Alumni Profiles

Never Again Friends of Cary Girod '05G want roads to be safer By Kimberly Swick Slover

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Like many people, Emily Fischer '05G and Peter Girard '05G are determined to make a difference. Their particular mission is to make the roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians, and its genesis was a tragedy.

On July 7, their good friend Carolyn "Cary" Girod '05G was bicycling on the Pacific Coast Highway with her boyfriend, Nils Sorenson, on the last leg of a cross-country trip. A van veered into the road's shoulder and hit both cyclists at full speed. Sorenson was seriously injured and survived. Girod was flown to a hospital in Seattle, and Fischer and Girard were at her side when she died on July 8, having never regained consciousness.

Thousands of cyclists and pedestrians are killed by cars in the United States every year, says Girard, a senior analyst at Timberland Company. He and Fischer, a graduate student at the University of Washington, believe the carnage will continue until reckless driving becomes as socially unacceptable as drunk driving and carries similarly grave legal repercussions for drivers. "Pete and I will never be the same, never, after seeing the extreme consequences of someone not paying attention or driving recklessly and aggressively," says Fischer. "This was never our core issue, but we don't have a choice anymore: this has to be our issue."

Girard and Fischer met Girod at UNH, where they all arrived in 2003 to pursue graduate studies in environmental science. Girod was a gifted student, teacher, athlete and friend with a large circle of friends who were drawn to her infectious laugh, wicked sense of humor and passion for outdoor recreation.

At UNH, Girod joined the Morse Hall Maniacs Ski Team, connected with the Seacoast cycling community, organized hiking trips in the White Mountains and initiated a weekly potluck dinner that evolved into the "Portsmouth Ladies Nite" group. Friends say gatherings would morph into parties when Girod began to dance. In a hilarious blend of ballet, gymnastics and hip hop, she would spin, twist and jump, and end with a somersault or back slide.

By the time she graduated, Girod had earned fellowships from the N.H. Space Grant Program and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and published an article in a scientific journal. She went on to teach at two private high schools, where she bonded with students as an environmental educator, math teacher and coach. Yet she found time to herd her friends together and acted as their special liaison to crazy adventures.

Girod's advisor, associate professor George Hurtt, describes her as an outstanding teaching assistant and one of the best graduate students he's ever had:"She clearly had the aptitude, ability and drive to excel in research and education at the highest levels."

"We want someone as special as Cary to be remembered, and for something good to come out of this," Fischer says. "We would love to make the roads safer so that we don't lose another friend, and no other community has to lose friends."