When she walked past the door of TigerBlog HQ yesterday afternoon, like she had a million times before and figured to a million times again, Lorin Maurer paused, smiled and kept going. She never said a word; TigerBlog didn't say anything back to her.
Who could have ever have imagined it would be the last time we'd ever see her?
Lorin Maurer was killed late Thursday night when Continental Connection Flight 3407 crashed near Buffalo. She was heading there for the wedding of her boyfriend's brother (her boyfriend was not on the flight); she was just 30 years old.
TigerBlog knew Lorin since she first started working here in 2005. We've worked together any number of times on all kinds of projects. As with any people who approach projects from different angles, we had our disagreements and clashes, but for the most part we were on the same page.
She was young and full of life. She had accomplished a great deal in her young life, and sadly, much of that was learned while writing her obituary. The last time TigerBlog ever saw her summed her up perfectly. Nothing to say? Flash a smile, and let that speak for you: "Hello; hope you're doing okay; I'll see you another time."
So what to make of all this? How do you make sense of the fact that a 30-year-old just starting out, with so much energy and zest, is gone like that? How do you rationalize the fact that you were just in the same meeting the day she died, that you have another meeting scheduled with her on Monday? How do you figure that you came to HQ figuring to work on a lacrosse program and that you wrote a youthful colleague's obit instead?
The first reaction is that you never know what's coming down the road, so you have to stop every day to appreciate whom you have and what you have. But that should all be obvious. It's not something we all do enough of, but Lorin's passing isn't going to change that.
She had a great many friends here at Princeton, not only in the athletic department but also in development and with alums throughout the country with whom she interacted. She was well-liked and well-respected for the job she did.
TigerBlog thought for awhile about something profound to say, some inspiration to draw from her death. In the end, what is there to say?
She was here yesterday, so alive. She's gone today. It's beyond sad.
That's all there is to say.
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11 comments:
I am extremely sad to hear of Lorin’s death. She was a great asset to the University and a wonderful person to work with. My condolences go out to her family and friends. She will be greatly missed.
Ted Stephens
That's exactly the happy and out-going Lorin that all of us who worked with her at Florida have been remembering today. Such sad news.
Lorin was a special young lady that I had the privilege to work with at the Devard Darling Football Camp in the Bahamas. Her great attitude, huge smile, and get it done work ethic were an inspiration to the children she served and all the friends she worked with. When you get a chance, flash a smile and get out there and do something in your community for young people. I am willing to be Lorin would look down and smile if you did.
You never really begin to realize how interconnected we all truly are until something tragic like this occurs. It is in that very instance that you recollect all of the interactions you were fortunate enough to have with Lorin. I count myself as one of the many folks here at Office of Development who will feel Lorin's absence in the hallways at the Helm Bldg. My sincerest condolences and regards to her family and friends. In peace and grace...
I've known Lorin just under a year, and will never forget her smile and openness. She has impressed her blessings into so many of us. Lorin, her family and friends, and each of you are in my prayers. She won't be forgotten, but remembered and celebrated.
Patrick J. Lee (Alaska)
May memories of the special person she was be remembered and celebrated. Sincere condolences to all her family.
I still remember Lorin’s first day in the Development office back in 2005. Delighted at how friendly and likable she was, I immediately knew she would fit right in with the rest of the Development Priorities/Individual and Institutional Giving family. I never would have thought that four years later I would be saying goodbye to her like this. She will be greatly missed.
Tara Schaufler
I did not know Lorin but I work at Princeton. I heard of this tragedy on Friday and got instant chills. A very short life lived.... My deepest sympathy and thoughts go out to the family, her boyfriend, friends, collegues, and to all the lives that she touched.
I was truly shocked and saddened by the news of Lorin's death. I never met her in person, but I worked with her on the phone for countless hours from October to December of 2008. She helped sponsor a Women's Basketball Reception that was held out here in Berkeley, CA. She was so helpful and kind and she was really excited to show Princeton's support for women's athletics. Lorin had wanted to come out here to attend the event, and I know I would have immediately considered her a friend. I hope that her family and friends realize that even near strangers could feel Lorin's warmth and appreciate her passion for life. She certainly will remain a special person who touched many lives.
I never met Lorin, but I did play water polo for the university and she would come on deck from time to time. I remember that our assistant coach would yell HI LORIN just to confuse me (my name is also Lauren) and when both of us would respond, we would always exchange smiles. I am sad to here that she has passed away, and send my condolences to her family and friends. She had a fantastic and energetic smile, and I am glad to have the interaction with her that I did.
While I never met Lorin in person, she was a pleasure to work with from afar. As a leader of the Princeton Club of Northern California, I worked with Lorin to organize alumni & student-athlete get togethers. I'm very sorry to learn of her passing, but she has left her positive mark on improving the relationships between the regional alumni associations and Princeton's HQ.
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