From Staff Reports


8/17/2001	Welcome Back Issue

Purdue mourns summer deaths

From Staff Reports

The Purdue community lost 10 people this summer. Here are the circumstances surrounding seven deaths as well as comments from family and friends.

Katie Burkhart

Katie Burkhart was found dead June 28 in her home on Indiana 25 North in Lafayette with a gunshot wound to the head.

Results of a police investigation have not yet been released and the circumstances surrounding her death are unknown.

Burkhart, who would have been a sophomore in the School of Health Sciences in the fall, enjoyed writing in her journal and jogging around West Lafayette.

Bethany Schneider, a sophomore in the School of Science and Burkhart's former roommate, said, "I think she just ran to escape or for time to think."

Burkhart was spontaneous and once left for a trip to Las Vegas the weekend before Prep week simply to unwind.

"She got the mind to do it and there was no turning back," said Schneider.

Burkhart's father, Bill, described her as a "happy kid and a very smart girl."

He wished everyone at Purdue could have met her.

"She was loved by all of us," he said.

Jeremy Francis

The toxicology reports of a Purdue student found dead in a pond last month have been completed and show that Jeremy Francis, a senior in the School of Consumer and Family Sciences, had a blood alcohol content of .24.

It was also determined that Francis died as a result of drowning.

His body was found floating face up in a pond located northwest of the Purdue University South Power Plant.

Francis had been missing since July 13 when he was last seen running from a State Street bar. Initial autopsy reports ruled out foul play as a factor in the death.

Barry Richard, the adviser at Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where Francis was a member, said, "He was a very well-liked fraternity member and we'll really miss him."

He said Francis was outgoing and active in the house's philanthropy activities.

"He always presented a positive image for the brothers in the house," Richard said.

Laverne Knodle

Laverne Knodle, executive director of management information, was found dead in his home on June 12.

Ken Burns, executive vice president and treasurer, said he will miss the way Knodle was always able to use his sense of humor to make the workplace a relaxed setting.

"Laverne was a people person with a tremendous ability to relate well with people at all levels of the organization," said Burns, executive vice president and treasurer.

Burns said it was too hard to remember some of his favorites moments with Knodle, but said Knodle was hardworking in addition to his humorous side. "He was one of those rare people that brought a sense of humor to the job as well as a high quality of personal efforts."

Knodle had the ability to help people relax during a tense moment and help them focus on whatever task they were working on, said Burns.

Leo Piquet

Rev. Leo Piquet, a former pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, passed away June 9 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Piquet served as pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas Center for 22 years, from 1957 to 1979.

He is remembered for his compassion and for bringing peace during hectic years at Purdue.

"I found him (to be) very helpful, very supportive in working with, and, I think, a deep man of faith and commitment," said Ken Ewing, former pastor of University Church.

He said Piquet was a compassionate man who was willing to learn from those around him and was always willing to meet people half way on issues.

Piquet was dedicated to both the students and the University and could always be seen on campus talking with students and faculty or sharing in presentations.

"He was not a student minister; he was a campus minister," Ewing said.

Ben Summers

Ben Summers, who would have been a junior in the School of Management this fall, died in a car accident on June 1.

One of his friends, Jake Hartle, a junior in the University Division, said Summers was a big brother as well as a friend.

Hartle said Summers looked out for all his friends and was someone people could always go to with their problems, no matter how important or trivial they were.

Another friend, Kaydi Warlick, a junior in the School of Liberal Arts, said Summers was an outgoing person who loved hanging out with his friends. No matter where anyone was going or what he or she was doing, Summers would always become involved, she said.

Warlick said, "If anyone had a problem he would always be there…it didn't matter if he knew you or not; he would sit down and get to know you."

Charles Thurwachter

Charles Thurwachter, assistant professor of computer technology, was found dead July 30 in his home.

County coroner Martin Avolt ruled the death a result of cardiac arrhythmia.

Jeffrey Whitten, head of the department of computer technology, said everyone in the department is in shock.

"He was a really nice guy, very outgoing, fun to be around," he said.

Whitten said Thurwachter was looking forward to the upcoming semester because he had some new ideas for working with wireless communications.

He had written two books. The first, an introduction to telecommunications, just went into its second publishing and he just completed a book on wireless communications.

Thurwachter was an avid scuba diver and had just returned from a scuba diving trip to Australia before he died.

Corissa Yasen

Corissa Yasen, a Purdue alumna, was found dead in her apartment on May 12 of acute multi-drug overdose.

Yasen was arguably one of the best Purdue athletes of all time — playing both track and field and basketball — and she was one of the first female professional basketball players.

"She's at the same level as Brees when it comes to competition," said Morgan Burke, athletic director. "If she had continued, she would have made the Olympic Games and probably won the gold medal. She's that good."

She was a nine-time All-American and 10-time Big Ten champion. In the 1994-95 and 1995-96 school years she was Purdue's Female Athlete-of-the-Year as a junior and senior. She was a Big Ten Medal of Honor winner as well as Big Ten athlete of the year.

Yasen is the most decorated track and field athlete in Purdue history.

She also joined the Purdue women's basketball program, as a starter, during her final year of eligibility.

She graduated from Purdue in 1997 with a degree in pharmacy.

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