Letters of Sympathy and Support
Tuesday, September 21 2004
UI President Tim and Karen White’s letter on the student tragedies at UI brought these messages of sympathy and support from alumni and friends. Additional messages for posting on this page can be sent to uinews@uidaho.edu My heartfelt condolences to the families of the three young men who lost their lives this past weekend. My daughter being only three years old, I can hardly fathom the loss of a teenager, but I can imagine the love and care and effort that goes into raising a child. Losing one's child in such tragic ways as these families have is unspeakable. My thoughts and prayers are with them. Beate Reinecke (née Reich - class of '86) Toenisvorst, Germany Thank you so much for the information. My son Benjamin is in the Delta Sigma Phi house and has kept his Dad and I informed as to what was going on. I do appreciate the university coming forth and also keeping us posted. Our thoughts and prayers are with each and every student at UI, they will need it to get through all of this. Sincerely, Jan Kinnas What a beautiful tribute to three young men who I don't know, but made me sad nevertheless to hear about their deaths. Our sympathies to the University of Idaho family, which does include us all. Thank you for sharing in the "extra" Friday letter. From Friday Letter reader Sue Barry '63 Thank you so much for this letter. We have been in contact with our daughter who is a junior and she has been terribly upset. Seems the campus is just small enough that everyone seems to know these men, or knows someone who knew these young men. I appreciate knowing that you are aware of the emotional toll being taken on our young adults on your campus. We are so sorry for all the families involved as well as friends and classmates. We have always been appreciative of your Dean of Students, Mr. Pitman. I am sure he will be taking measures to help our children deal with such grief and fear in the wake of these unfortunate incidents. Sue and Bob VandeWater Seventeen years ago this November, my 21-year-old son Scott died in the same type of motorcycle accident. Losing a child is a tragedy that creates a long mourning. Reading books about mourning with helpful ideas reduces the painful suffering by making it less aggressive. When others suffer this tragedy, I like to tell them they now have a very special guardian angel. Sincerely, Romana Hillebrand Dear President and Mrs. White: I am grateful that you are now in the Idaho family. I can't remember a weekend like this, ever..... Joanna Schmitz Spokane Washington Thank you so much for putting out an extra "Friday Letter" Jason's mom works at my school and it must be such a terrible time for her. Her son and my son, who is also a junior at the UI, were in high school together. Your thought and concern for the families who have lost children this tragic weekend will appreciate you notes to all of us. Marjorie Amos Freeman President White: Thank you for this thoughtful communication. Our thoughts and prayers are with the University of Idaho students, faculty and of course for the families of these students and the "family" of the University of Idaho which you have so aptly defined. Barbara Strickfaden ('63) Meridian, Idaho My sympathies and prayers go out to the families, friends and classmates of the departed ones. May God bring you comfort in your time of grieving. James A. McConnell ‘65 Chaplain, Marion Veterans Hospital, Marion, Indiana My heart is definitely heavy and sad at this time and I hope you all pull together as a community and help each other in ways needed. Talking with my daughter through all this, it sounds like you all helping each other. My prayers are with the families and all of you. Joni Asher We are shocked to hear about these tragic deaths. Please convey our heartfelt sympathies to the grieved families. May Almighty give strength to all relatives and friends of the departed souls. Mashouf and Irshad Shaykh Please extend my deepest sympathies to their families, friends, fraternity brothers and teammates. They will all be in my thoughts today. Christine Viers Dear President White: I was profoundly saddened by your letter informing us of the tragedies of the last weekend. To experience the ofttimes "unfairness" of life does, at times, require all of us to take care of each other. Even half a country away your letter keeps me connected to Idaho, and I thank you for that. Please know you and all the university community are in my thoughts and prayers. Sincerely, Daniel Henderson B.S. Education 1976 Dear Tim and Karen White, My heart weeps for all of you, especially the families and friends of these young men. So much loss. As a healer and psychotherapist, I am well aware of the shock and agony that everyone, faculty, students, are going through. As a mother of young adult women, I can only imagine the devestating grief. Growing up in Moscow, and attending the U of I through graduate school, I often felt sheltered in a cocoon of safety, until reality burst in usually through a tragedy of great magnitude. This is one of those times. I send you my support for your leadership through these tragedies. Wamly, Raechel Bratnick (name change from Karen Bratnick) Please know that all of us here in Griz country are praying for you and holding your football family close in our hearts. Sincerely, Amy Heidt Billings, Montana Dr. White It is a thousand miles from Moscow to Denver, but it is a millisecond in time from the University to our hearts. We have kept up with events since Saturday night with my son and his pain is in his voice and in his sadness for all three young men who died over the weekend. His comments about the sense of loss to all of the families, students, and the university seem to be affecting the young people profoundly. This is a tragic situation for all involved and those family and friends touched by these young men. