The Toughest Girl in the World has left us...

Alicia Joy Rivard November 18, 1965 - January 04, 2026.

Alicia Joy Rivard - AJ to colleagues and charges, My Leesh to her nephew and nieces, and Licia to her brothers, sister, and parents - has left us.

The third of four children, Alicia, began defeating the world early in life. At eight years old and female, she punched through any barrier and became a first-round Boy's Little League pick for the Ira Township, Michigan Braves. She could beat a boy up, throw him out at second, and knock in the winning run from the plate, all within an hour.

She did it regularly.

She represented Ira Township in several All-Star appearances. She was a novelty: A dominate female player on a field filled with boys and bleachers filled with curious spectators come to see if the tales of the Toughest Girl in the World was true. All discovered the tales were true.

She entered college on a scholarship and played as an All-League softball catcher for Wayne State University. In her prime, she commanded the softball field as the team's catcher and leader.

Following college, there were no barriers to the things she wanted to do. She continued to participate in competitive softball with her friends and partner in places as far away as Florida, Colorado, and Pennsylvania.

Sport allowed her to display her toughness, but it was her ability to refocus that grit to others needing help that confirmed her title of Toughest Girl in the World.

For several years, she worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor for jailed, paroled, and half-way house convicts in the greater Grand Rapids area. These individuals were convicted, previously violent men who were placed in AJ's charge.

Convicts who intimidate found their powers useless when dealing with the Toughest Girl in the World. She held together three half-way houses and several dozen residents with a strong, experienced, and wise hand. Some were returned to prison at her behest, while others look back with praise and gratitude for her firm guiding hand.

Preceded in death by her sister Stacey, Alicia Joy is survived by her parents Richard and Stacia Rivard, her brothers Kenton and Jeffery, her nieces, Arizona, Cassandra, Reagan, Ryllie, and her nephew Kenton.