Amanda Marie Flaim

1976 - 2024

Amanda Marie Flaim

December 20, 1976 - June 5, 2024

Modesto, CALIFORNIA - Amanda Marie Flaim lived her life in full color, led by her heart, and she wove that vibrant love into everything and everyone she met. "Manda Panda" left this world on June 5, 2024, succumbing to a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer, surrounded by her adoring family and friends. Born and raised in Modesto, California, on December 20, 1976, she arrived home from the hospital delightfully stuffed into a Christmas stocking, taking her place as the third of an eventual four children.

Growing up on Almond Blossom Court, she forged lifelong friendships amid the busy, nurturing cul-de-sac community. Born with a heart defect, which was corrected at UCSF through groundbreaking surgery at three months of age, our Panda defied the cardiologist's expectations by tenaciously embracing life and playing water polo even into adulthood.

A lifelong-learner, Manda double-majored in Human Development and Italian Studies at UCSD, then earned a Master's in Teaching at Chapman University. Following her heart, she later completed a degree in Textile Art & Design at La Escuela de Arte y Diseño in Madrid. She recently found joy combining these specialties when teaching Fiber Art to adoring young students at Kirschen Elementary School and MoArt in Modesto.

She carried her artistic inspiration forward during her treatment through UCSF's "Art for Recovery" program, culminating in an art exhibition entitled "Cancer Camino: My Pilgrimage." The highlight of this exhibit was Hands That Care, a photo documentary chronicling healthcare workers' hands throughout her treatment, which was on display at UCSF Mission Bay Adult Cancer Hospital in October 2023.

Her curiosity and love of world travel drew her from Africa to Asia and everywhere in between, with both Spain and Italy holding a special place in her heart. During her time in Madrid, her true passion for art and pattern blossomed and continued with her textile training in Alcoi. In Italy, she embraced her beloved ancestral homeland, welcomed by her famiglia in Cloz in the Val de Non. She was truly at home exploring new cultures and experiencing new adventures.

Absolutely beloved, Manda Panda won the hearts of friends, family, and her life partner as she traversed life with genuine compassion, a quick-witted sense of humor, and an uncanny ability to attract humorous circumstances. She will be dearly remembered and missed by all who were lucky enough to be drawn into her unconventional orbit of love and friendship. She saw the world through a different lens and never pretended to be anyone she wasn't (nevermind the Groucho Marx glasses).

Manda is survived by her parents Betty and Francis Flaim Jr.; siblings Jennifer (John) Flaim-Kenyon, Christopher (Sarah) Flaim and Allison Flaim; nieces and nephews Miles, Tim, Livia, Aidan and Joshua; uncle Steve Flaim, and her life partner, Brian Adkins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Glen and Ethel Dawson and Francis and Cecelia Flaim, as well as by her aunts Kathy Flaim, Wanda Meyer, Janice Roberts, and uncles Bill Standing, Dale Meyer, and George Roberts.

Manda's family would like to extend a special acknowledgement to UCSF for their loving care of the entire family. Manda needed their care as an infant and again found unsurpassed care and compassion there over the past two years. Since 2012, her mother Betty has also continued to receive excellent oncology care at UCSF. Thank you UCSF for taking such phenomenal care of our girls.

Manda's life will be celebrated on July 20, 2024 in Modesto.