Christina-Taylor Green was born on the day the twin towers were destroyed by terrorists in New York City and was killed Saturday in a savage shooting rampage.
During her short life, the brown-eyed 9-year-old touched uncounted lives in Tucson: singing in the children's choir at St. Odilia Catholic Church, where she also observed her first Holy Communion, playing Little League baseball (she was the only girl on her team), winning election to the student council at her northwest Tucson school, Mesa Verde Elementary.
On Saturday, neighbor Susan Hileman took Christina-Taylor to meet U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords so that the girl could learn more about government and public service. They were holding hands when the gunman opened fire. Christina died soon after at the hospital; Hileman is hospitalized with her wounds.
Susan and Christina-Taylor "were generationally apart, but birds of one feather," Susan's husband, Bill, said Tuesday. "Going to Gabby's event (together) made all kinds of sense; it was a positive female role model for Christina."
Christina-Taylor was the granddaughter of former major-league executive and pitcher Dallas Green, who managed the Philadelphia Phillies to their first World Series championship in 1980.
Christina's father, John, serves in the scouting department for the L.A. Dodgers. She also leaves her mother, Roxanna, and brother, Dallas, 11.
Christina-Taylor's funeral will be held today; her family has asked that the services be private.
In a funeral notice in Wednesday's Arizona Daily Star, the family listed family members who survive Christina-Taylor - and included among them "the entire Tucson Community."
Yes, Christina-Taylor was one of ours. We deeply mourn her loss. But as Bishop Gerald Kicanas said Tuesday during a "Mass for Healing of Our Community" at St. Odilia, we "know she is singing with us" still.
Arizona Daily Star
Memorial Fund
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund though the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. Visit cfsoaz.org for more information.
