Tobias remembered as joyful, compassionate
Jones College junior Rachel Tobias, whom friends remember for her thoughtfulness and free spirit, died in her room Oct. 8.
More than 100 people attended a memorial service for Tobias Oct. 12 in the Jones Commons. At the service, Dean of Undergraduates Robin Forman, who was Jones master through Spring 2005, and Tobias’ friends spoke about her life. The service also included a song sung by Jones senior Jesse Cortez, a scene from Tobias’ favorite movie Garden State and a slideshow of pictures.
As of Tuesday, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office had not determined the cause of death.
Tobias suffered from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Student Health Services Director Mark Jenkins (Will Rice ‘83) said the disease is characterized by severe pain, usually localized in one limb. Symptoms include allodynia — pain caused by stimuli that previously had not caused pain — and an increase in pain intensity, Jenkins said.
Although some patients can recover, there is no cure for the disease, which is treated with counseling, pain medication and physical therapy, Jenkins said.
Tobias was from Cooper City, Fla. She is survived by her parents, Ben and Barbara, and brother, Danny.
Jones junior Elizabeth Molacek, who was one of Tobias’ closest friends, said Tobias was a happy, upbeat person.
“Everyone says her smile is what they remember about her because it was huge, and she was always smiling,” Molacek said. “She was really easy to open up to, and she would listen no matter what — even if she was busy or had her own things to deal with.”
Tobias tried to make those around her happy, Jones junior Leah Witus, also a close friend, said. Tobias was always thoughtful toward other people, Molacek said. Tobias would slip her friends cards under their dorm room doors.
“She made everyone think that they were important because she listened to them,” Molacek said. “Everyone felt comfortable around her.”
Tobias, who was a cognitive science major and enrolled in the Rice/Baylor Premedical Scholars Program, worked in a psychology lab. Molacek said she enjoyed the job.
“She was really interested in autism,” Molacek said. “She wanted to open an autism facility for children.”
Tobias was the psychology lab’s senior undergraduate research assistant this year. She worked on experiments that measured brain activity in human subjects.
Tobias was also involved in Houston Hillel, and Molacek said Tobias liked to attend ADVANCE events.
“She was really into cultural awareness and diversity and causes like that,” she said. “That is why she really liked ADVANCE.”
Tobias was silly and independent, and she liked to do spontaneous things like play Frisbee in the Jones quad at 2 a.m., Molacek said.
“Act weird and let them wonder — that was her motto,” Molacek said.
Witus said Tobias enjoyed everyday activities.
“She really got a lot of pleasure out of the simple things,” Witus said. “She knew what she liked.”
Tobias also enjoyed servery food, which was one of the reasons she chose to attend Rice, Molacek said. Her favorite foods were the black beans and the sweet potatoes, and she would eat bowls of them when they were served, she said.
Forman said he got to know Tobias through a meal-time conversation the day after freshmen moved into Jones in August 2003.
“She was open and expressive and laughing and giggling and sharing stories about her family and her dog back home,” Forman said. “It was a really wonderful experience for my wife Ann and me to have a new freshman welcome us into her life.”
Music was one of Tobias’ passions. Molacek said Tobias liked songs like “Fair,” by Remy Zero, and “Amy,” by Damien Rice, for their lyrics. After hearing a song she liked, Tobias would have her friends listen to the song from start to finish, asking them to listen to the words and consider their meaning.
“Music could often be heard coming from her room with her singing along,” Forman said.
Tobias was close to her family and her dog, of whom she carried pictures in her wallet, Molacek said.
Molacek said Tobias was thoughtful — she would ponder unique subjects and ask questions, which was especially clear during a Labor Day trip to South Padre Island and Mexico.
“In the car, when the rest of us were bored, she enjoyed it because she said it allowed her to just be alone with her thoughts,” Molacek said.
Molacek said the trip — which included horseback rides and nights under the stars — was the source of many of Tobias’ favorite memories.
Forman said counseling for grieving students is available through the College Assistance Peer Program and the Rice Counseling Center.
“In general, we are making an effort to make sure we are looking out for each other,” Forman said.
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