Stephanie Jacobson
The Presidio, San Francisco, CA
June 21, 2002

I am going to share a few stories of Danielle from 10 years ago.

I was lucky enough to live in the same house with her at Smith, and it was amazing. Danielle would walk into the dining room, and things would change. A song would be on the radio in the kitchen, and all of a sudden she would be up on the table singing it, and we'd all be there with her as her adoring public.

I also had the honor of being with her during our senior year when she won the karaoke championship at the World War II Veterans Club, where she really did have an adorning public. Danielle and her partner did "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights." And it was inspiring.

Danielle and I also did a lot of talking about life. Some of the most emotional moments of my life were spent talking to her in the halls of Lamont House. Being in her presence was amazing, and I feel blessed to have known her. It's been strange for me. I work at Smith, and this week I found myself walking across campus, reminded of so many times with Danielle.

Another little story that I love: One night Danielle, another friend and I had a paper due. It was about two in the morning. We were kind of hungry, so we went to Dunkin' Donuts on King Street and had some donuts and some hot chocolate. Then, for some strange reason, we decided we had to find our professor Susan Van Dyne's house. Now Susan Van Dyne didn't live in Northampton. Susan Van Dyne lived out in the mountains somewhere. But there we were driving at three in the morning looking for her house. And we found it. But what did we do when we found it? Absolutely nothing. We just said, "Wait a minute we have papers to finish." So we all went back to our rooms and back to our computers.

But that was the thing. Whenever an idea struck, Danielle went with it. That's what she was about.

I'm very thankful to be here with you all today sharing these memories.

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