Kyle Sullivan

"New Years Celebration 2006:

Scene: The whole high school crew was meeting up for the first time after heading off to college in the fall. Since nobody was 21 we didn't have a mass gathering for everybody on Thanksgiving break or the beginning of winter break. New Years is our first chance for everybody to share stories together and talk about how college is the best thing that has ever happened. Lea and her parents are nice enough to host us all for a party. Everybody meets up with their close circle of friends before going over. Now that we're all in college of course we have to organize a beer pong tournament. We elect to make it a boy-girl tourney. Lindsay and I are drawn as partners. Champagne, liquor and beer are in abundance well before the tournament begins. Lindsay and I are drawn the last game of the first round. Come game time she is nowhere to be found. Turns out she is having too much fun sipping champagne and swapping stories that playing a menial game of beer pong is not on the agenda. She had way too many topics to cover; the endless parties, college boys, fashion, her awesome roommate, all her friends at duke, and of course not having parents around for the first time. This and much more had to be discussed with everybody there so I elected to find a replacement for my little beer pong game. Overall the night was just filled with excited young "adults," keen on verifying with each other that we weren't dreaming and we had actually spent the last several months in a fantasy land they call college. Here we could do whatever we wanted (for the most part). Lindsay wanted to cover every single detail of that experience with everybody at the party.... needless to say she succeeded."

Jordan Preiss, Duke

"I met Lindsay 1105 days ago today…. at a Birthday party. It’s not very often that you remember the exact moment someone came into your life, but she’s the kind of girl who leaves quite an impression. Maybe it was the fact that we were wearing matching outfits (or more likely the fact that Linds was the most open and inviting person on the planet), but for some reason that night we went from complete strangers to amazing friends. In the back of a limo on the way to Raleigh, a trio was formed—Lindsay, Hannah, and I—and for the rest of that summer, we were virtually inseparable. We had fun. We played. We put off responsibilities until the summer heat faded. Of course, we all remained friends long after it was over, but for me the essence of our friendship always comes back to that summer, and that night. I think about you every day Linds, and I owe you a Birthday drink when I see you on the flipside. <3"

Ruffin Sykes, Duke

"Obviously we all have 1000 plus memories of Lindsay, but my lasting impression is simply that she always seemed genuinely happy to see me, and would often make a point of telling me as much. That may seem like a superficial thing to remember about a close friend, but I can still hear Lindsay's voice clear as day greeting me with "Hi, Friend" or "Hello, Beautiful" and remember how truly special it made me feel. Making others feel welcome and appreciated is a small gesture whose impression can and, at least in my case, will last a lifetime, and no one was better at it than Lindsay."

Helen Rankin, Duke

"Birthdays and Lindsay are a magical combination. It seemed that Lindsay thrived when she celebrated the life and times of others. One of my favorite memories of Lindsay was my own 21^st birthday—it was a random Wednesday night in the summer, and hardly anyone wanted to go out and celebrate. Except for Lindsay. She didn’t hesitate to don a birthday hat like a trooper and was ready to celebrate me. She cuddled with my poodle, danced the night away, late-nighted at Cosmic, and even swam in the Belmont pool with me that night. But even more than the fun we had, she also introduced me to one of my best friends that night—Lauren Wessel. She declared that we would be fast friends, and we definitely were. That night is a perfect memory of Lindsay. She wanted to celebrate others, fun followed wherever she went, and she brought people together in marvelous ways. So, today, I turn the tables and celebrate Lindsay and all that she has taught me. Cheers, Lindsay!"

Victoria Harwell

"I haven't been home for Blossom in a couple of years, but reflecting upon that last visit Lindsay immediately pops into my memory. As blurry and crazy as the weekend was I distinctly recall my time with her. Lindsay and I were locked arm in arm skipping down Washington St. She was asking me questions in the most chipper fashion, "so how's life?! how's school?! how have you been?! whats up?!" I remember thinking how infectious Lindsay's consistent positivity was and therefore how super fun she was to be around.

If we go even further back, one day while at varsity lacrosse practice, Lindsay announced her latest beauty secret, that if you cross your legs at the ankles rather than at the knees, you prevent varicose veins.

It was the little things and the little smiles that remain at the forefront of my mind today and for those simple moments I will forever be grateful to have known Lindsay. She was a true gem. "

Dave Furfaro, Duke

"I spent a long time thinking about what memory I wanted to share of Lindsay, and I started writing this half a dozen times and stopped. There are plenty of hilarious stories that would make for an entertaining read starring Lindsay as the vibrant and caring friend she perpetually was, but in telling each of these I kept running up against the same issue: the stories were trying to hide the fact that Lindsay eventually got sick. Lindsay would want to be remembered for who she was, what she did and the relationships she forged, and not for her disease, but none of that is lost in talking about the time when she was sick. Lindsay did not become defined by her illness, rather her illness highlighted her spectacular nature because her personality was able to shine through and draw everyone's attention away from the impossibly large elephant in the room.

One afternoon during senior year I went over to Lindsay's apartment to hang out with her. She had been plowing through movies and TV shows at an alarming rate so we decided not to watch anything, and talk instead. At some point Lindsay mentioned the weight she had been losing and how she wanted to bulk up .... and the adventure was on. We plugged in the blender, raided the cabinets and fridge and started preparing a milk shake fit for a queen. This wasn't an afternoon keeping someone company while they were recovering, but just a hilarious, random activity with a spontaneous, fun-loving friend that ended in deliciousness and brain-freeze."

Matt Ianotti

"I was a senior in high school and Lindsay was a sophomore. My house was "the party house" my senior year. Every weekend there was 50 plus people at my house partying. The first time i met lindsay was at my house during a a regular bash. Everyone was drinking in my house and lindsay came right up to me with a joyful smile and said, "Hi, my name is lindsay, can we best friends?" I was really taken back by from someone i didn't know coming up to me (that was so happy) and ask if we could be "best friends". After she asked me that question, I smiled and said “yea sure”, never thinking the situations we were both presented in life. We both shared a common understanding what life was really about. i feel lucky to have something that both lindsay and i shared through both of our struggles."