peacefully this week while sitting in her Eames Lounger wrapped in a blanket reading a book. The Medical Examiner said there was nothing to indicate it was anything other than a natural death. He stated that it was the result of a heart “incident.” When Chris died our light went out and it is hard to see without her in our lives. She was loved by so many and brightened the days, weeks, months, of all with whom she came into contact. Chris came into the world during a snowstorm and became a storm herself. She attended St. Andrew’s School, Covell Elementary, Westwood Middle, Union High School, and Aquinas College. She was active in the festival of the arts, as a Co-Chair of several committees and Co-Chair with Bob Bird of the event in 2003. Over the past four years Chris Co-Chaired the festival Regional Arts Competition and Exhibition with her father and got to know hundreds of West Michigan artists. She was the darling of all of the volunteers. Her dedication to the event meant she was involved in other committees as well including Co-Chairing Headquarters the past couple of years which meant she was there from the first day of set-up through festival and on to the last day of teardown. Because of festival she had a deep abiding interest in other cultural events and worked on ArtPrize, Laughtfest, TedX, Tommy Fitzgerald’s Juice Ball, the Addy Awards, and many fund raising projects. Chris had been on the board of festival of the arts, Heritage Theatre, and active in the Aquinas College Alumni Association, and the AAF West Michigan Board of Directors. She worked as a project .manager/coordinator and sales representative in the video production industry and as a Stage and Talent Manager on projects for ArtPrize, Laughfest, TedX and more. She also worked on the last Saturday of each month as the bartender at the Pickwick Tavern, She has been at the “Pick” since her college days at Aquinas and has said, “It’s like having a party without having to clean your house. “ She loved the interaction with all of the friends who came in because she was there and with customers who just dropped in. Her regulars will miss her smile and hugs. Chris is survived by her parents, Fred and Gina (Zinn) Bivins, her Brother David, his wife Kristen and their son Arlo, of Brooklyn New York, her sister Eliza Bivins-Fink and her husband Howard of Northfield Township (Whitmore Lake), Michigan. Aunts, uncles and cousins too numerous to list. A special mention of her cousin Heather Zinn, to whom she was like a sister and Cat and Roger Timermanis, her other parents. Visitation with the family will be at Arsulowicz Brothers Remembrance Mortuary on Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 and on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8. A Memorial Mass will be held at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, December 2, at St. Andrews Cathedral at 267 Sheldon Blvd SE. A reception will follow at the Women’s City Club. Memorial contributions can be made to festival of the arts in Grand Rapids at http://www.festivalgr.org/get-involved/donations-to-festival/ or via mail at festival, PO Box 68440, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-8440. Envelopes will be available during visitation. Donations will be split between the Christina Marie Bivins Memorial Award Fund for Regional Arts Awards and the support of the event.

Tributes

Christina Marie Bivins

November 14, 1972 - November 21, 2014