Alexa arrived at OSU in 2017 and immediately started teaching us about the health and ecology of bottlenose dolphins in California. Her passion and curiosity shined. She was always so eager to learn, teach and inform marine conservation.

But she gave us so much more than just her academic and professional achievements. She gave us immense joy, laughter, wisdom, wit, and beauty by helping us to stop and enjoy the brilliance of the world that she saw everywhere.

Over the last week I have spent a lot of time looking at many photos from Alexa’s life and reading stories about her adventures. I see now that she provided a shoulder for so many people to lean on, in good times and hard times.

This is why many of us feel so unstable now without Alexa in our lives.

Alexa was our confidant when we needed to vent.

Alexa was our travel buddy on adventures around the world, on land and at sea. Alexa had already traveled to every continent on the planet.

Alexa gave us so much laughter, as she found humor and happiness everywhere, and then shared it openly with everyone.

Alexa was the support we needed in hard times, always helping us to see the bright side during challenging times.

Alexa was a sailor that relished experiencing the power and beauty of the ocean.

Alexa loved all animals, instinctively bonding with so many different species, and caring for so many.

Alexa jumped at any chance for fun – weather it was innertube water polo, hikes in the woods, walks on the beach, dinners and board games. She was all-in for anything that involved smiles, laughter, or adventure.

Alexa formed connections with people everywhere, and made us feel welcomed, like we belonged in life, and mattered to the world.

Alexa was our dancing partner. Anytime. Any song.

Alexa lived her life without regret. Absorbing every bit of joy and beauty she could get from every experience.

Having Alexa in our lives was a gift. She brought light, color and laughter wherever she went. I am so lucky to have known Alexa, and to have basked in her brightness.

I miss her so much. I will do my best to honor Alexa’s life by living with her essence of laughter, kindness, adventure, and lots of dancing.

-Leigh Torres, Alexa's PhD supervisor in the GEMM Lab at OSU. I spoke these words at Alexa's memorial one week after she passed away.

One year has passed and still I cant stop
Reaching for the phone to call and say what's up
A lot has happened both good and bad
Think of all the dance parties we could of had

One year has passed and still I cant seem
To picture a world without your vivacious beam
All it took was locking eyes and we knew instantly it was best friends for life
Who knew that your forever would be shorter than mine

Just know Alexa this isn't a permeant goodbye

Love Always Abigail

We planted a native vine maple on Earth Day (22 April 2021) in honor of our beloved Alexa. We miss her so much and while her passing leaves a hole in our lives that will never be filled, we will always think of Alexa as we watch her tree grow big & beautiful. Images of the tree and the rocks placed by the tree can be viewed in the gallery:
https://www.forevermissed.com/alexa-kownacki/gallery/photos#|gallery|photo|2485994
https://www.forevermissed.com/alexa-kownacki/gallery/photos#|gallery|photo|2485993
https://www.forevermissed.com/alexa-kownacki/gallery/photos#|gallery|photo|2485992

If you would like to add your own rock, you can contact Lisa Hildebrand (Lisa.Hildebrand@oregonstate.edu) who can place it for you or make your own trip to Newport, OR to the Hatfield Marine Science Center to place the rock yourself.

We plan to honor her life and legacy by planting a tree in Alexa’s honor at HMSC on April 22nd at noon (this is Earth Day, so very appropriate). We will plant a native vine maple (Acer circinatum) right outside the new building where MMI is now housed, and below the GEMM Lab windows so that we will see it often, watch it grow big and beautiful, and always think of Alexa.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions only 6 of us can attend the planting ceremony in person, but we will have it live streamed via Zoom (link below), so I hope you join us virtually. We will plant the tree, say a few things, and there will likely be some dancing too (Alexa would want that).

Also, we are also suggesting that remote attendees can paint a rock in Alexa’s honor and we can place the rock at the base of the tree during the ceremony. Or, you are welcome to keep your rock and place it at the tree yourself the next time you are in Newport. If you would like to send a rock, please contact Lisa Hildebrand for her address: lisa.hildebrand@oregonstate.edu

I hope you can join us in some form of remembering Alexa’s bright smile, kind soul, and adventurous personality.

Many thanks to HMSC facilities and the director’s office for supporting this tree planting. I am very grateful.


Torres, Leigh G is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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Dear all, in case you have not yet received an invitation, a Celebration of Alexa's Life will be held on Friday, August 27th, 2021 at 6pm. The event will take place both virtually and in person at the Birch Aquarium in La Jolla, California. All are welcome. Please pass the invitation along to anyone who knew Alexa and would like to be part of celebrating her and her amazing life. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here​: https://forms.gle/B7rD3ccA3iSBmx8d8  

I only met Alexa briefly at UC Davis in the WFCB program. She was such a warm and friendly person, the kind of person that makes such an impression you never forget her. Watching her adventures on facebook of all the places she has gone and the amazing wildlife she had the opportunity to work with, it's clear she lived the kind of life most people could only dream of. She was a truly memorable person and it was an honor to have the opportunity to have known her. 

Just a quick post to say a Happy Hanukkah to everyone here, on behalf of @lexa. Her time in Israel and her Birthright community meant the world to her, and brought her closer to her Ashkenazi heritage. I have no doubt that she is shining brightly wherever she is now.

The last message I received from Alexa was, "Remember this?!! Best brunch ever!! Let's repeat soon!" I'm missing the simple pleasure of sharing conversation over way too much food, served on a random assortment of grad school dishes and cutlery, in a too-small living room where dogs and people rally for spots on the couch. Yes, let's repeat these moments in our thoughts and dreams.

