Barrington High Alum Killed In Shooting Was A 'Beautiful Soul'

BARRINGTON, IL — A Barrington High School alum was among 10 people who died in a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, this week.

Jody Waters, a 1973 graduate of Barrington High School, is being remembered for her friendly personality and fashion sense. The 65-year-old businesswoman owned and worked in boutique stores in Boulder, where those close to her said she was known for giving great advice and for being a role model to younger co-workers.

Waters had two daughters and one grandson.

• Remembering Boulder Shooting Victim Jody Waters

A member of the Barrington High School alum Facebook page, who knew Waters while she attended Barrington High, informed others in the group of Waters' death in a Tuesday post.

"I am saddened to inform the group of the sudden passing of our ’73 alumni Jody Waters, a victim of the senseless mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado on March 22, 2021," he wrote.

Members of the group referred to Waters' death as a "tragic loss" and "too sad for words."

Waters worked with Boulder-based leather and jewelry accessories company Embrazio "on and off" for 8 years — she did sales, trade show booth designs, product design, and served on the company's advisory board, Embrazio co-owner Scott Schaefer told Patch Thursday morning.

"She was a beautiful soul," he said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Waters worked at Island Farm, a boutique in downtown Boulder.

"She immediately took me under her wing, treating me like her own daughter," said Madeline Soultz, 23, a former sales associate whose family lives far away.

Andrew Lifshin attended Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire with Waters and described her as "beautiful and approachable," according to the Daily Herald.

"Her smile was contagious," he said. "Jody reminded me of a flower girl from the '60s. Easygoing, free-spirited, up for anything."

The shooting in the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder on Monday claimed the lives of 10 people. Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, from the Denver suburb of Arvada, was arrested Tuesday on a murder charge in connection with the shooting and is expected to make his initial court appearance Thursday.

Those close to Alissa said the 21-year-old man was prone to rage-filled outbursts and may have been suffering from a mental illness that led to delusional thinking. Investigators have not established a motive, said Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.

• Remembering The 10 Boulder Shooting Victims: Who They Were
• Official: Colorado Shooting Suspect Prone To Rage, Delusions
• How To Help Those Impacted By The Boulder Shooting
• 'Our Hearts Ache': Coloradans Rally Behind Shooting Victims

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

This is a developing story. Check back to Patch for more.