her story

Kiela Hari Sunshine Gwin (aka Kiel Ryosei Ronin) was born on February 26th, 1992 at 2:22 AM in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is with broken hearts and deep grief that we share that Kiela completed suicide on February 12th, 2019 when she was 26. Kiela was an incredible friend, sister, daughter, musician, artist, lover of all creatures, and scientific mind. She left behind a legacy of music, art, contributions to science, and above all else, a lifetime of compassion for others. We share her story with you as a way to keep her alive in spirit and memory. We believe that sharing stories like her’s will bring us closer to understanding and better helping those who struggle with mental disabilities as Kiela struggled.

Kiela was brilliant in SO many ways. Here are just a few of them:

• She was a singer/songwriter and she recorded four albums: Dixie Flatline, Insula: Chapter I, Insula: Chapter II and Grandiose Fantasies. She released these albums between the ages of 17 and 23. All of her music is on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, & Pandora or by searching “Kiela Gwin” in your favorite streaming app. Listen to Kiela’s music here.

• She put herself through college, graduating with honors from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. double-major in Anthropology and Psychology.

• She was very involved in the field of Genetic Anthropology, and she co-authored at least 4 published research papers, such as this one.

• Shortly before her death, she was working as a Research Assistant at the University of Utah, coding a new program to more accurately calculate statistical genetics. Her research advisor said that she showed “remarkable initiative in research,” and that she was coming up with brilliant solutions that even senior Anthropologists there hadn’t thought of.

• As a suicide attempt survivor from a young age, she had turned her struggles into a force of good. She volunteered 100’s of hours as a crisis counselor for the nonprofit Crisis Text Line. She also volunteered with animal shelters and worked towards helping those experiencing homelessness.

• She was a multimedia artist with an eye for detail. She worked with clay, watercolors, pencil, and other mediums (Art Gallery).

Kiela is survived by her mother, Margot Gwin, her father, Kelly Gwin; her siblings, Narayan Gwin, Matthew Hari Gwin & Sat Wilensky; and her longtime partner, Benjamin Lenetsky.

One thing we’ve learned since Kiela’s passing is that we, as a society and as humans, can and must do a better job of understanding and helping those who struggle with mental health. We are doing our part to help how we can through supporting and working with:

Soluna - free mental health care for youth ages 13-25 in California.

Survivors of Suicide Loss San Diego - weekly support groups for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide.

Crisis Text Line - Text “HOME” to 741-741 or donate here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call 988 to be connected to the mental health hotline. There are people there who want to help.

Our Dear Kiela ~ We love you and miss you more than words could ever fully express. You are our heart. The world you left could not contain your brilliance but we will work tirelessly to make this world better for other sensitive souls like you.

This site is an evolving tribute to the life and works of Kiela Gwin. If you have stories, art, videos, or photos of Kiela to contribute, please email us at satwilensky@gmail.com.