Ashlyn Dyer

Ashlyn Dyer A legacy to inspire us all October 24, 1978 - March 12, 2006 After 27 years of happiness, love, laughter and true spirit, Ashlyn Dyer passed peacefully on Sunday, March 12, 2006 with family and friends by her side. Ashlyn, who was living in San Francisco, was out for an early morning jog on March 2 in the Presidio near her home when she was struck from behind by a hit-and-run driver. Had the person who hit Ashlyn stopped and called 911 immediately, Ashlyn could have recovered from the injuries she sustained. She suffered from a lack of oxygen for a period of probably greater than 10 minutes from the time she was hit until paramedics arrived and began resuscitation. When Ashlyn was found, she was unconscious and had no identification or keys on her, just an iPod. Investigators took her iPod to an Apple store, where store clerks contacted the company's headquarters and used identifying information contained on the device. Although there were early signs of improvement, it became apparent from tests that she had sustained severe and irreversible brain damage caused by lack of oxygen. Doctors were able to harvest all healthy organs which have provided the gift of ongoing life and love to many. A graduate of Madison Meadows Grade School, Ashlyn also attended Xavier College Prep in Phoenix. Her family moved to Manhattan Beach, California where she played volleyball and was team captain her senior year at Mira Costa High School. Graduating in 1997, she was also senior class president. She competed in the Six Man Volleyball tournament every year and played volleyball while attending University of Southern California. She studied broadcast journalism and graduated from USC in 2001. Ashlyn loved the beach and was an avid jogger. She had recently run the Phoenix Rock 'n' Roll marathon, and was planning to run in this weekend's Los Angeles Marathon. Her friends will be running in L.A. Marathon in her honor on Sunday, March 19, 2006. Ashlyn was an amazing person who had an enormous love for life. She put 100 percent into everything she did and had this incredible energy about her that lit up the room. She touched everyone who knew her and had the ability to make everyone feel special. Ashlyn is survived by her parents, Marsha and Bruce Dyer, who live in Phoenix during the winter and Manhattan Beach during the summer; two older sisters, Taryn Dyer-Smith and her husband, Trent Smith, of Phoenix, and Allyn Leoff and her husband, Justin Leoff, of Torrance; one niece, Elliot; and two nephews, Ben and George, and another soon to be born nephew; grandmothers, Nadine Dyer and Jean Lloyd; aunts, uncles and cousins. The Celebration of Life for Ashlyn Dyer was held Saturday, March 18, 2006 at 1 p.m. in the Mira Costa High School Gym in Manhattan Beach. Ashlyn's generosity, vibrancy, and enthusiasm for life so touched the lives of her close and loving family and her special and many dear friends, all of whom are heartbroken yet proud that her spirit will always live on. The Dyer family has established the Ashlyn Dyer Fund for Neurological Research through the Marin Community Foundation. Contributions can be made in her memory to help others. Information about the fund can be found at www.marincf.org.

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