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, teammates and the University of Idaho family. Thank you for providing us with information and updates. They are appreciated. Bob and Diana Bush Denver, Colorado We just want to express our deepest sympathies to the McMillan family and the U of Idaho family. Our prayers go out to all of you in this time of senseless tragedy. We pray for swift justice. The Haskell Family Spokane County, Wash. Thank you for expressing your condolences so eloquently! How sad that such violence has invaded our wonderful campus. I was just at the Theta House on Saturday for an advisory board meeting. As I drove away, I was reflecting on my experience as an undergraduate and how beautiful and serene the area was and how similar it seemed. So to read about these tragedies the next day was especially poignant. My sincere sympathy to all of you. Ellomae DeMond I am alumni from Rainier Beach High School class of 97' with the accused brothers. I would like to let everyone at U of I know that our deepest sympathy goes out to the teachers, students, and staff of the three young student that passed. We too are mourning as two of our very own are involved with the Eric McMillian case. Keep your heads up and know that this is not only affecting you all as well but this is a national moment of sorrow, that is affecting so many young people that know the Wells brothers too. Shawna O'Neal As I watched the unfolding news throughout the last week, I couldn't help but to feel the sorrow as though I had personally been a friend of Eric , Jason and Jack. As I saw the pictures of Eric's apartment and remembered my time living in that same place, the many friends I had on the football team, and the fun times we spent in those apartments and on campus, I can't help but feel the loss that I know his friends are feeling. I am praying for the students on campus as well as for the families of these young men. And I am feeling the pain with each of you. When you live in Moscow and go to U of I, the students that you become friends with really do become a family - and a close knit one at that. As you each go forward, remember to hold on to the friendships you make during your time at U of I and value them. They can last and make your life wholly better. Bridgett Linnebach (class of '98) Dear Tim and Karen, First, thank you for your note. Being an avid Vandal and alumni my wife and I are truly saddened by the news of the past week. In June of 1997 we lost a son in a tragic accident which was so hard. He was close to graduating from the University of Idaho as a third generation Vandal. After eight years it seems like yesterday at times, and we do know the hurt that these families are going through at this time. What I wanted to share with you is something that was helpful to both my wife and our family. There is a book by Richard Edler, Into the Valley and Out Again. It is a very helpful book for those of us who have lost a child. I also recommended it to our friends so they could understand what we were going through. If you have not read this book you should as it will help you understand and help those going through this hardship. Also I would like you to know that the U of I, under Dr. Hoover, after a short period of time, gave our son a diploma posthumously. I can assure you this was truly a wonderful moment for our family and made us feel like the University of Idaho did care about our child and that they had not forgot about Todd. In closing, I am sorry for the tragedies of the past week. It is a truly sad and hard time for all. But out of all of this tragedy will come some positives that will help everyone become stronger and helpful to others. If we can ever be of help or guidance please use us as a resource. Sincerely, Dr. Skip and Linda Pierce Please convey my condolences to the families of these young men who were so prematurely and tragically taken from their youth and promise. I appreciate the kind and warm message of sympathy from President and Mrs. White. Please thank them for their perceptive and caring message. With every sympathy, I am Yours Truly, Linda Pall Attorney at Law and Moscow City Council Member We are praying that all the families and friends will be comforted. We earnestly pray that justice will prevail and that answers will forthcoming, and that those responsible for the murder of Eric M will be held accountable for their actions. We pray that some lasting good will come out of the tragic murder of Eric M. at the University level, perhaps a special scholarship or memorial of some sort that would aid indigent students. Sincerely, Bob and Trish Thurston As a graduate of the U. of I and parent of a current U. of I . Senior. I appreciate the heartfelt and personal updates on these tragedies. I am a School Superintendent who knows a little of what you are dealing with and I am very appreciative of the communications and thoughts. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you and thank you for the way you are handling both the communication to Alumni and the situation. Respectfully, Brad Royse I, like all U of I alumni, am stunned by the horrible tragedies that occured last weekend in Moscow. Two students having their young lives taken by a motorcycle accident and then a murder of a U of I football player. Unfortunately, tragic vehicle and motorcycle accidents do happen. But the murder of a student athlete? I have been a Vandal Booster since my sister attended the university from '63 to '67 and I was a student from '71 to '75. I can't ever remember a crime like the one that took Eric McMillan's life. Moscow has always been such a unique, beautiful college town. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Eric McMillan, Jason Yearout and Jack Shannon. Joe Good Mr. President, My heartfelt condolences to the families of the three young men who lost their lives this past weekend. It was a really sad news and my heart goes with the family and the friends of the victims. May God Almighty give the families courage and strength to face this unthinkable loss. Sincerely, Mohsin Qureshi, MS Metallurgical Engineering, 2002 Des Moines, Iowa
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