Deceased mid remembered for big smile, love of math

A Naval Academy freshman who was known for inspiring others died on Monday, but she will be an inspiration for her classmates as they complete the final days of their plebe year.

The freshman varsity volleyball player, who turned 19 on April 16, was found unconscious and not breathing in her bunk late Monday morning. She was pronounced dead at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held at the Naval Academy Chapel on May 14, the mother said.

Her mother, Carrie Dickmann, said in a phone interview this morning that the family has no idea what caused Midshipman Dickmann's death, but they expect to hear from the state's Chief Medical Examiner's Office sometime today.

Mrs. Dickmann said she spoke with her daughter Sunday night, and she sounded fine.

She described her daughter as "young, vibrant, full of life and always smiling," even on Induction Day.

"She always had this grin on her face, even the first day of Plebe Summer; we have a photo of her when she was marching in after the (commitment) ceremony and she turned her head and stuck her tongue out at us and smiled," Mrs. Dickmann said. "Plebe year isn't something you like, but she made the most of it."

Midshipman Dickmann, a resident of Avondale, Pa., was majoring in physics and hoped to fly Navy cargo planes.

"She said she wanted to be the Navy's postman, she wanted to fly cargo out to the ships," Mrs. Dickmann said.

Midshipman Dickmann's father, Douglas Dickmann, is a pilot for U.S. Airways.

"Nothing can be said that can describe this," Mr. Dickmann said of the pain he was feeling this morning.

The Dickmann family learned of Midshipman Dickmann's death Monday afternoon, when the parent of one of Midshipman Dickmann's teammates sent an e-mail offering condolences. That evening, a Navy casualty assistance officer came to the house to report Midshipman Dickmann's death.

The Naval Academy announced the death of a midshipman late Monday, but did not release the name until late yesterday.

"The Naval Academy is deeply saddened by this sudden and tragic loss," academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler said in a prepared statement. "Our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences go out to Kristen's family."

Midshipman Dickmann's company officer, Lt. Misty Odom, said Midshipman Dickmann loved math.

"She would often say 'math equals life' and would actually do differential equations just for fun," Lt. Odom said in a prepared statement.

Midshipman Dickmann was a 2007 graduate of Unionville High School in Kennett Square, Pa. She earned a varsity letter for four years as a stand-out volleyball player.

Her brother, Kyle, 24, is a law student in Delaware, and her sister Cassie, 21, is a junior volleyball player at Juniata College in Pennsylvania.

"Kristen spoke of her family often and was very excited that her sister was coming to the Academy this summer for Navy's volleyball camp," Lt. Odom said.

When Navy played Juniata College recently and won, Mrs. Dickmann said Midshipman Dickmann greeted her sister under the net with a handshake and a smirk.

"She had beat her big sister," Mrs. Dickmann said.

Midshipman Dickmann was one of only two freshmen to appear on Navy's 2007 team roster, the academy's athletic department said in a prepared statement.

A defensive specialist, she appeared in 10 matches and 14 games, and she totaled eight service aces and eight digs on the year. She received extensive playing time during Navy's 2008 spring season.

"She was so upbeat about volleyball and the Naval Academy," Mike Schwob, head coach of Navy's women's volleyball team, said. "We trusted her to be in the position of being the face of Navy volleyball."

Mr. Schwob first noticed Midshipman Dickmann when she attended the academy's volleyball summer camp.

"After watching Kristen play, I knew she could help our program," he said this morning. "I also saw that she was the right fit for the academy. She was a service academy type of kid."

When news spread that Midshipman Dickmann had been rushed to Anne Arundel Medical Center on Monday, Mr. Schwob went to the hospital.

He received frantic calls on his cell phone from team members after word spread, and a team meeting was called that afternoon.

"When the team found out this was indeed true, it was extremely devastating," he said. "We have a very close-knit team and Kristen was so well-liked by the other players."

Team captain Midshipman 1st Class Aimee' Burns said Midshipman Dickmann "always gave words of encouragement to everyone."

"Even if you felt as if you had just played the worst game ever, she found something good in the match and it helped pick us up," Midshipman Burns said.

Teammate Midshipman 1st class Lindi Conner said that Midshipman Dickmann "was not nervous about things, like grades, but she worked very hard at everything she did."

Midshipman Dickmann was to have taken her last exam today, and headed out tomorrow for a week's training on Yard Patrol boats. She was to ship out late next week for her summer cruise in the fleet, Mrs. Dickmann said.

Mrs. Dickmann said a funeral service will be held on Wednesday at the Naval Academy Chapel, but the time has yet to be determined.

Mrs. Dickmann said a Blue and Gold Officer, one of the people who promote the Naval Academy and help with recruitment, told her that Midshipman Dickmann's plebe summer hat would be used during the Herndon Climb on Thursday. The Naval Academy could not confirm the decision this morning.

The Herndon Climb is a symbolic end to plebe year, when freshmen scale the 21-foot-tall granite obelisk, which has been slathered in lard, and remove a plebe hat that upperclassmen have taped on the point.

The Iron Company, the company that finishes first during a day-long test of physical stamina and teamwork, will be recognized during the ceremony.

Midshipman 4th Class Jenny Rudewicz, a teammate, said of her friend, "She loved life and lived every day to its fullest. The world has lost a little bit of sunshine."

Staff Writer Bill Wagner contributed to this report.