Hundreds Gather To Mourn Death Of Building Collapse Victim
By Diana Rocco, Dan Wing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A memorial service was held Sunday night for 24-year-old Anne Bryan, who was among the six people who died last week in a building collapse at 22nd and Market Streets.
Services got under way about 5 p.m. as hundreds of mourners filed into the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts to pay their respects.
"She was very vivacious and funny, very bright. One thing I admired about her was her work ethic," Professor Al Gury said.
Anne was the daughter of Philadelphia's city treasurer Nancy Winkler. She had gone to the thrift store with a friend to donate clothing when the wall of the building next door came crashing down.
"The whole community is in shock. I think on many levels for many reasons," Gury said
Students, family members and friends came to pay their respects to the young woman with her whole life ahead of her, among them were city dignitaries, including Mayor Nutter.
Professor Peter Van Dyck and his wife both taught Anne over the years:
"You know somebody in that capacity where they just look like they're just getting started with their lives, and so we talked a lot about what she was like as a student and what a joy she was to have in the classroom," he said.
David Brigham, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, also spoke at the service. He said even in her short time at the school, Anne managed to touch all of her teachers:
"Through her probing questions and her great determination as a young artist, she made them better and I think there's no higher tribute."
Anne's classmates said the same about her infectious nature, and said the large turnout at Sunday's service was appropriate.
