Alice Alize Norman

Alice Alize Norman was born with the first names Alice and Alize to a Malaysian mother and an English father and was raised in England by a "Guardian". She eventually earned a PhD in Psychology and worked for the U.S. federal government for many years. She was very active in Burning Man and SOAK camps. She was early on known at Black Rock City (the Burning Man location in Nevada which even has it’s own zip code for the 3 weeks it is there) as "Ranger Boisee". She eventually became the nighttime Head Ranger at Burning Man. Imagine that for this tiny woman! She built the Shack of Sit into a large camp which eventually spent several years on the Esplanade. It was also a Mensa camp with many of those attending having doctoral degrees. She bought and transported much of the camp tents and equipment in a converted handicapped bus she also bought. She also participated in SOAK (which she said was even better than Blackrock City), and Decomp, the Idaho regional Burning Man event.

Her friend, Judy Hecht aka Applesauce said about Boisee that she knew her as the lead of A Shack of Sit and as a powerful force of nature. She introduced many Mensans to the Shack, giving them Playa names, and a place in Black Rock City. She was one of the warmest and most welcoming people Judy has ever known. Judy said that I met her, and many of you, when I wanted to return to the Burn in 2012 and couldn't find anyone to go with me. I'd heard about the Mensa Camp and wound up getting a ticket through Reno Ron. I also added Playa Farmer Luna, who came with me to the Burn that year and many more. Boisee was that special kind of leader who led organically, letting the camp grow around her. There were no rules, no dues, and lots of fun. That was the very first year of The Applesauce Cafe, which operated until 2021. She was the catalyst for so many of the wonderful relationshipsI made through the years. My life was greatly enriched by my association with Boisee and by so many of you who have become my dear Playa Family.

Beth remembers her as a doer – if something needed to be done, she would jump in and do it.

Alice camped with our Talk With Strangers theme camp at SOAK four times with her last time being 2018. She was also a SOAK volunteer Ranger. She brought her love for others, enthusiasm, friendliness, kindness, wisdom and joy. She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her.

Stephen Fostick, aka Bertha’s Keeper, says that she was a kind soul and treated others well.

Jodi White, aka Captain Obvious, the current leader of the SOAK camp, said that she was there at SOAK their first year with Strangers when Boisee was there.

Dottie Hollister aka Bird, reports that Boisee was a special person who made time to really connect with people she met. One conversation she had with Uncle Rick and Dottie about our family with a single mom raising two sons remains firmly in my memory. She was a trustworthy friend to share those tender stories with. I always wished she would come to SOAK one more time. I am sad that will never happen now. But hold on to an image of joy for her passing on to whatever her path onward has become.

She lived in a large home with many cats on Cole Road in Boise and she had a lot of things in it, a very crowded space to say the least, some of which included her art work. One of her textile portraits was of St. Ignatius, the Patron Saint of the Basque country which she gave to some Basque leaders around the time of Jaialdi, a Basque event held every five years in Boise. She also was a very generous person and allowed others to park and live in a 5th wheel trailer on her property for some time.