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November 19, 2007 | Vol. XI, Issue 14 Family, Friends and the UF Law Community Gather to Pay Tribute to Catherine Barclift
Speakers included University of Florida President Bernie Machen, UF Law Dean Robert Jerry, Catherine's classmates and friends, Alexandria Perrin and Donna Vincent, Jill Levy, who was Catherine's student ambassador this fall, and Legal Skills Professor Tracy Rambo, who taught Catherine. Robert Barclift recalled numerous stories from his daughter's life, remembering many happy moments from her childhood up until their last times together. Barclift, an assistant U.S. attorney in Fort Myers, spoke of his great relationship with Catherine, which had grown even deeper in recent years as she decided to follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in law. He played a video of Catherine performing a song-and-dance routine, as well as the message she left for him on Fathers Day, which he had saved on his cell phone. Barclift thanked everyone for their support during these difficult days. Described by everyone as outgoing, smart and friendly, Catherine, 22, was a member of the John Marshall Bar Association, the Phi Alha Delta Legal Fraternity, and the Criminal Law Association. She was a 2007 graduate of Florida State University , where she earned dual degrees in international affairs and philosophy. An organ donor, Catherine is survived by her parents, Robert and Stephanie Barclift, her sister, Caroline Barclift, all of Fort Myers, her maternal grandmother, Shirley Stovall Jebb of Sarasota, her paternal grandparents, Preston and Nancy Barclift of Florence, Alabama; uncles and aunts, Joel and Cindy Jebb of Cornwall, New York, and David and Debbie Barclift of Atlanta, Georgia. Last week, at the request of friends and student senators, the UF Student Senate passed a resolution that honored Barclift, the 26th UF student to die in 2007 and the 10th UF student to die this semester. Dean Jerry and Professor Rambo have established a book award in Barclift's name, which will go to the student with the top grade in Rambo's Legal Research & Writing class for the next three years. Anyone who would like to contribute to the book award should contact the Office of Development & Alumni Affairs at 273-0640. The family requests that any donations be made in Catherine's memory to the Youth Mission and Missionary Outreach Programs at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901 and/or Amnesty International, 510 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001, Attn: Tamieka Byer. Home | Email to a friend | Print article | Contact FlaLaw Online |
More than 200 people filled the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom Thursday, Nov. 15, as family, friends, and the UF Law community gathered to remember Catherine Barclift, a first-year Levin College of Law student from Fort Myers who died Nov. 6, one day after being struck by a vehicle while jogging at the intersection of Radio Road and SW 34th Street near the UF campus.