A memorial service has been set for 1 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 7) for Ariel Shaker, the lifelong Palo Alto resident who was killed Oct. 7 in a freak riding accident while exercising a horse for the Harvard polo team.

The service will be at the First Congregational Church, 1985 Louis Road, Palo Alto.

Shaker grew up in the College Terrace neighborhood of Palo Alto, where she was "our neighborhood sweetie," longtime neighborhood leader Kathy Durham said in an e-mail informing or reminding neighbors of the service, being arranged by Ariel's father, Doug Shaker.

"Ariel grew up on College Avenue and graduated from Palo Alto High School in 2006," Durham wrote. See Palo Alto Weekly story.

"Some of you may have known her as a world class babysitter, a competitive rower or someone passionate about horses," Durham said.

In 2007, after completing her first year at Harvard, Shaker made news when she rode across the country as part of a Bike and Build group raising funds for affordable housing projects.

"All who knew Ariel or the Shaker family or wish to celebrate the life of this special young woman are welcome to attend," Durham said.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/) or to an
environmental organization of one's choice.

See also:
(Harvard Crimson) http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=529476
(Paly Voice) http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=8926