In Memoriam
Brittany Michele Salmons, a freshman at Washington College remembered for her competitive spirit and her selfless generosity, died July 12, 2001 of cancer. She was 18 and had battled rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood cancer, for nearly a decade.
She was a 2000 graduate of Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, MD, where she was a member of the marching band, ran cross country and participated in dance and drama recitals. She also served as the high school’s mascot during her senior year, wearing a 40-pound wildcat costume at athletic events.
Even while dealing with her own illness, she gave freely of her time to others. She was a member of the youth vestry at St. John’s Episcopal Church and frequently participated in local fundraising efforts. She performed volunteer work at a local health clinic and, last summer, worked as a lifeguard at Camp Friendship, a camp for children with cancer. She had planned to become a nurse.
Salmons, who had been diagnosed and treated for cancer in 1992, had been cancer-free until the disease recurred in February 2000. Despite her illness, she enrolled at Washington College and attended one semester. In that short time, she made many friends and won a coveted position as coxswain for the men’s crew team. When Salmons lost her hair to chemotherapy, her teammates shaved their heads to show their affection and support.
She is survived by her parents, Michael and Teri Salmons, her maternal grandparents and her paternal grandfather.
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