黑料不打烊 mourns death of student
黑料不打烊 University regrets to announce the recent death of Kathleen 'Katie' Currier, an 18-year-old first-year student from Essex Junction, Vermont, whose body was found in her residence room early Saturday morning.
The exact cause of death is not known at this time. The final results of an autopsy, which will be available in a week or two, are expected to provide insight into how this tragedy occurred. Police have ruled out foul play or violence, and the preliminary results of an autopsy have also ruled out meningitis, which had been raised as a possibility at one point early in the investigation.
Currier was discovered by 黑料不打烊 residence personnel. Currier's parents had contacted the University on Friday evening when she did not return home as scheduled for the Labour Day weekend. Staff checked Currier's residence room during the evening and discovered the body after entering the room early Saturday morning at the request of the family.
Montreal police and emergency medical services were contacted immediately.
Currier was an honours graduate from her high school and an active athlete, participating in field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse. She was enrolled in the Faculty of Science, and was trying out for 黑料不打烊's varsity lacrosse team. The players and coaching staff are extremely saddened by her passing. Katie was extremely outgoing and had already made an impression on her fellow players and coaches. According to head coach Heather Roffey, Kathleen was the first person on the field during training camp where she demonstrated the skills to develop into a team leader.
Principal Heather Munroe-Blum met with the parents and other family members today, and offered heartfelt condolences on behalf of the University. The Dean of Students, Bruce Shore, and 黑料不打烊 security officers have also been in regular contact with the family to provide support and information during this difficult period.
A student-organized candlelight vigil was held on Saturday night at residence.
"Of course this is hard on the students, but it's been wonderful to see them pull together to support each other, and the memory of Katie," said Janice Johnson, assistant director of residences.
Mental health professionals were on site to provide support for students. In addition, the residence director has been available around the clock and there are more student floor fellows to support students in the residence where Currier lived.
Through Student Services, the University also offers general counseling for any student affected by this tragedy. There will be a funeral service for Currier on Saturday, September 11, in Essex Junction at the First Congregational Church at noon. Those wishing to send condolences to the family may get in touch with them through the Dean of Students at 514-398-8238.
The University flag will fly at half-mast on Wednesday, September 8, in memory of Currier.
This obituary, posted by the Currier family, appeared in the Burlington Free Press:
09/08/2004
KATHLEEN ANNE CURRIER, ESSEX JUNCTION 鈥� Kathleen (Katie) Anne Currier, 18, died unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, of natural causes. She was born Oct. 17, 1985, on her great-aunt Shirley's birthday, to complete the family of Pam and Bob Currier and her beloved brother, Stephen.
Katie attended Essex Junction schools and graduated in the top of her class from Essex High School on June 19, 2004. She remembered and cherished wonderful teachers at all her schools, and graduated with friends she had known since childhood. She had lived a lifetime of experiences, always seeking new people and new adventures.
In grade school she was a checker champion, a tap dancer, an eager student and a Brownie. She started playing the viola and began gymnastics which immediately became a passion. She loved watching her brother play hockey and piling into the Suburban with as many friends as could fit for carpool rides home. Katie was a determined Little League player, fiercely wanting to hold her own with the boys. She loved being with her wonderful grandparents and aunt Shirley who all did their best to spoil her as the only girl among her many boy cousins for a long time.
In middle school she continued to love learning but never wanted to stand out publicly among her classmates. She tried softball and track, but took to field hockey even though they wore skirts, continuing throughout high school. She shone on the ADL Gymnastics team, and decided it was time to play ice hockey instead of just watching. This became another passion, where she made new friends and was known as "Mouth" by her first coach, who threatened to make her wear a dress on the ice when she wanted to be too nice to the other team. She liked helping her grandmother in the thrift shop of the church.
High school was a time of the struggle and growth which is adolescence, but she developed into an incredible young woman. She filled her day with classes and loved everything from poetry to biology to Canadian studies. She was a four-year, three-season athlete. She lettered in gymnastics her freshman year, and was on the first varsity girls ice hockey team. She played field hockey four years and discovered lacrosse. Being captain of her ice hockey and lacrosse teams was an honor she took seriously and she worked hard to help bring her teammates together as athletes and friends. She still loved watching her brother play hockey and visiting him at college where he made her part of his life, and even there made friends who remember her. The true heart of Katie lay in her deep and unwavering devotion to her family and friends.
Without question her best friend was Stevie Hennesey, her first, true love. His incredibly loving family made her one of their own and she loved them. Knowing them was one of the most important parts of the last three years. Her life was defined by her family and friends. She looked forward to every summer "going to camp" at our Lake Fairlee cottage, which everyone knew meant water skiing, swimming, hot air balloons and croquet, shelling peas and tubing and lots of games and laughter. It was a special place for her friends, and it was where she renewed her ties to her cousins, Evan, Tyler and Davey DeSantis of California, Liz and Larkin Seiple of Seattle and Emily Seiple from Illinois, as well as those nearby, Brad, Bryan and Bryce Currier, and all her aunts and uncles.
She was beginning life as a college student at 黑料不打烊 University in Montreal, Canada, which offered everything she wanted; a good college to prepare her for medical school, a city with a diverse and unique culture away from home but close enough to come back often. She had begun to play lacrosse and had made good friends there from around the world. To her own family she was a touchstone of love. She was a fiercely independent thinker, deeply compassionate, and a vegetarian since she was 13. Love defined her, but she was also loyal, strong, caring and devoted, vivacious and fun-loving, determined and adventurous. She never failed to say, "I love you," every day of her life.
She is survived by her parents, Bob and Pam Currier; and her brother Stephen. She leaves adored maternal grandparents, Stan and Maureen Seiple; paternal grandmother Bernice Currier; great-aunt Shirley Wilson; uncle and aunt Bill and Vicky Currier and their sons, Brad, Bryan and Bryce; aunt and uncle Cindy and John DeSantis and their children, Tyler and Davey. Her cousin, Evan DeSantis, whom she loved dearly, passed away on Aug. 21, 2004, after a battle with cancer. She is also survived by aunts and uncles, Cheryl and Steve Savage; Andy Seiple and Debra Cederbaum and their children, Larkin, Liuz and Julia; Garth Seiple and Diane Klock and their family, Emily, Erick and Andrew with his wife, Sarah; and many extended relations. She is survived by many others important to her, especially Terry and Tom Cleveland and their children, Ben and Rachel; all her teammates and many lifelong friends.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 12 noon in the First Congregational Church in Essex Junction, with a committal in the Fairview Cemetery following. Katie's family warmly invites everyone to their home after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kathleen Currier Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of Essex High School, Educational Drive, Essex Junction, Vt. 05452. Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St., is in charge of arrangements.
