Playground Named For Mudslide Victim

Sun., Jan. 26, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

A children’s play area in Robinswood Park here has been dedicated to Jennifer Cantrell-Herren, who along with her husband and two young sons were killed when a mudslide slammed into their Bainbridge Island home.

More than 250 relatives, friends and co-workers gathered in the park Friday to dedicate “Jennifer’s Playground” and plant tree saplings in her honor.

Cantrell-Herren, 36, was an outreach worker for the city of Bellevue.

She had organized the construction of the $50,000 playground, complete with swings, seesaws and slides.

“She was my best friend … we’re very proud of her,” said her father, Howard Cantrell.

Many choked back tears as they swapped stories about how Cantrell-Herren loved her career but also managed to make time for her children.

Her husband, Dwight Herren, 43, and their two children Skyler, 2, and Cooper, 3 months, were also killed Jan. 19 when a massive landslide knocked most of their waterfront home into the Puget Sound.

Hundreds of people attended a memorial for the family Thursday night at Bainbridge High School, where Dwight Herren was a science teacher.

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Playground Named For Mudslide Victim

Jesse Tinsley

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Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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