Walking for Caitlyn
A crowd of over 200 people gathered at Butler Memorial Park Saturday evening to remember Caitlyn Kaufman.
A 2012 Butler High School graduate, Kaufman was shot and killed Dec. 3 while driving to work in Nashville, Tenn., where she was a nurse in the intensive care unit at St. Thomas West Hospital. She was 26.
Police suspect road rage was the motive.
Two men, Devaunte Hill, 21, and James Cowan, 28, are facing first-degree murder charges and await trial. Both have pleaded not guilty.
But Saturday's memorial walk and candlelight vigil focused not on Kaufman's untimely death, but on her life.
“This is a good thing,” said Kaufman's father, Rick Kaufman of Oakland Township. “Caitlyn was such a sweet, beautiful girl.”Shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, attendees received candles that were lit before the crowd began a one-mile walk through the park. This was done to signify, as
Kaufman's mother, Diane, described: “...the last mile of Caitlyn's life.”Many wore purple T-shirts with “All angels have wings, but a special angel wore a stethoscope.”The shirts, sold prior to the walk, and the $10 donation to participate will fund a scholarship in Kaufman's memory at her alma mater, supporting others who have a similar dream.Caitlyn moved to Tennessee in 2018 to begin work as a nurse at St. Thomas.“She always wanted to go into the medical field,” her father said. “She talked about it a lot with us. She talked with us about everything.”Community support also extended to local residents and businesses donating items that were raffled off in gift baskets.The proceeds will be contributed to the Caitlyn Kaufman Legacy Nursing Scholarship Fund at Butler County Community College, where she earned a nursing degree three years ago.
Prior to the walk, Diane Kaufman struggled to hold back tears while expressing her gratitude.“I'd like to thank each and every one of you for coming out to support Caitlyn's life,” she said.Saturday's event was the idea of Kelsie Stransky, a friend of Caitlyn Kaufman's since childhood who recently moved back to Butler from Virginia.“A lot of people, including myself, were not able to attend Caitlyn's funeral because of COVID,” Stransky said. “I felt in my heart that I needed to do something for her.“I contacted her parents a few months ago to see if they were OK with this,” she said. “I've received so much love and support from them. They even helped me plan it.”
Lynn Ismail, interim assistant director of BC3's Education Foundation, did not know Caitlyn Kaufman, but felt a need to take part in Saturday's event.“We've already received a significant amount for the scholarship — about $30,000 — and we're so pleased,” she said. “The first (scholarship) will be awarded in the fall in the amount of $500, but it will increase as the years go on.”Caitlyn's uncle, Steve Onufrak, remembers his niece as “a loving soul. She was always helpful and looking out for people.“It's been a very difficult time, but this, tonight, it's great ... very thoughtful,” he said.Stransky said she didn't set an amount to raise for the scholarship fund.“I'm just happy to have everyone come and pay their respects,” she said. “Caitlyn was a nurse, helping to save lives. She would help anyone who needed it.”
