Sarah

An out-of-control driver took the life of a bright young woman this weekend. Sarah Gilfillan (far left) was 26 years old and assistant director of development at UCLA's Fowler Museum. We had worked together at LACMA shortly after she had graduated from college. She had thrown herself into life full-stop and deserved to reap more than this. It's a real and appalling tragedy. My sincere condolences to her close friends and family.

Comments

[dan reines]

1.  That's terrible, Jon. Sorry for the loss of your friend.

[ryu]

2.  Condolences

[D4P]

3.  Very sad. I know a responsible young man who in the last year or so was in a hurry and blasted through a stop sign at 50 mph and broadsided another vehicle. Both cars were totaled, but fortunately, no one was hurt.

I think about that everyone time go through a green light now. Even though I'm completely obeying the law and doing nothing wrong, it only takes a mistake (or irresponsible act) on the part of another driver and my life could be ended.

Sting has a (beautiful) song about "how fragile we are". It's so true. We can only do so much to protect ourselves, but ultimately, our lives are not in our own hands.

[Gen3Blue]

4.  Appalling. I always seem to wonder why?.

[Sam DC]

5.  So sorry to hear this sad news. My condolences to you Jon, and to all affected by this tragedy.

[Matt Conroy]

6.  Sorry to hear that Jon. Very sad news. RIP Sarah.

We had a scare last year when an out-of-control driver came skidding across our front lawn and nearly struck my son. Life is very fragile.

[LAT]

7.  Sorry Jon.

The worst thing that can happen to a parent.

[LogikReader]

8.  Oh my... Jon I am so sorry to hear this terrible news. My thoughts are with you, Sarah, and her family.

[Ken Noe]

9.  Very sorry. Sad and senseless.

[Pedro Astacio]

10.  .

[DXMachina]

11.  That's such a terrible thing. Condolences, Jon.

[MC Safety]

12.  Having dealt with this before on more than one occasion, I would like to extend my thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of this young woman. There is nothing worse than losing someone you love so senselessly.

[Don Tordilla]

13.  Condolences, Jon.

Garland rumor is no more, he's going to the Angels for Cabrera:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118872

[dianagramr]

14.  13

ummm .... let's keep baseball out of this one post, OK?

My condolences Jon.

[Jon Weisman]

15.  Thanks, Don. I'm going to move open chat up to a thread above.

[Jon Weisman]

16.  And by the way, no offense taken at all. It's not as if I made it clear where the baseball chat went.

[CajunDodger]

17.  Very sorry for you loss.

Just no rhyme or reason that we can see sometimes...

[old dodger fan]

18.  My condolences also.

Had something similarly senseless in my extended family several years ago.

Give someone you love a hug. We never know what the day brings.

[Don Tordilla]

19.  Sorry, didn't know where to put it :(

[Daniel Zappala]

20.  My prayers are with Sarah's family and friends.

[ToyCannon]

21.  My condolences to the parents, family, and to those that knew and loved her.

[Jacob L]

22.  This is heartbreaking, Jon. And I hope its not inappropriate to implore people to be more aware of how they drive.

[dzzrtRatt]

23.  Jon, I am so sorry about your friend and her family.

As a parent, I find stories like this unbearable.

[Linkmeister]

24.  My sympathies to her family, friends and coworkers.

[briano]

25.  My deepest heartfelt condolences to you Jon and Sarah's family. As a father, my heart aches.

[Jon Weisman]

26.  22, 23, 25, et al - That's how it's hitting me. It's not about condolences for me. It's about condolences for her family, dovetailing with my own fears as a parent and disgust with drunk or grossly irresponsible drivers.

[bhsportsguy]

27.  It is very sad, one of my cousins was killed the same, she was even younger, it didn't hit me the same as it would now because I too was so much younger but I always think of one word, waste.

Condolences to her family and all her friends and the people she touched everyday.

[El Lay Dave]

28.  My condolences to Sarah's family and friends who are likely struggling to deal with this tragic event. Such events defy rational explanation, making answers hard to come by. This was my extended family's experience earlier this year when we suffered the loss of someone far too young and far too soon.

[madskier]

29.  Heard the news this AM about Sarah and I'm struggling as I have known Sarah's parents for nearly 30 years and can't believe that some crazy driver has taken her from them. They are strong people with solid family values and faith - and I am praying that such faith can give them strength through this ordeal. But their lives are forever changed and tinged with loss and sadness. Brutal.

[paranoidandroid]

30.  Horrific. Her picture is vibrant and telling. She deserved better. The Fowler is a fine museum, they wouldn't hire just anybody. While mourning is in order first, I am glad that justice will be served later to the driver who caused her death. That certainly won't bring her back or ease her family's pain, but it makes me at least realize that my distant anger at a stranger over the death and injuries of others who were innocent victims of circumstance won't allow someone so negligent to claim this was an accident.

Be well Jon. Baseball will be a diversion for you in the near future. It has to be put aside for now and it's very appropriate to do so. I will keep you and her family in my thoughts. All your posters hurt when you hurt. I've spent time on your blog thinking I was hurting over silly games and player attitudes. You've brought a perspective to all of us that I think we need to have in our lives always. Take care.

[MollyKnight]

31.  I hate this so much. I lost two friends in college in separate car accidents, and now every time my phone rings in the middle of the night I assume the worst. I think about it every day.

Over the weekend I went to a wedding in LA where there was considerable drinking and I couldn't believe some people were trying to drive home. I even took the keys from one of my friends. LA is so horrible for this kind of thing. In New York City everyone walks or takes a cab or the subway when they go to bars, baseball games etc., so this sort of thing just doesn't really happen. I can't imagine being on the streets at 215 am on a Sunday morning in LA. I'd fear for my life. And here this poor girl and her friends are doing the responsible thing and taking a cab somewhere, and they get broad-sided. It's just infuriating.

[Bluebleeder87]

32.  wow, that is horrible. My sincerely condolences go out to the family.

[PadreJeremy]

33.  I hate these stories but they are a reminder of how tragic life can be and how bad things seem to happen to good people for no reason. I lost my sister who was 17 the same way. I pray for her parents and hope they are in contact with other parents who have also lost a child under similar circumstances.

[A Dad]

34.  As a Dad who watched Sarah grow up with my daughter, Holly, I have some fond memories of the the girls, playing on the volleyball team together. I remember her at other school events at Poly. I recall jamming a bunch of the girls- including Sarah- into my car and driving them to a dance. I also remember seeing Sarah one night when I was in Old Pasadena and we spoke for a bit.

She was always full of life and laughter and I know that her family will miss her terribly. We all will...