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