Remembering U of Portland grad Molly Hightower

As part of a global community, Seattle University can't help but be affected by international tragedy.

Molly Hightower, 22, was found dead in Haiti early Friday. Ms. Hightower was a University of Portland 2009 graduate and an alumna of Jesuit high school Bellarmine Preparatory in Tacoma, Wash.

As an alumna of Bellarmine Prep, Ms. Hightower had many friends at Seattle U who described her as having a compassionate heart for children and victims of other natural disasters. While in high school, Ms. Hightower and Seattle U senior Natalie Chan worked together on a fundraising campaign for tsunami victims.

"I hope her legacy lives on," Chan said. "It's sad that it takes something so tragic to inspire people."

Ms. Hightower was volunteering in Haiti with Friends of the Orphans, a nonprofit organization with hundreds of volunteers and presence in nine countries, when the earthquake struck Port-au-Prince.

"Molly was probably the most inclusive person I've ever met," said Erin Daniels, former classmate of Ms. Hightower. "It was like she would befriend you almost immediately."

During her time in Haiti, Ms. Hightower worked with abandoned and disabled children. She wrote about her work on her personal blog, describing helping children in physical therapy as well as being their teacher and playmate.

On her blog, Ms. Hightower said, "There's always sadness to focus on if you choose to. You'll look down and see the burns someone put on Yvonne's legs, maybe in an attempt to burn the seizures she often has out of her… But then, Fabien comes in and trips all over herself to run and give you a hug, and Inderra makes eye contact with you from across the room and starts to laugh uncontrollably. You gotta focus on the good."

Ms. Hightower's family has set up a fund to benefit the Friends of the Orphans. Donate at friendsoftheorphans.org/molly.

Frances may be reached at fdinger@su-spectator.com.