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A Local Finder Is A Real Keeper

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 31, 2008

CARROLLWOOD - It started as a favor.

Linda Rakita, 59, was asked to help find a friend's father 30 years ago. Armed with only a few details, such as a common name and a military background, Rakita was able to find her friend's father after more than a year of searching, before the age of the Internet.

"Since then, I've been helping people do that," Rakita said. "It just kind of made me twinkle. I wanted to help him. I love helping people."

A 20-year Carrollwood resident, Rakita said she "loves to make question marks into exclamation marks," and is always figuring out word and numerical puzzles.

After years of helping friends locate people as an investigative specialist, Rakita got a job with International Locaters, a company hired by talk shows to locate people long lost to the show's guests. Later, she worked for myfamily.com, also known as ancestory .com.
Rakita said the Internet has changed everything about searching for people, and almost all of her research is done online. Before the Internet, she had to rely on expensive long-distance telephone calls and letters that she could only hope reached the right person. Searching for people was a longer process.

But she got a thrill from the challenge. She said a happy reunion is most rewarding.
Rakita said she has reunited thousands of people.

Steve Katz, for example, wondered what happened to his friend Jeannie, whom he went to college with from 1968 to 1971.

He said he wondered if she were happy and where she was living. Katz, who lives in Massachusetts, said within 24 hours Rakita had found his friend. She was living unmarried with her brother in upstate New York. Katz said telephone conversations were as natural as those college days.

"Although she was always in good spirits," Katz said, "over the course of the year, I sensed that something was wrong."

He found out she had a disabling neurological condition after a car accident and suffered through painful medical treatments. Katz's friend died soon after she stopped treatment.

"Because of the talent and compassion of Linda Rakita, I was given a year with my friend Jeannie that I would never have had," Katz said. "I owe a great deal of gratitude to Linda for giving my friend back to me, and I treasure the year we had together."
Rakita is offering a class through the Life Enrichment Center, a nonprofit agency that keeps Tampa Bay seniors active. Ronna Metcalf said the eight-week people-finder course this summer will be $100. Rakita said courses begin whenever an individual decides to start.

"Linda Rakita's online friends and family investigative course has been well-received, and we feel fortunate to have her here as one of our talented instructors," Metcalf said.
Rakita said students utilize lessons at home online and said they can reach her anytime. She said her investigative work has spread by word of mouth. Those who would like to hire her can reach her at yoursearchlight@aol.com.

Especially early on, Rakita said she was not a good businesswoman while doing plenty of free work for friends. Though she said there is no average investigation, she said she often charges $50 to $100. "People tell me I should charge $1,000," she said.
Rakita said taking a class is a better value because once a student learns the skill they know how to search for anyone.
Rakita said those thinking about searching for people should have as much information about the person as possible. Living people are harder to find than the dead "because the dead don't move," she said, and females are more difficult to locate because of name changes.
Rakita said she not only finds people, she does all kinds of background checks. That includes builders contracted by homeowners and job candidates.
Rakita said she doesn't take all requests and prides herself on knowing when it may be inappropriate to locate someone. "Sometimes I'll just say, 'She broke up with you for a reason,'" Rakita said.

Nancy Lutwin's search, however, was something Rakita could get behind. Lutwin gave up her son for adoption 40 years ago in San Francisco. After searching throughout the United States and Asia, Rakita found Lutwin's son in Thailand.

"I admit that I was very nervous and even ambivalent about whether I truly wanted to take the plunge and look for my son," said Lutwin, who lives in New York City. "Linda put me at ease, helped me through my fears and offered me the emotional support I needed throughout the whole complicated process."
Rakita said reunions can be the most difficult part of the process. She said she leaves it to the client to contact the person. But she coaches people on how to establish contact. She calls it "to gently reunite."

"It means you can't force yourself on somebody," Rakita said. "Just because you may be thinking about finding them for years or months doesn't mean they've been thinking about finding you. And you can't impose yourself on them. You have to be gentle about it."
Rakita said reunions are not always happy. She sometimes has to tell friends or family members that a person is dead, and sometimes at a young age.
Rakita said one woman was looking for her estranged husband to sign divorce papers. He was found in another state, married.

She said her career is a good conversation starter.

"I have never, ever, met anybody who, upon mentioning what I do, did not say 'I wonder what happened to so and so,'" Rakita said. "Even if they don't want to make contact, they want to know how they're doing, if they're alive."

ABOUT LINDA RAKITA
INVESTIGATIVE SPECIALIST: Rakita began finding people 30 years ago and has worked for television shows and Web sites. She began teaching classes 10 years ago.

CLASSES: She offers eight-week classes through the Life Enrichment Center, 9704 N. Boulevard. Individuals may begin anytime from home, and Rakita is available for assistance.

COST: Classes through the center cost $100 during summer, and searches done by Rakita often range $50 to $100.

CONTACT: Rakita may be contacted at yoursearchlight@aol.com.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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