After 4 years, Bonistalls still waiting for memorial

An empty plot of land now serves as the memorial site for Lindsey M. Bonistall, a student who was murdered in her off-campus apartment four years ago.

Kathleen Bonistall, Lindsey's mother, said she was shocked to find the tree that had been planted in her daughter's memory was completely removed from the land.

"When I saw the tree gone, I felt distraught," she said. "During the first two years after her death, emphasis was placed on the 'UD family.' What happened to the family? They just wanted Lindsey forgotten."

On May 6, 2006, a year after Lindsey's murder in her off-campus apartment, the university held a memorial ceremony on the path from Alison Hall to Perkins Student Center, the same path Lindsey would take from her classes at Memorial Hall to The Review, where she was a staff reporter.

Mark Bonistall, Lindsey's father, said family and friends gathered around the pink dogwood tree planted in honor of Lindsey that day.

"The university made a big deal of doing something special in Lindsey's honor," Mark said. "My family flew in from all over the country. We came and spoke about her death."

Kathleen said she thought it would be nice to have something at the university similar to the weeping cherry tree planted for Lindsey in their front yard at home. In early 2007, Kathleen received a phone call from a friend who lives near the university, saying the tree was no longer planted at the memorial.

"The university did not call to tell us about it. I heard from my friend," she said.

At the dedication in May 2006, the university presented a temporary plaque but told the Bonistall family a permanent plaque would be made. As of yet, the Bonistalls said they have never seen the permanent plaque for their daughter.

"When we went to visit, there was no tree, no plaque, no nothing." Mark said.

Kathleen said she asked Michael Gilbert, vice president of Student Life, at Awareness Day in 2007 about the tree missing from her daughter's memorial. She said he told her the dogwood had died because it could not grow well in that spot due to excess moisture.

"I told him just put any tree there, it doesn't matter if it's a dogwood, just something," she said. "A plaque doesn't wilt, just put a plaque there."

Kathleen said the university proposed to move the location when the new tree was planted, so it would grow better.

"I didn't want to change the location," Kathleen said. "All of Lindsey's friends know the tree is there, that's the whole point of the memorial site."

Since 2007, Mark said he has tried to contact Gilbert many times about the tree. Both Kathleen and Mark said they had left voicemails for him inquiring about when a new tree would be planted.

Gilbert said last week that he did not know the Bonistall family had been trying to contact him.

"I've always been available to the Bonistall family," he said. "I don't remember exactly when I called them. I did call them sometime last year."

Gilbert said he was unaware a permanent plaque had not been made for Lindsey's memorial, but would look into it.

He said he is not sure exactly where the tree was located and the Landscape Engineer, Facilities Planner & Control Director, Tom Taylor, is in charge of ordering the new tree.

Since the tree was removed in 2007, the Bonistalls said no progress has been made for a new tree or plaque.

Gilbert said he does not know background information about the tree because he stepped into the vice president position on May 23, 2007. He said his predecessor, Cynthia Cummings, dealt with the matter before he became vice president.

Cummings has since transferred to the University of Massachusetts where she serves as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Cummings said she informed Kathleen about the removal of the tree through e-mail.

"I don't exactly know why she did not receive the message, but I did send her an e-mail telling her the tree had died and it would be replaced," Cummings said. "Apparently she did not get the e-mail."

Kathleen said she was in contact with Cummings through e-mail, but was not originally notified by Cummings about the tree dying.

Cummings said she believed a replacement tree had been planted after she left.

"The tree had been replanted, so there is still a tree I believe," she said. "I have not been there for two years but I would hope there is still a tree there."

In an e-mail message sent from Cummings to Kathleen on April 24, 2007, Cummings said a new tree had been ordered.

"A new pink dogwood tree was delivered to campus last Thursday," the e-mail message stated. "I am not sure if it has been planted yet, but if not, it will be planted shortly." 

Cummings said she left the university in April 2007, and at that time the university was waiting for warmer weather to plant the new tree.

"I'm surprised to learn that a tree had not been planted and maybe that happened because I left rather suddenly," she said. "Perhaps once I left no one took it upon themselves to replace the tree."

Cummings said the Development Office was in charge of having the permanent plaque made. She said to her knowledge, the plaque was finished, but the university was waiting to place it.

"Once the tree was replaced, the plaque would be placed under the tree," she said. "I thoroughly believe that plaque was made."

Mark said there was a two-year period after Lindsey's death where the family could have sued the university. He said both President David Roselle and Cummings were supportive during those two years.

"We were going to sue the school for not taking care of Lindsey, but the university was great for those two years," he said. "As soon as those two years were up, no word, no nothing, we were ancient history."

Gilbert said he called Mark on Friday.

"I apologized to Mr. Bonistall," he said. "I do regret that he was surprised about the tree. I don't know what to attribute that to."

Gilbert said a new sweet bay magnolia tree will be ordered as soon as possible and planted back at the original site.

"I think the tree will be replaced very soon," he said. "With the information and support from the Bonistalls, we're going to replace it right away."

Click here to read The Review's coverage of the original dedication ceremony in May 2006.

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