Kathy Lindholm Lane used to sit with her students for hours, listening to them talk about their dreams. Now, those students are consoling each other at news of her passing.
Lane, who was an assistant professor of dance education, died Saturday of cancer, said Beth Lessard, a close friend of Lane's and former dance department chair.
Lane was diagnosed last October with a very rare and aggressive form of cancer that affected her pancreas and liver, Lessard said.
"It's very hard for everybody right now because it happened so quickly," she said. "Nobody was ready for it."
Lessard said Lane had experienced great fatigue and respiratory problems last year, but never thought it was cancer until mid-October, when tests revealed the disease.
Dance professor Mila Parrish said the entire department was hit hard by the news.
"We were all very optimistic that she would be able to fight this cancer, but it was in its advanced stages," she said. "It was really ravaging her body."
Parrish added that Lane was extremely dedicated to her job.
"She loved what she did," Parrish said. "She was born to do it. Students loved to sit in her office and talk about future dance plans."
Soon after Lane's death, former students began choreographing a dance, which will be performed in her memory at her funeral today.
"Kathy was inspiring, loving, encouraging in every class she taught, every paper she graded ... the list could go on forever," said dance senior Maegan Enders.
Dance graduate student Rayn Hookala said Lane was one of the most supportive professors she had.
"I think one of the reasons that so many of us in this community are reeling is because she really connected with people and made everyone feel special," she said.
Lane was heavily involved in numerous dance and art programs in Arizona and founded the dance education program at ASU.
Lane also founded Discover Dance, an on-campus creative dance workshop now in its eighth year.
A visiting professor is taking over Lane's classes, but a new professor will be hired for the next school year, said Naomi Jackson, interim chair of the department.
"Kathy was incredibly connected to the dance community in this area," Jackson said. "Through all of it, her spirit was always strong."
Services
Services for Kathy Lindholm Lane, an assistant professor of dance education, will be held at 10 a.m. today at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center. The center is located at University Drive and College Avenue.
Lindholm, founder of ASU's dance education program, died Saturday of a rare form of cancer.
A scholarship has been created in Lane's name and donations may be sent to the development office in the Herberger College of Fine Arts. Visit its Web site.
Services for Kathy Lindholm Lane will be held at 10 a.m. today at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center. The center is located at University Drive and College Avenue.
Reach the reporter at jacqueline.shoyeb@asu.edu.
