More than names: They were sons, daughters, brothers and sisters.
More than students: They were writers, volleyball players and future Navy pilots.
More than a teacher: He was a father, coach and mentor.
Twenty-five years ago, on April 20, 1999, Cassie Bernall, Steve Curnow, Corey DePooter, Kelly Fleming, Matt Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Daniel Rohrbough, Rachel Scott, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Velasquez and Dave Sanders died in a cloud of violence at Columbine High School in Littleton.
But more than their deaths, they are remembered for their legacies.
Most of the information regarding the lives taken comes from A Columbine Site, property of non-profit Semper Memento Inc. and written and maintained by C. Shepard. Other sources used will be indicated.
Cassie René Bernall
Cassie was a 17-year-old junior at Columbine. Some of her favorite things included rock climbing in Breckenridge, photography and the movie Braveheart. After a time in private school, she transferred to Columbine. She became a born-again Christian following a church summer camp trip in 1997.
Misty Bernall, Cassie's mother, wrote a memoir in 2000 entitled She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall.
Steven Robert Curnow
Steve was a 14-year-old freshman at Columbine. He dreamed of becoming a Navy pilot. He enjoyed playing soccer and was a referee part-time. Steve was known as a Star Wars series fanatic, being able to recite the dialogue along with the movie. He had been awaiting the release of Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, which was released nearly a month following his death.
Corey Tyler DePooter
Corey was a 17-year-old junior at Columbine. He enjoyed wrestling, golf and hunting, but fishing was his passion. He was saving his money to buy a fishing boat with his friend. Corey had always dreamed of becoming a Marine, and in 2000, he was made an honorary Marine during a ceremony at his gravesite.
Kelly Ann Fleming
Kelly was a 16-year-old student at Columbine. She had recently moved with her family from Phoenix. She enjoyed writing songs, poems and short stories. Kelly also loved to read, hoping to one day become a published author. She had been learning to drive and wanted to buy a Mustang or Corvette.
Matthew Joseph Kechter
Matt was a 16-year-old sophomore at Columbine. He was a sturdy, versatile football player who played on both sides of the ball. At Matt's memorial service, the Columbine football team was asked to dedicate the next season to Matt's memory. He was also a weightlifter and prioritized academics. Matt had planned to attend University of Colorado.
Daniel Conner Mauser
Daniel was a 15-year-old sophomore at Columbine. He was a part of the debate team and cross-country team. He excelled in academics, especially math and science. Daniel's family describes him as a shy, gentle soul. Daniel was fond of many activities including video and computer games, trivia games and watching TV shows.
Daniel Lee Rohrbough
Daniel was a 15-year-old student at Columbine. He was interested in electronics and computer games. He was working on getting his driver's permit. During the school year, Daniel helped out at his father's stereo business. In the summer, he would go to Kansas to help harvest wheat at his grandfather's farm.
Rachel Joy Scott
Rachel was a 17-year-old junior at Columbine. She was passionate about theater and acting, having played the lead in a school play. She also enjoyed photography and was active in her church. Rachel often wrote to God in her journals, finding purpose in Him. Following her death, Rachel's car was made into a makeshift memorial.
Darrell Scott, Rachel's father, wrote a book in 2002 entitled Rachel Smiles: The Spiritual Legacy of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott.
Visit Rachel Scott's family memorial site here.
Visit the Rachel's Challenge website, a charity focused on preventing school violence, here.
Isaiah Eamon Shoels
Isaiah was an 18-year-old senior at Columbine. He was born with a heart defect but went on to wrestle and play football. He had played on the Columbine football team the previous year, taking on the cornerback position. Isaiah also had a passion for music and played keyboards. He planned to attend the Denver Institute of the Arts after graduation.
John Robert Tomlin
John was a 16-year-old sophomore at Columbine. He attended his church youth group, where he met his girlfriend, Michelle. He worked at a tree nursery while in school, hauling trees and driving tractors. Family and friends remember him as having a great sense of humor and a warmth to his smile. His beloved Chevy pickup was turned into a memorial, like Rachel's car. He planned to join the Army post-graduation.
Lauren Dawn Townsend
Lauren was an 18-year-old senior at Columbine. She was a captain of the girls' varsity volleyball team. Her mother, Dawn Anna, helped coach the team. She was talented at drawing, a member of the National Honor Society and a candidate for valedictorian. Lauren planned to attend Colorado State University and major in biology.
Dawn Anna, Lauren's mother, wrote a small book in 2013 inspired by the loss of Lauren entitled Heaven's Flower.
There is also a movie entitled Dawn Anna that was released in 2005, which depicts the hardships of the family including Dawn's medical obstacles and Lauren's death.
Kyle Albert Velasquez
Kyle was a 16-year-old sophomore at Columbine. When he was young, he suffered a stroke that left him mentally impaired, and he also had asthma. Because of this, Kyle faced social difficulties but was very close to his parents. He was interested in computers and enjoyed helping his father around the house. Kyle dreamed of joining the Navy, like his father, or becoming a firefighter.
William "Dave" Sanders
Dave was a computer and business teacher at Columbine for 25 years. He also coached the girls' basketball and softball teams. Following his passing, Sanders had a softball field at Columbine and a scholarship named after him to honor his memory. He was survived by his wife Linda, daughters and grandchildren.
Linda Lou Sanders, Dave's wife, and Marilyn Salzman co-wrote a book in 2004 entitled Dave Sanders – Columbine Teacher, Coach and Hero.
Other resources:
To view photos of the Ring of Remembrance stone tributes at Columbine, visit here.
To donate to the maintenance of the Columbine Memorial, visit here.
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