Deb & I unexpectedly lost a young friend today, Shante Benford. My FB posts:
I am heartbroken at this unexpected news. I had known Shante since her days in high school, she was a delightful in conversation as well as on the strip, and her loss will be devastating to her family.
RIP, Shante.
Deeply saddened at the sudden loss of Shante Benford. For those too young to know her, she was a fencer full of laughter and happiness, who I had the pleasure of directing in high school meets several times, and many more times of actually fencing her. Shante had a fiancee and a one year old daughter. Her mother, Maria (also known as Elena), still fences from time to time at TCFC.
I will miss her.
I hadn’t seen Shante more than sporadically over the last few years, as she graduated from college, had a child, and planned to marry, but each time it was as if she wasn’t aging – still so happy and delighted with her life, thrilled to see her friends. It’s a shock to lose someone so young, so full of life.
I feel a little older tonight.
