Girls Who Were Killed at Arizona State Lived a Life of Laughter

The Frat Boy News Daily College Column
By Ben Slivnick, The University of Maryland's Diamondback Online

Her Facebook is already enshrined with comments from the various friends that Nicole Schiffman touched in her brief time at the university and at home. But just days before, Schiffman's childhood friend, Carol Kestenbaum, had promised they would have a great time the weekend of her visit.

"The two of them together were crazy," said sophomore Robyn Geller, "Everyone knew that when Nicole went to visit Carol this weekend that they were going to have the best weekend ever."

But the weekend took a tragic turn when Schiffman was fatally shot Sunday with Kestenbaum in Tempe, Ariz., the victim of a murder police say was committed by a man she never met. Kestenbaum had turned 20 on Sunday, and Schiffman, also 20, was there to celebrate her birthday.

Kestenbaum wrote on Schiffman's Facebook wall before she arrived in Tempe: "wow this time tomorrow is going to be... REDICULOUSSSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLYYYYY AMMMAZINGGGGLLYY OUT OF CONTROLLLLLLL."

Last year, when Geller and Schiffman were roommates, a blown-up picture of Schiffman and Kestenbaum and the rest of their high school crew adorned the wall, surrounded by a collection of smaller photos capturing the good times they had together. Geller said the black-and-white shots showed them in natural state: goofing off, making silly faces, laughing.

Known among friends as the comedian of their group, Schiffman, a sophomore journalism major and a member of sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, was hardly the serious bookworm her dean's list status might suggest. Rather, at Japanese restaurants, friends remembered her as the diner who would clown with chopsticks dangling from her ears - she was a lover of laughter, whether she was provoking or participating.

Schiffman's life ended in a flash of unimaginable and staggering violence. Police said the man who shot Schiffman and Kestenbaum was angry over a comment Kestenbaum made about her friend's relationship with him. Police identified him as Joshua Mendel, a 22-year-old Tempe resident. Police told reporters he shot Kestenbaum first, then Schiffman as she tried to run away. He then turned the gun on himself.

It was a brutal death for a woman with such a playful personality. Her spontaneity surprised even those who knew her well, Geller said. Just over a week ago, Schiffman was the only friend among her high school group to decide to travel across the country to celebrate Kestenbaum.

Along with Schiffman's goofball quirks came a certain degree of messiness. She was sometimes just too active to keep track of things, Geller said. But even when she'd lose her wallet or other important possessions, Schiffman wouldn't let things bother her, Geller said.

"She wouldn't let things bother her because she knew it wasn't worth it," Geller said. "And when you'd see her come to you so happy and cheerful, that just made you happy."

Her lively personality and knack for making others smile made her an ideal camp counselor at Sands Beach Club day camp, where she worked during her high school summers, said sophomore letters and sciences major Bryan Kerner.

"If you were in a room and someone said something that wasn't funny, Nicole would be the first person to laugh and make the other person feel good about themselves," Kerner said.

As an active member of the sorority Phi Sigma Sigma, Schiffman frequently participated in community service projects with other members. Distraught by the sudden death of their sorority sister, they gathered for the past two nights sharing memories about Schiffman. Requests for interviews about Schiffman's life were declined by Phi Sigma Sigma members, who said they were barred from speaking to the media.

In a statement released by the sorority's national organization, Jennifer Sims, a sophomore communications major identified as a close friend, remembered, "Nicole Schiffman valued her friendships and loved to have fun, yet knew how to balance it all as a successful student, loving sister and an amazing daughter. Nicole's joy and warmth will be missed but certainly never forgotten."
Ben Slivnick is a staff reporter for The Diamondback Online.