ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Family and friends are mourning 26-year-old Bryn Waite, a former Service High School athlete from Anchorage whose body was found offshore near San Diego’s La Jolla Shores Beach last week.
Authorities have identified Waite as the woman spotted floating in the water Wednesday morning off La Jolla Shores Beach. Lifeguards brought her to shore, where she was pronounced dead shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death was pending postmortem examination results.
In an interview with Alaska’s News Source, Waite’s sister, Aislinn Waite, described a bond she said was built through years of shared sports and friendship circles in Anchorage.
“My mom describes us as two sisters who could never be apart as much as we wanted to rip each other’s heads off sometimes,” Aislinn Waite said. “We always just gravitated towards each other.”
Aislinn Waite (center), Bryn Waite (right).(Aislinn Waite)
Both sisters were known for their athletic careers. Aislinn Waite played soccer at Southern Oregon University, while Bryn played at Central Washington University.
At Service High School, they competed together in soccer and cross-country. Aislinn said she remembered her younger sister as a relentless and determined competitor on the soccer field.
“She was an amazing athlete, and she was fierce and she was winning that ball every time,” she said.
Asked what she remembered most about her sister as a player, Aislinn Waite pointed to Bryn’s work ethic and defensive style.
“She was such a hard worker,” she said. “She was an amazing defender. She didn’t let anyone past her.”
She added that Bryn Waite’s game also included pushing forward on offense.
“She also loved to get up in the attack,” she said. “She was not afraid to get up and cross the ball so we could score a goal.”
Beyond athletics, Aislinn Waite said her sister pursued art and valued community, describing her as someone drawn to helping others.
“She loved animals,” she said. “She liked working with kids. Like she worked as like a camp counselor.
Aislinn Waite (left), mom Theresa (middle), Bryn Waite (right).(Aislinn Waite)
“She really valued community as well, just being around people and being a part of the community”
Aislinn Waite said the outpouring of support after her sister’s death has been overwhelming, including messages from people close to Bryn in San Diego.
“I’ve had people reach out from San Diego who I’ve never met who are just reaching out saying how much it meant to them, just meeting her two months ago, three months ago,” she said.
When asked what she believes her sister would want people to remember most, Aislinn Waite said the answer comes back to her heart and the way she treated people.
“I think I would just want people to remember her heart and how much she truly cared and loved this world,” she said. “Bryn was the type of person … she just spread that wherever she went.”
Aislinn Waite (left), dad Brian (middle), Bryn Waite (right).(Brian Waite)
She said even in grief, she still feels that same support from her sister.
“I would say Brynn is like my biggest cheerleader in life, and I think she will continue to be,” she said.
Aislinn Waite said the family has also shared a Meal Train link for people who want to support them, describing it as a way for people to sign up to provide meals or donate. She said her sister had longer-term goals centered around helping others, including art therapy.
“She was really passionate about going into art therapy because she’s an artist,” she said. “After finishing that, to open a sanctuary for people who are going through hard stuff,” she said.
The family is also planning a celebration of life next month, Aislinn Waite said.
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