By Erin Miller

Editor in chief

The Calvin community mourned one of its own on Tuesday, Oct. 5, when they learned of the death of former student Heather Maclean.

Maclean, 21, of Yucaipa, Calif., was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December, 1999. She would have been a senior this year. Upon her withdrawal from Calvin during the last year, she was studying English and philosophy. A member of the Calvin Theatre Company and a staff writer for Chimes, Maclean was involved with many facets of student life while at Calvin.

``She was not the kind of person who would make headlines or waves,'' Associate Professor of Philosophy Rebecca De Young said. ``She had a quieter faith, a way of being hopeful.''

Maclean was enrolled in De Young's History of Philosophy class in fall of 1999 when she first began to notice symptoms of the tumor. In November, Maclean flew home to California for tests. From there, she requested an incomplete in De Young's class, which De Young granted.

``The very next semester, she asked for notes and the final exam,'' De Young said. ``It meant a great deal to her to finish that course. I was impressed by the hope that represented. That was very Heather.''

Maclean's family and friends received periodic e-mail updates from her mother detailing the ups and downs of the medical treatments. Verses from the book of Psalms were interspersed through several of the e-mails. In an e-mail sent Tuesday, Marsha Maclean, Maclean's mother, cited Psalm 61: ``Hear my cry, O God. ... I call as my heart grows faint, lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shadow of your wings.''

``I believe that we rarely see anyone like her, and I am so proud to have been her mom,'' she added.

Maclean had planned to visit convalescent homes in California after recovering, to encourage people with life-threatening illnesses. Her friends described her as ``about the least cynical person'' they knew, and said that she did not allow the diagnosis to prevent her from being optimistic.