Diana -

Thank you for sharing this sad news with us. You are an invaluable link to the world of Williamstown for those of us outside the Purple Valley.

What a lovely, accomplished woman Katie was! This is a terrible loss for her family and friends and for the college and environmental community.

I am especially grateful for your posting about Katie because my daughter, who will probably be an Environmental Studies concentrator (/major, if that proposal goes through) will soon be in Williamstown for Previews and, thanks to you, will know in advance that this will be a difficult time for members of her future community. I am so very sad that my daughter won’t have the opportunity to talk about Katie’s Maine work with her and to work with Katie next year.

Morgan sent out this e-mail:

Dear Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of plans for an on-campus remembrance of Katie Craig, ‘08. She was a very close friend of mine and an incredible member of the Williams community. I hope you can join us in a public event to help us all remember our friend.

The Williams community is invited to a gathering on Sunday, convened by College Council in collaboration with the Chaplains’ Office. We will gather beginning at 7:30 p.m. for a candlelight vigil in front of Dodd House, then move into the Dodd House Living Room at 8:00 for a simple service of remembrance and gratitude. Speakers include students, faculty and administrators, and there will be time for anyone who is so moved to share a brief remembrance or tribute to honor the incredible person that she was.

In addition to the ceremony, we are filling a scrapbook with our memories of Katie. Available tomorrow in Kellogg living room will be special paper, pens, and markers. We encourage you to bring pictures, poems, quotes, memories — be creative — to put in the book. You are also welcome to take a page with you and bring it back to Kellogg, or to Dodd in time for the ceremony. Book making will go on all day tomorrow, and the finished work will be displayed on campus before it is sent to Katie’s family.

Many of you who were dear to Katie cannot be at Williams right now and our thoughts go out to you. We especially welcome any memories you would like to have read at the service as well as contributions to the slideshow, book and memories. If you have pictures (that aren’t already tagged as Katie on facebook.com), please send them to Emily Olsen, ‘09. If you have contributions to the book, please send them to Whitney Leonard, ‘08. Thoughts that you wish read at the ceremony can be sent to me.

At present Katie’s family is looking ahead to May for a gathering in her hometown in Maine for a memorial service. As soon as we have news of a date, the Dean’s Office will begin the process of arranging for buses to enable all who wish to attend to do so.

Lastly, we had a lovely campfire on top of Stone Hill last night in Katie’s memory and will be gathering there tonight as well. Please join us after 9:00; bring food and drink.

Your support and understanding has been invaluable during this difficult time. Thank you for everything,

Morgan Goodwin

tears in eyes.

I was only in a couple of classes with Katie, but that was all it took for me to think of her as one of the most remarkable people I encountered at Williams. My heart goes out to everyone who was close to her.

I assume that those of us who are outside of Williamstown can write to Katie’s family c/o the Dean’s Office or CES. If some sort of a memorial fund is established, please let us know.

A sad Eastertide for everyone this year. One of the sadder aspects of a close community is the depth of the pain of loss. Fortunately, you have each other. I was touched by the excursions to the hilltop, the news of the service in Dodd, and the plans for the book.

I am katies first cousin and this came to a real shock when i found out katies death. i loved her so and i wish for her to rest in peace.
xx

rip katie