Binde, Deanne Elizabeth (1987-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Jun 2 p. 6

Birth date: 1987

text of obituary:

Goshen College mourns student's death in crash

By Richard R. Aguirre

Goshen College

GOSEHN, Ind. — A Goshen College student traveling home at the end of the school year died in an automobile crash near St. Paul, Minn., the college reported May 24.

Deanne Elizabeth Binde, 21, was a junior communication and theater major from Lake Park, Minn. The daughter of Dale and Debbie Binde, Binde participated in three Goshen theater department productions over the past year and many other campus and community activities.

Presdient James E. Brenneman said the campus community was mourning the tragic loss. Students, faculty and staff were informed of Binde's death in person, by telephone and by email May 13.

"We pray for God's sustaining comfort for Deanne's family and friends during this period of loss," Brenneman said. "We have fond memories of Deanne's time at the college. She brought joy to many people, particularly her energy and performances on the stage and behind the scenes."

The Minnesota State Patrol reported that near Woodbury, Minn., Binde's car drifted across interstate Highway 94 about 10:25 p.m. May 22, struck the center median and overturned. Two other cars then struck her car, in which she was driving alone. The other motorists escaped with either minor injuries or no injuries at all, the State Patrol said.

Last fall, she played the lead in the mainstage play Step on a Crack, the story of a young girl's adjustment to changes in her family. this spring she was in the cast of the mainstage play Absolutely! [perhaps]. And during the just-concluded May Term, she was the technical director assistant for the production of the musical Quilters.

In addition to her love of theater, she was a disc jockey for The Globe (91.1 FM), played on the women's softball team, recycled with the Eco-PAX environmental club and was a member of the Catholic Student Association. During the spring of her sophomore year, she participated in the college's Study-Service Term program in the Dominican Republic.

In the community she volunteered with Meals on Wheels and La Casa, and regularly attended St. John's Catholic Church.

Doug Liechty Caskey, professor of theater and communication, said Binde had a positive spirit and cared for others.

"I never felt she was a person who put herself first, and that made her an extremely important person," said Caskey, who was Binde's adviser and mentor. "I just can't believe this. For me, her spirit is not going anywhere fast. It's going to stay with a lot of people."

Bill Born, vice president for student life and dean of students, is coordinating support efforts on campus.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Jun 9 p. 12

text of obituary:

Goshen remembers student who died in May

By Tyler Falk

Goshen College

GOSHEN, Ind. — On the same stage that Deanne Binde played the funny and imaginative character Ellie in the fall mainstage play, Step on a Crack, the Goshen college community gathered May 29 to remember her and pray for her family.

A automobile accident took the life of the talented 21-year-old student May 22 as she was traveling home to Lake Park, Minn., at the end of the school year.

At noon about 70 members of the college community gathered on the Umble Center stage to pray, sing and share memories of Binde, while, simultaneously, a memorial service was being held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lake Park. thirty-eight students faculty and staff were in attendance at the memorial service. Members of the college's Study-Service Term units in Nicaragua, Peru and Senegal also paused for prayer.

Binde was the daughter of Dale and Debbie (Saunders) Binde, the fifth of seven children.

"We have all been touched by her presence among us," said assistant campus pastor Tamara Shantz, who led the service. "She had a gift for welcoming others and making them feel comfortable."

During a time for sharing, professor of Bible, religion and philosophy Jo-Ann Brant said, "There was a quality about her that was so special. She was such a true human being."

Binde was a communication and theater major. Along with theater and being a disk jockey on The globe (91.1 FM), she played on the women's softball team, recycled with Eco-PAX environmental club and was a member of the Catholic Student Association.

a Web site has been created in remembrance of Binde at www.goshen.edu/deanne-memorial/.