Chicago lawyer who represented a child with Rett Syndrome for free drowns during a triathlon fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Source
Chicago Tribune on line edition, May 5, 2007
Summary
Mrs. Marshall, of Lake Forest, died Wednesday, May 2, of what medical professionals said was an accidental drowning. Competing in a triathlon Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla., she was found in the water during the 0.93 mile swim, local officials said. Mrs. Marshall, 48, was rushed to a nearby medical center where she later died. Mrs. Marshall entered the race through Team in Training, a program that raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, something that made sense to those who knew her.
"I think it was her passion for life, the way she cared about anybody who was underprivileged," said Robin Hulshizer, a close friend and colleague. "One of the things that troubled her most was that there were kids that weren’t in the position of privilege that her children had."
Those children included Lindsey Ross, a northwest suburban high school student suffering from Rett Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. Mrs. Marshall read an article about Lindsey, who was fighting over her civil and educational right to stay in high school with other students, and called the girl’s mother, Diane Ross. She asked if she could represent Lindsey in court, for free.
"I was blown away by the fact that a complete stranger wanted not only to help Lindsey, but in such a big way and with such a big heart," said Diane Ross of the ongoing case. "She was so passionate about wanting to be Lindsey’s voice in court."