Wednesday, April 7, 2010

University of Dayton student Kacie Hausfeld, 21, and her father, Thomas, 50, died April 1 in a single-engine plane crash after takeoff at Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport in Springboro.

 
Hausfeld was a junior early childhood education major and member of the women’s volleyball team.
 
More than 500 students and faculty members came together for a prayer service April 5 at the Thomas Frericks Center on UD’s campus to pray and remember their friend.
 
During the service Marianist Father Christopher Wittmann reminded those gathered that “none of us is as strong as death; none of us is as strong as the tragedy last Thursday. That is why we pray. Our goal is not to be strong, but to be weak and let Christ’s love and power be strong in us.”
 
“I’m greatly saddened by this terrible tragedy,” said Daniel J. Curran, UD president. “Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with the Hausfeld family and all of Kacie’s friends and teammates. This is a very close community, and this kind of loss touches us all deeply. In times like these, we come together to support the family and each other.”
 
Kelly Scheffield, UD volleyball coach said, “Kacie’s kind-heartedness, sense of humor and can-do approach was one of a kind. We will always love her with all of our hearts.”

A Mass of Christian Burial for the Hausfelds was held April 7 at St. Henry Parish in Dayton. Burial took place at the St. Augustine Cemetery in Minster.
 
Hausfeld is survived by her mother, Lori, and sister, Ali.