Obituary of Tracy Balducci Rivas

Tracy Balducci Rivas passed away on October 1, 2014 in Alamo, California at the age of 44 following a short but fierce battle with cancer. Tracy is survived by her beautiful daughter Gabi, her parents, Margery and David Balducci, her two brothers, Dave and Mike Balducci, as well as a loving extended family. Tracy was born on December 24, 1969 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. After brief stays in Chicago, Illinois and Cheshire, Connecticut, her family moved to Walnut Creek where she attended Elementary and Middle School and graduated from Northgate High School in June of 1988. She went on to college where she graduated from California State University of Hayward with a Degree in Education. After earning her Teaching Credential, she began her 19 year teaching career at Whittier Elementary School in Oakland where she taught bi-lingual first grade students. Tracy later moved to the Mt. Diablo Unified School District where she taught at Shore Acres Elementary School in Pittsburgh and most recently was teaching first grade students at Silverwood Elementary School in Concord. Tracy was married to Raul Rivas in August, 2001 in Danville. Shortly after their wedding they moved to Concord, where they lived and where Gabi was born and raised. Tracy was part of a tight knit community in Concord where she was beloved by her many friends, her students and their dedicated parents. Tracy is remembered as an incredible teacher who loved her students deeply and prepared them well for their educational journey. When diagnosed with cancer in 2013, she remained dedicated to her work and in her will to fight her illness. She remained a brave, iron-willed woman, even throughout her final weeks. A celebration of Tracy's life will be held at the Gardens at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek on Thursday, October 23, beginning at 5:00 pm; all are welcome. Tracy's family would especially like to thank Christina Ferreira for her loving care and support throughout Tracy's illness, the Bruns House of Hospice of the East Bay for their compassionate care during her final days and the staffs of the Diablo Valley Oncology Center and John Muir Hospital for their attentive treatment. In lieu of flowers, her family requests a donation be made to the Silverwood Elementary School PTA at 1649 Claycord Ave., Concord, CA 94521. Donations honoring Tracy will be used to fund educational projects that help to advance the wonderful students of Silverwood Elementary School.