[Ohio-Talk] Student Passing

[Kristin Coen]

Dear NFB of Ohio Community,

On behalf of the scholarship committee, I’m saddened to share of the tragic
passing of Jennifer Kasunick. Jennifer was a NFB of Ohio scholarship winner
two years in a row, in 2023 and 2024. Kinshuk and I (Krissy) were notified
of her passing on Sunday, but we wanted to be able to share as much
information as we could and be accurate with what we shared.

She was a bright and passionate student at Hope College in Michigan, where
she was majoring in business with a theatre minor. She was a very positive
person to be around and was passionate about advocating for the rights of
people with disabilities. She was tragically hit by a train while traveling
off campus. We are not aware if her guide dog, Rowdy, was with her, but
news stories indicated he survived. There have been many news stories
published about this horrendous accident. Below if an excerpt from a
release by the college:

 “Jennifer, a junior from Bay Village, Ohio, was a well-loved member of our
community. I imagine almost every one of you receiving this email knew
Jennifer. And to know her was to love her. Her joyful spirit was a constant
source of warmth and light - especially in Phelps Hall, where she served as
an RA alongside her service dog Rowdy, who survived. I know that hearing
this news will raise many questions, some practical in nature and some
spiritual in nature. I, too, have questions, and I don’t have answers. I
don’t know why God would allow this to happen. What I do know is that
Jennifer is with God now, and she understands what we cannot.”

I (Krissy) have read many news articles, and I’m posting below what I think
is the most informative, as well as a link to a partial obituary for
service information. The blind community has lost a bright and shining
star. Please keep her family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/lakeshore/ottawa/hope-student-apparently-did-not-realize-how-close-she-was-to-the-train-say-pd

https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/jennifer-kasunick-obituary?pid=208361119
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