Remembering Cindy Allsbrooks, "Gypsy" Chain's mother

Excerpts from Rabbi Naomi Steinberg’s remembrance of Cindy Allsbrooks, David “Gypsy” Chain’s mother, who passed away in August, 2023:

Twenty-five years ago I had the honor of speaking at Nathan’s funeral. I tried to describe what his life and his death meant to our community of forest activists in California. Now I’ll try to tell you what Cindy meant to us.

On her very first visit, in the midst of the intense grief over the recent loss of her child, she opened her heart to us. In addition to her natural warmth she embodied that graciousness that can come to a person through great loss. She was profoundly present for us. It was as if the sorrow gave her a larger-than-life personal and she embraced it. She lived into it and that made her interactions with us so very poignant and powerful.

She had special concern for the young people who had been with Nathan when he died and endured that trauma.  She took them under her wing. She comforted them.  She wanted to get to know them.  She loved them. She formed an unbreakable bond with them. It was moving and inspiring to witness. …

On subsequent visits she lavished attention and affection on us.  Even with all the details of the legal proceedings, she wanted to see everyone, to get caught up, to continue sharing memories and love.

It was particularly moving to hear her speak about the person who killed her child and the company executives who set the stage for that violence.  She spoke about them without rancor or hatred. Many times she told me, “I have no hatred in my  heart for them.”  She taught us a great lesson in compassion and selflessness.

The years rolled along. In 2014 we had a beautiful gathering when Nathan would have turned forty. Afterwards Cindy wrote to me:

“In 1998, if someone would have told me that I could celebrate what would have been Nathan’s 40^th birthday, I would have thought they were crazy or cruel.  It does feel unreal tha it could actually have been 16 years ago that he left this earth, but then the death and the manner of his exit, to this day, in unreal. There is something deep within me that whispers he is still here. He is sitting right next to me and he has such love for mankind. To get a glimpse of who he might have been is to be in the  midst of all my beautiful Humboldt family.”

When the twentieth anniversary approached, we decided to establish a scholarship in his memory to benefit students committed to environmental work.  We had a big fundraiser that felt more like a family reunion, a love-in, a beautiful meeting of souls brought together through the powerful mix of loss, idealism, sorrow and hope.  We wanted the David Nathan Gypsy Chain Memorial Scholarship to help other idealistic young people follow their dreams and to bring some comfort to the family.  It was wonderful that Cindy wanted to be involved in the selection committee and this was another way for her to extend herself in love to young people in California.  The recipients of the scholarship have been extraordinary students.

The first was Anne, a young Native American from the Hoopa Tribe, studying early childhood education. Anne has a strong dedication to her Tribal heritage and to protecting the ecosystem and hopes to instill that enthusiasm in very young Native students.

The next was Mira, a young activist studying theater and botany. Mira was one of the main organizers of local youth action against violence in the wake of the Florida mass shooting.

Next was Maria, studying elementary education. Maria is one of the first generation in her family born in the USA and first generation attending college.

Next was Evelyn, majoring in Wildlife studies. The scholarship allowed Evelyn to continue her volunteer work on a historic collaboration between the Yurok Tribe and that National and State Parks to bring the California Condors back from the brink of extinction.

[Then] Everett…, a Hoopa Tribe member planning to study Natural Resources and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.  In his scholarship application, Everett wrote [quoted here with his permission], “My father and family are fire owners and are responsible for both a Deerskin Dance Camp and Jump Dance Camp, both are ten day ceremonies.  We feed hundreds of people daily. My family saves throughout the year to make this contribution to our community.  We consider this responsibility an honor. Any scholarship alleviates the financial burden on my family … My commitment to activism is deeply rooted in the history of my people and the relationship we have with the land. Hoopa people are here in our original homeland because we are warriors who understood that standing by and allowing for the best interests of those in power was detrimental to our world. When the angel people left this place, human beings  were given instructions to take care of the physical world. My commitment to environmental protection is following through with those instructions from the Divine.”

In addition to the financial support, the students have told us how inspired and honored they are to receive the scholarship in Gypsy’s name.  They each became part of his life story. I’m so glad Cindy got to read their beautiful essays and welcome them to this remarkable family of warriors, activists and visionaries, of which she became a beloved matriarch. …

Reflecting on our troubled world Cindy wrote to me: “Let’s hope there really is a better place for good humans to go when our life is over. Since I don’t have the for sure answers to the after-life, I just make it my prayer to let me learn the most important lessons I can, so I don’t need to come back and do it again. Too much suffering. My heart goes to  parents of lost children in any country. So let it end.”

On behalf of the California  branch of Cindy’s family, I send our deepest condolences and love to the Texas branch of the family. Though far apart, we are connected.