By Samantha Berkhead
News Editor
When a vehicle fatally struck 24-year-old Ashley Sandau, ’10, ’11, in Los Angeles March 30, reverberations of the pain of her loss echoed throughout the St. Bonaventure community.
During her time here, she had been a teammate, a student, an intern, a role model and a friend. She had become known to others for her perseverance, motivation and selfless manner of living.
Those whom she impacted gathered at the University Chapel Wednesday evening to honor the life she lived. Beneath gossamer streamers that flowed between the chapel’s chandeliers, Sandau’s story was shared.
Bob Macfarlane, women’s cross country head coach, only met Ashley, who ran cross-country, twice during his time at St. Bonaventure.
“Those occasions speak a lot about her character,” Macfarlane said. “Two years ago, when I applied for this position, I was being interviewed by some of the runners — Ashley was one of them. She asked me point-blank, ‘What are you going to do to improve the team?’ Talking to her showed her character — she was worried about other people more than herself. That was very impressive.”
Their second meeting reinforced Macfarlane’s initial impression of the girl who would do anything for her team.
“We didn’t have anyone to take pictures of the team, and I just didn’t have the time to do it,” he said.
“A couple days later, Ashley comes to my office and says, ‘Coach, I heard you need some help. … Can I take pictures at some of the meets?’ Once again, her character stood out. I did realize what an amazing young woman she was. She lived her life to make others happy. She was a true friend and a true teammate.”
Senior Steve Ross, a teammate of Sandau’s, recalled the way she would inspire every runner to do his or her best.
“The hardest race I ever ran was the (Atlantic) 10 tournament in St. Louis in 2009,” Ross remembered. “I sank to my ankles in mud and I had just recovered from a midseason bout of swine flu. With one mile left, I saw Ashley and her two best friends cheering for me. To this day, I believe that extra push helped me finish the race and not drop out — even though I was the worst runner in the entire A-10.”
Sandau’s professors also remarked on her strong academic work ethic. She completed her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and her master’s degree in integrated marketing communications in five years, along with interning with the sports information department and working the front desk at the Richter Center.
“Many students and others learned I was her adviser and professor,” Denny Wilkins, professor of journalism and mass communication, said. “They asked me, ‘Who was Ashley?’ In my answers, I found a measure of peace because I found Ash. I said that, as a student, Ash was brilliant but reluctant to accept the spotlight. As an athlete, she endured pain beyond measure to help you. As a friend, she made me smile. She outshone the rest of us.”
For many — whether they made it to the service or not —Sandau’s death will forever be inexplicable. But the imprints she left on St. Bonaventure during her life will be next to impossible.
“That image of the runner is archetypal for all of us,” Father Francis DiSpigno, O.F.M., executive director of University Ministries, said. “I remember asking one of my brother friars who had just come back in from a run, ‘Are you running from something or running to something?’ because you’re usually doing one or the other.”
berkhesj10@bonaventure.edu