We met Alexa on safari in South Africa in 2012. What a delight. Her enthusiasm for life and adventure will always light up my heart -- some encounters are eternal, and this was one of them. I am very sad that you departed our planet so soon. Yet I know that those who burn so bright are the shooting stars who come to do much in a short time. It's not how long we live that counts, it's what we do with our time here that matters. Alexa -- you really, really matter. Everyone you have affected will carry your inspiration forward for eternity. What a legacy!

I worked with Alexa briefly at Oregon State University when she was an Academic Learning Assistant. She was such a great student leader, but more than that... a great person. She had a joy and enthusiasm that she brought to everything. She was literally someone folks would describe as lighting up a room. She was also focused, and incredibly smart, and passionate about making a difference. Our time together was short, but she will be missed. <3

               As we fall and grow tall in our steps,
                  we need your guiding touch
                    to help us create a path     
                   we shall never travel again.

- To those touched by Alexa and her light,

Dear Alexa, I've been trying to find the right words to write, but every time I try I just realize it won't do you justice. We are very saddened by your passing and just cannot believe you are gone at such an early age. You were a great neighbor and an amazing person. You always greeted us with a big smile and though you were a lot older than our kids, you played with them on numerous occasions out on the street. They were always happy that you would play with them and we appreciated it very much. They would get so excited when you would baby sit them that we would try to have you baby sit them as much as possible. I remember one specific time when a neighbor asked me who had baby sat my kids the previous weekend. When I asked why she was asking, she said that there was a lot of laughter, yelling, thumping, and running and just a joying raucous coming from the house. She added, "that's the kind of baby sitter I would like to have". We are blessed that you have been part of our lives. You grew up to be a wonderful, beautiful young woman. You will forever be in our hearts. Until we meet again.

It is a sobering thought to consider the passing of someone so young and full of life. It doesn’t seem possible.  I had the pleasure of meeting Alexa through her parents. She was a vivacious young lady fourteen yours ago and I watched her blossom into a gracious and astute woman with a keen and perceptive mind. The world has lost a bright light. I pray the gift of her positive impact on the world, and particularly on those closest to her, will bring the contagious joy and peaceful comfort she would wish.

Alexa I can’t believe you’re gone. You were the best daughter in the world and I know how much you loved your Mom. I was blessed to have known you. I know you are walking on streets of gold in heaven. I love you Alexa. I’ll see you when I get there.
Love Sanette

Alexa, I am so so saddened to hear of your passing. We met at Davis & while we haven’t spoken in years I always enjoyed the positivity & energy that radiated from your posts & adventures. You were one of those people that I connected with immediately whenever we spoke or ran into each other. You know those people who just vibe with your soul? That was you, 100%.

I wish I had spent more time giggling & frolicking with you. My heart hurts for your loved ones, and for the world, because you made it brighter and you were destined to change the world in incredible ways. And in some ways you did just that, in such a short time, just by being you.

I don’t know your family, but I’m sending them love because they can never have enough, especially without you here. May your memory be a blessing, & I wish you the safest & swiftest of sails my friend

What a shining light Alexa was!! Although I only saw her a few times over her much too short life, I felt like I knew her as I experienced her life through my best friend, her Aunt Janet. Why does the lord take someone as young, vibrant, and full of life as Alexa was? It is so very hard to imagine any possible reason. God must have needed her to bring light and joy to others...but that still does not make her loss feel any less painful. I know that Alexa was a treasure to all who knew her and that her beautiful smile lit up every room that she ever entered. Blessed are all of us who have been touched by Lovely Alexa's short life. My heart aches for all of Alexa's friends and family and for that gaping hole that now exists in our world without her shining presence in it. May you rest in peace, sweet Alexa.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Alexa, I met Alexas mom Susan when we worked together. Reading all the tributes about Alexa are so beautiful. I only wish I could have met her. Rest in Peace Alexa. You were taken to soon. God be with your Mom and Dad, Cheddar and Cooper

I knew Alexa at the La Jolla SWFSC lab. As many have said before, the first thing you notice was her smile and it is also the last thing you see when your interaction ends.
May you always have calm winds and fair seas.

I knew Alexa at the La Jolla NMFS lab. Spent a week with her and Susan Chivers counting gray whales at Granite Canyon. She was a wonderful, joyful friend. So sad.

I knew Alexa through her time working at NOAA's LaJolla lab. You also get to know someone well when spending time doing field work with them, living and working together for several weeks. Her enthusiasm for the work and for life in general made her truly memorable and pleasure to be around. Like many others, I will miss her.

I had the great honor of sharing this poem at Alexa's step-grandfather's funeral and it seems so appropriate for Alexa as well. 

“High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark nor ever eagle flew—
And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”

Royal Canadian Air Force Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr.

I met Alexa for the first time at a GEMM lab meeting, and you could immediately tell that she was warm, playful, passionate and dedicated. I asked her to meet me for coffee so I could pick her brain about graduate school, the work force, and life studying marine mammals. She must have stayed with me for two hours, filling up my notebook with advice and answers to my questions. She was unfailingly compassionate, and the few times I saw her afterwards she always made me feel at home. Alexa is someone I look up to, and I'm terribly sad that we will not meet again in the future. Thank you Alexa, you changed so many people's lives for the better. 28 was much too young to lose such a beautiful life.

Dear Alexa, I’ve been trying to find the words to write this but every time I stop at you were 28. You were so young planning on a full and successful and meaningful career. You were always positive and driven and full of light. I will miss you; say hi to grandma for us.