Loving, smart, creative, hurt, hopeful
Roxy was a radiant soul—beautiful and brilliant; a mixture of humor, creativity, and deep compassion. Roxy had an outrageous sense of humor and an artistic spirit that made her unforgettable. Despite her addiction, she never stopped loving, laughing, or trying to help others.
Roxy and her sisters, Casey and Auscha, were adopted by their great uncle, Richard Espinosa, “He went to the ends of the earth trying to help her,” Casey says. Affected by addiction early on when she lost her mother to addiction, Roxy’s environment deeply shaped her experience. Still, she was given a comfortable life full of love, support, and the opportunity to travel the world with her family.
Roxy was talented and intelligent—graduating summa cum laude from the University of Houston, even during active addiction, and studied abroad in Spain. She talked about going to law school, using her degree to help others.
Creativity came naturally to Roxy. She was talented in visual arts—painting, drawing, pottery, and jewelry-making, and she could teach herself to play instruments. Halloween was her favorite holiday, and she loved eating all kinds of candy and cuddling with her chihuahua. Her capacity for nurturing extended to both people and animals. “She was incredibly intentional with gift-giving–choosing presents that made others feel truly seen,” Casey said. Roxy’s humor was legendary. She and her sister would spend hours watching trashy reality TV, laughing until their stomachs hurt, and sharing snacks.
Roxy poured her energy into supporting others, especially in sober living homes. She volunteered her time and offered love and guidance to those around her, becoming a “star student” being a source of strength for many, her stepsister, Tiffany Anschutz, stated. After Roxy’s death, at 32, people reached out to her family to share how Roxy’s life—and her loss—became a turning point toward recovery.
“Addiction changed Roxy,” Casey stated. “She went from being outgoing and adventurous to fearful and reclusive. She was often paranoid, anxious, and unable to leave her apartment. Her family tried everything, but no amount of love or money could save her.
Losing Roxy changed her family forever. Her sister Casey shares, “I carry a grief that has made me quieter, more careful, more guarded.” But she also found a voice—speaking honestly and compassionately about substance use disorder as a disease, not a choice. “Like cancer, it can’t be prayed or wished away.”
Roxy is missed every day—her laughter, her candy cravings, her artistic flair, her weirdness, “everything that made her Roxy.” Casey often wonders what it would have been like for Roxy to meet her daughter, Lakshmi, born years after Roxy’s passing. “Maybe the love of my daughter could have helped her find a new kind of hope.”
Roxy’s sister, Casey Joshi, provided the information for this narrative.
February 5, 1987-September 26, 2019-Age 32
Portrait Artist: Theresa Clower
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
