The deaths of Lindsay Della Serra and Christina Porter marked two tragedies in the story of the Class of 2006.
Della Serra, who planned to be a Spanish and history double major, lost her months-long battle to lymphoma in November of 2005. Friends and relatives describe her as selfless and caring, and professors remember her an intelligent and pleasant student.
"She was such a delight," history professor Walter Simons told The Dartmouth in 2005. "Always fun to have in class, especially in discussions."
Della Serra was extremely active on campus as a member of the College Republicans and of Delta Delta Delta sorority, a tutor and a mentor to middle school students in Vermont.
She had wanted to attend Dartmouth since before she even entered high school, and according to friends and family, Della Serra enjoyed her time at the College immensely.
Friends also told The Dartmouth that Della Serra did not want to burden others with the knowledge of her illness, so when she left Dartmouth she told friends and acquaintances that she was gone because of mononucleosis. She only told three friends at Dartmouth about her illness.
She had planned to be a lawyer and, according to friends, maintained a positive outlook throughout her battle with cancer.
"Lindsay was the most selfless person I've ever known," Gwen Barnes '06 said shortly after her funeral.
Della Serra died in her New Jersey home on Nov. 30 of last year.
Christina Porter, also very active on campus while she was a student at Dartmouth, died of complications from a skiing accident early in 2005.
Porter, who was 21 when she died, had been skiing in a physical education class when she collided with a tree and shattered her skull.
At Dartmouth, Porter was a member of the Glee Club and the Subtleties a capella group, and had planned to major in art history and French.
Music was a significant part of Porter's life, and was incorporated into Porter's therapy and rehabilitation efforts. In her memory, the Christina Porter Award in the Arts for Achievement in Vocal Music was established as a part of The Christina Fund for Head Trauma, the organization Porter's parents created after her death.
Sara Ball '06, the first recipient of the award, sang in the Glee Club with Porter. Ball described her as a "talented, free-thinking, loving person and a valued member of the Glee Club" shortly after her death.
Porter was also a talented artist, according to Holly Sedillos '05, who said that she often drew portraits and gave them to her subjects.
"She didn't always make sense but that was part of her charm," Sedillos said in 2005.
Porter's February 2004 accident, as well as her parents' call for more safety measures, spurred the athletics department to mandate that students in skiing and snowboarding P.E. classes wear helmets during the lessons.
Staff Writers Kelsey Blodget and Kate Lyon contributed to this story.
