Electra Bynoe remembered by her friends

Going shopping could always make Wharton senior Electra Bynoe smile.

And it is this trademark smile that those who knew her say they will always remember when they think of Bynoe, who was found dead in her Sansom Street residence Tuesday night.

"She always had a smile for everyone," said Melissa Cauler, a Penn Fund employee who worked with Bynoe. "She always had a bounce in her step -- she even walked happily."

Bynoe's generally positive demeanor, friends say, is what made this tragedy all the more devastating and surprising.

"We are all in shock," Penn Fund employee Elise Bentz. "We saw her Monday. She was happy, talkative and upbeat."

In fact, Bentz said that Bynoe had big plans for the future. Bynoe had recently decided to extend her stay at Penn for another year to pursue a dual degree in the College with her true love -- history.

Bentz said that a dual degree would have been no problem for Bynoe, who she described as "mature, bright and gifted."

Bynoe was both a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and a Joseph Wharton Scholar.

A native of Alexandria, Va., Bynoe attended high school at the Park School, a prestigious academy in Baltimore, Md.

Delceta Taylor, also a College senior, was a friend and high school classmate of Bynoe's.

"She was a very a gentle person," Taylor said.

Film Studies Professor Millicent Marcus said she remembers Bynoe as a student whom every professor dreams of having.

"She was very engaged and very involved in class," Marcus said. "She was vitally interested, and she wrote wonderful papers."

Such talent, Bentz said, made Bynoe an integral part of the Penn Fund team, which works to solicit donations from Penn alumni.

"She was very well-liked in the office and became part of the Penn Fund family," Bentz said. "She was the kind of student we valued because she could do any job."

And Bynoe did not just do any job willingly, but, Bentz said, Bynoe added a certain zest and spirit to even the most mundane of tasks.

"She was always enthusiastic," Bentz said. "She was always a good sport."

Marcus said Bynoe also had an engaging sense of humor.

"She had a wonderful dry wit," Marcus said. "We all loved her."

This attitude quickly earned Bynoe many friends at the Penn Fund office, Bentz said.

"She became friends with everyone," Bentz said. "Everyone really liked her."

In fact, at an informal meeting of friends and school officials, held yesterday afternoon in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, many colleagues from the Penn Fund office came to share fond memories of Bynoe.

"She was such a kind-hearted person," Bentz said. "She really cared about everyone. That was just the kind of person she was."

University Chaplain William Gipson, who facilitated the gathering, said that students' first concern now should be their own emotional recovery.

"I think every Penn student should be in touch with her or his feelings," Gipson said. "I think there are times when we all feel terribly overwhelmed and it is important to acknowledge that, and there are times when we really need to be with others, especially those who share our sense of loss."

But when dealing with such loss, Gipson said, it is important that students not blame themselves.

"I try to dissuade people from trying to figure out what they could have done to prevent certain tragedies," Gipson said. "It is a very human reaction, but in the long run, it puts unnecessary burden on people who are already so deeply burdened with the loss of a friend or classmate."

Bynoe's death marks the fifth student death this academic year, and the fourth death to befall the Wharton community.

"This has been a very difficult school year for all of us," Gipson said. "I think once again we have got to step up our efforts to be sensitive to each other, to look out for each other and to practice those acts of kindness and care for each other that will determine how we come through this tragedy."

However, Gipson said that despite this great tragedy, he can see the silver lining.

"There are signs that people are trying to be more thoughtful and caring toward each other," he said. "If nothing else comes out of this difficult year, that actually is a bounty of blessing."

Marcus spoke of feelings as powerful as Bynoe's friends when she said, "It was a horrible, shocking loss."

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