Since her death in March 2007, nursing sophomore Jillian Boda's friends have immortalized her name on the Internet, with tattoos and on the Eiffel Tower.
On March 29 at 2 p.m., one day after the anniversary of her death, they remembered Boda in a formal way with a memorial at the Downtown Phoenix Campus.
Andrew Rascon, 21, who was friends with Boda since they were freshmen at Marcos de Niza High School, conceived the idea for the memorial: a pink orchid tree and a plaque engraved with the names of Boda and her boyfriend Evan Parkison.
The couple died after their car was struck by a drunk driver on the Loop 202 Freeway.
The tree and plaque was installed at the intersection of Taylor and Second streets adjacent to the Nursing Building at the Downtown Campus.
"When Jillian passed away, it was really, really hard for me," Rascon said. "I felt like I had to do something."
He contacted the office of ASU President Michael Crow, who in turn put him in touch with Brenda Morris, baccalaureate program director at the College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation.
Morris obtained approval for the memorial and worked with Rascon and Sheila Stokes, vice president/executive vice provost.
Lynn Gillen, senior property manager at the Downtown Campus said she assisted them "with the coordination of the event including the installation of the tree."
"Our ASU DPC [Downtown Phoenix Campus] landscape company, Integrated Landscape Management, is providing the tree and its installation at their cost," she said.
Rascon said the inspiration for the memorial tree came to him in a dream.
"I want to dedicate her life through this tree," he said.
He chose a pink orchid because pink was Boda's favorite color.
The tree was planted about a week before the ceremony. Rascon and Boda's father, Steve, installed the plaque at the memorial service. The plaque was inscribed with Boda's signature MySpace quote: "Never settle for less than everything."
"The memorial is for her family and her friends," Rascon said. "I wanted a place for people to go when they're feeling down and upset — just a place to get away from the real world."
Boda's childhood friend Alli Seymour helped Rascon plan the event. Seymour was also friends with Parkison.
"He and Jill were a lot alike — always the life of the party," Seymour said. She added that she hopes the memorial will provide closure for those who were close to Boda, as well as "show what an effect she had on people."
Rascon explained, "I'm just trying to keep her alive in all our hearts." Boda's friends have made it clear that he won't have to try too hard.
An intimate gathering of close friends and family of Boda came together for a memorial service that lasted approximately 45 minutes Saturday to celebrate the lives of Boda and Parkison.
The memorial was simple, yet eloquent. Along with Boda's close friends were her parents and sister.
Rascon said at the service that the tree was dedicated in "bringing new life in the name of two amazing people."
Reach the reporters at: stephen.csonka@asu.edu and ksarver@asu.edu.
