Chapman mourns graduate student’s death

    Friends of Katie Weinstein described her as funny, confident and generous.

    The 28-year-old second-year graduate film student died at 2 a.m. Jan. 7 after suddenly becoming ill Jan. 6. Weinstein's body was found in her Orange residence, said Supervising Deputy Coroner Kelly Keyes. The cause of Weinstein's death is still undetermined and the Orange County Coroner's Office has yet to complete a toxicology report.

   Weinstein graduated from the University of Illinois in 2005 and will receive her Master's degree in film production posthumously.

    "She was an amazing woman, generous, smart and always willing to work on other people's projects," said Barbara Doyle, film division chair of Dodge College and Weinstein's friend and former professor. "She had a great sense of humor and never lost perspective of who she was."

   Kristi Yarcho, a friend of Weinstein's from her hometown of Morton, Ill., wrote a blog post about how Katie pushed her to pursue photography.

    "To have someone in my life that always saw more in me than I did in myself, pushed me past my limits, and did so with unconditional love… is a blessing," Yarcho wrote.

    Casey Golden, a fellow second-year graduate student, became one of Weinstein's best friends over their year and a half of classes together.

    "We were just sort of drawn to each other," Golden said. "She was very funny and spoke in and out of class about films with such authority that you just wanted to hear her speak more."

    Golden enjoyed stopping for lunch at Watson Drug and Soda Fountain with Weinstein, catching a movie in their free time and indulging in Judge Judy, Weinstein's favorite reality show.

    "I used to say that I had friends at home who'd known me longer, but she knew me better," Golden said. "Whenever I made a mistake in class or in an internship, she wouldn't justify it and tell me I hadn't messed up, but made you feel safe and loved unconditionally, like you could do no wrong. Kate used to say that she needed me in her life, but losing her has really made me realize that I need her."

   Weinstein's body was released to Shannon Bryan Mortuary in Orange Jan. 10. She was cremated and her family held a celebration of life service in Morton 10 days later. Her parents Cody and Mary Weinstein and sister Megan Weinstein requested donations to the Katie Weinstein Scholarship Fund, a thesis film scholarship fund for Chapman graduate students, in lieu of flowers. Approximately $1,000 has been donated.

    A memorial will be held for Weinstein in the Folino Theater Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Dean of Dodge College Bob Bassett will cancel all graduate level classes that day.