On Sunday, April 19, from 4 p.m to 7 p.m., Archie Williams community members gathered at the San Anselmo Log Cabin to honor the lives of four Archie Williams students who died last year in a widely publicized vehicular tragedy that rocked Marin County. The memorial marks the first anniversary of the death of Olive Koren, Sienna Katz, Ada Kepley, and Josalynn Osborn in April 2025. The service included live music from Archie Williams student bands and dinner for the around 300 attendees, followed by speeches from the victims’ family, friends, community, and religious leaders.
Students organized the event’s live music; an Archie Williams Performance Workshop (PW) band opened the gathering with “Hypotheticals” by Lake Street Dive. A student-led band, F.A.T Betty, asked their PW teacher, Mario Aparicio, to assist with sound and ensure everything ran smoothly. Aparicio happily agreed, acknowledging how music can unite a community.
“Last year, when this happened, [music was] a good way to deal with grief […] It definitely brings people together,” Aparicio said. “It gets emotional. I had some students today… I saw them cry and feel those emotions.”
At 5:30 p.m, Fairfax mayor and Archie Williams parent Stephanie Hellman announced that the town of Fairfax is planning a space outside of the Fairfax Women’s Club with a plaque to honor Olive, Sienna, Ada, and Josalynn.
San Anselmo Mayor Steve Burdo announced that the town of San Anselmo will now recognize April 18 as “a day of remembrance and unity” in honor of the four girls. He then presented each of the girls’ families with a plaque to honor their daughters.
The ceremony’s mood oscillated between laughter and deep sorrow.
Josalynn’s mother, Christie Batanides, shared that she started a nonprofit organization in her daughter’s honor. She named the nonprofit “Josalynn’s Cause #54,” including Josalynn’s dirt bike number. Josalynn’s Cause #54 will provide scholarships to female student athletes.
After her speech, Ada’s mother, Linda Kepley, shared how her community’s support moved her in the loss of her daughter.
“Every day, somebody is either texting or stopping by the house… and we just feel so loved and supported,” Kepley said. “And people who you don’t even know sometimes, or people who you didn’t know well, or people who you thought were a little bit grumpy, are in tears telling me how sorry they are for my loss. It’s really beautiful.”
Former White Hill Middle School English teacher, Virginia Foxton, taught all four girls. Foxton came to honor and remember her former students, and, holding back tears, shared the value she felt in today’s ceremony.
“It’s so important that the girls are remembered, and that the people who are here that are mourning get to have a space to mourn together and to remember them together, because they would still be hanging out if our girls were still here,” Foxton said. “And ignoring it doesn’t mean it goes away. It means it gets hidden, and it’s important to make space to remember. Make space to hug each other, be together.”
Senior Ivy White gave a speech in honor of Sienna. Junior Taylor Donaldson, who was friends with Ada and Sienna, also gave a speech. Both gathered with a group of their friends after the service to support one another. Ivy said that after tonight, she wants her speech to serve as a reminder to hold on to your friends. Taylor agreed, adding an important anecdote about our community.
“Make sure that you find your group and when you do, remember every moment and cherish every moment that you have with them,” Ivy said, while Taylor finished her sentence, “and that you’re never alone; there are always going to be people here for you.”
Through devastation and loss, the Archie Williams community showed up for one another. From memories of the girls getting egged on Halloween night to the important life lessons they’ve taught about friendship, our community will not forget the impact that these four girls had. April 18 will be a day to hold Olive, Sienna, Ada, and Josalynn in our memories in the years to come.
