Departures [S. Worthen

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In the last week, two people I didn't know well enough died.

Hal Clement, hard SF writer and ardent convention goer, passed away. The Penneys sent the news around, and

paladyn posted a memoriam for him. He was a familiar face from all sorts of conventions in the greater New England area, giving talks on scientific topics, usually astronomic or physics-related. Kuomori admired him greatly. It's thanks to her that I first really noticed his presence at conventions.

This morning, I learned that Erica Schmitt (Smith '99) died in a car crash on Friday night.

darktouch wondered at his somewhat flighty friend's absence from his wedding, but the reality made it all clear in retrospect. As proof that I never knew her well enough, I offer the fact that I can't remember if I knew her from my house or SSFFS, but I'm certain it was one of the two. Regardless, it put a shadow on my morning.

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There are 10 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

The name Erica Schmitt sounded really familiar so I looked it up in my Smith yearbook. She lived in Park House and was a double major in classical studies and psychology. I knew her from the psychology department. I have some vague memories of us talking shop and studying together. When I was still with D- I randomly ran into her at a bookstore in New Jersey. My condolences to all of her friends and loved ones.

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Thank you for having a yearbook handy and setting my day-long frustrated wondering at rest. That explains it - I knew her from my house. We overlapped for two years there.

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The name Erica Schmitt also sounds familiar but I didn't know anyone outside of SSFFS particularly well. Is there a public access picture?

As for people passing on (or leaving, since sometimes it's the same). I think the hard part is not the absence but the lack of things said and done.

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I don't have a picture handy - and my yearbooks are all back in the U.S.

darktouch mentioned that she dated Goose at some point, though, so clearly she had at least some passing UMSFS connections.

You're right, the hard part is what I - what anyone - can no longer do.

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Photo and obituary: http://www.livejournal.com/community/smithalums/12709.html

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You can go to www.remembererica.com to view a picture.

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erica schmitt? was she short, with red hair and a big personality? if she's the woman i'm thinking of, she sang in the vibes with quanda and me-- she was the other low alto.

:(

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That would be her.
Alyson should be posting about it sometime today in the Smith Alum LJ community. We've been doing our best to get in touch with everyone who should have known about it but its difficult because she knew just about everyone.

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I thought the name sounded familiar. I knew her from the Vibes, too. That's really tragic. Condolences from my part of the world, too.

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damn. i knew her too. i knew her from haven, larps, bloody *everywhere*. she will be missed.

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S. Worthen | Weblog

Departures

Sadness

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Erica

picture of Erica

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October