Friends say shooting victim kept an upbeat outlook on life

CLACKAMAS, Ore. - Friends of shooting victim Teresa Beiser, who was shot to death Tuesday by her husband while at work in a drug-testing lab, said she kept a bright outlook on life even during a difficult divorce.

Thom Bowser, Teresa’s bodybuilding trainer at Health Habit in Clackamas showed off her trophies and pictures Wednesday at the gym.

“She was never down,” said Bowser. “She always popped into the gym with a big smile, a big hug.”

Bowser described Teresa as dedicated to her workouts, her job, but most of all, to her two children who often came to the gym as well.

“She talked about it every time she came in to train and work out,” Bowser said. “They were the loves of her life.”

He said she did talk about her estranged husband Robert and she said he was not stable.

“Oh yeah, she did say that one day he would be OK and the next day he would be just angry and mean-spirited. She told me that he bought three guns after he moved out,” Bowser said.

But Bowser said Teresa found the positive side of everything and was gaining success as a bodybuilder. She competed at Seven Feathers Casino last month and placed second in mixed pairs with her bodybuilding partner Mike Klettke. She also earned second place in her own division as well.

She caught the eye of others in the Oregon bodybuilding community including the owners of Max Muscle. The owners of the stores with locations in Portland and Bend said they plan to put a small memorial on its Web site and start a fund for her children.

“There’s two kids left behind, you know, without a mother and father. Now, I mean, being a parent you never want to have to think of a situation like that yourself,” said Max Muscle co-owner Dominic Current.

Friends and family said the death of this bright and happy woman is almost impossible to believe.

“How can this be?” said Bowser. “Teresa’s not going to be walking through that door anymore. That’s just deadening.”

Teresa Beiser’s employer, Legacy Health, is in the process of setting up a fund to help her children.