In Memorium: Cassidy Lynn Flowers

In Memorium

Cassidy Lynn Flowers

August 16, 1998 -- August 16, 2007

In days long past, when a sailor died her comrades might say that "she'd gone aloft to Fiddler's Green."

Fiddler's Green is an imaginary place, an Elysium of sorts, a sailor's heaven. Sailors imagined a peaceful, inland meadow, not the rolling surface of an angry sea. And on that green meadow, the fiddlers fiddled 'round the clock. All hands are dancing, on watch and off, never a order to reef sail in a storm or haul anchor against a current. It was a place to rest and enjoy. And so we might imagine Cassidy Flowers, newly arrived on the Green, laughing, dancing, and thinking about the sailing boats she'd left behind.
Bastille Day 2003
Cassidy was born on August 16, 1998. She died on her 9th birthday, August 16th, 2007. She was driving south on Highway 218 with her father, Tom Flowers, when the car hit a semi truck and careened off the road. Both were taken to University of Iowa Hospital. There Cassidy died. Tom is recovering still from multiple injuries. Cassidy's mother, Erin Wehr-Flowers was Vice Commodore of the Iowa Sailing Club for 3 years and responsible for the sailing instruction of all new Club members. Erin was herself a sailor from early on, her father having been the owner of Sail Iowa in Knoxville, Iowa, the only chandlery in the State. Erin rewrote the basic curriculum for new sailors; she mobilized club members as instructors. She inspired many of us who enjoy sailing on Lake Macbride today. Erin is also a musician and music instructor. She has just completed her Ph.D in Music Education at UI, and this week she was scheduled to start her professional career on the faculty of the University of Missouri, Columbia. Before and after Erin's scheduled sailing lessons, Cassidy and her mother sailed the waters of Lake Macbride together, often in a Pirateer or FJ. Cassidy loved water, swimming, and sailing. She even seemed to enjoy Wednesday night Club meetings: with crayons and paper, she sat through many a session. ISC 2003
In time, Cassidy might have joined the Sailing Club. Who knows? Would she have been elected someday as Vice Commodore in charge of teaching? Would she, like her mother, be recognized by a unanimous vote for Lifetime Member? Cassidy's sudden, tragic, horrible death took place on her birthday shortly after 8 in the morning. We are all deeply saddened at the loss of this very special child and our thoughts and prayers go out to Cassidy's family and many friends. The Iowa Sailing Club will send a memorial gift to the fund established by her mother and father in Cassidy's name. For those wishing to add to the Iowa Sailing club's contribution, please send a check to: Cassidy Lynn Flowers Memorial Fund % Iowa Sailing Club PO Box 10142 Iowa City, IA 52240-003 or For those who wish to make an individual contribution but not added in w/the club's fund an individual check from you can be sent to: Cassidy Lynn Flowers Memorial Fund Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services 2720 Muscatine Ave. Iowa City, Iowa 52240 You may also want visit the memorial page for Cassidy at the Gay and Ciha Funeral Home website at the link, below. Cassidy's memorial page at Gay & Ciha Funeral Home News Link Iowa City Press-Citizen article

Fiddler's Green is an imaginary place, an Elysium of sorts, a sailor's heaven. Sailors imagined a peaceful, inland meadow, not the rolling surface of an angry sea. And on that green meadow, the fiddlers fiddled 'round the clock. All hands are dancing, on watch and off, never a order to reef sail in a storm or haul anchor against a current. It was a place to rest and enjoy.

And so we might imagine Cassidy Flowers, newly arrived on the Green, laughing, dancing, and thinking about the sailing boats she'd left behind.

Bastille Day 2003

Cassidy was born on August 16, 1998. She died on her 9th birthday, August 16th, 2007. She was driving south on Highway 218 with her father, Tom Flowers, when the car hit a semi truck and careened off the road. Both were taken to University of Iowa Hospital. There Cassidy died. Tom is recovering still from multiple injuries.

Cassidy's mother, Erin Wehr-Flowers was Vice Commodore of the Iowa Sailing Club for 3 years and responsible for the sailing instruction of all new Club members. Erin was herself a sailor from early on, her father having been the owner of Sail Iowa in Knoxville, Iowa, the only chandlery in the State.

Erin rewrote the basic curriculum for new sailors; she mobilized club members as instructors. She inspired many of us who enjoy sailing on Lake Macbride today. Erin is also a musician and music instructor. She has just completed her Ph.D in Music Education at UI, and this week she was scheduled to start her professional career on the faculty of the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Before and after Erin's scheduled sailing lessons, Cassidy and her mother sailed the waters of Lake Macbride together, often in a Pirateer or FJ. Cassidy loved water, swimming, and sailing. She even seemed to enjoy Wednesday night Club meetings: with crayons and paper, she sat through many a session.

ISC 2003

In time, Cassidy might have joined the Sailing Club. Who knows? Would she have been elected someday as Vice Commodore in charge of teaching? Would she, like her mother, be recognized by a unanimous vote for Lifetime Member?

Cassidy's sudden, tragic, horrible death took place on her birthday shortly after 8 in the morning.

We are all deeply saddened at the loss of this very special child and our thoughts and prayers go out to Cassidy's family and many friends.

The Iowa Sailing Club will send a memorial gift to the fund established by her mother and father in Cassidy's name.

For those wishing to add to the Iowa Sailing club's contribution, please
send a check to:

Cassidy Lynn Flowers Memorial Fund
% Iowa Sailing Club
PO Box 10142
Iowa City, IA 52240-003

or

For those who wish to make an individual contribution but not added in w/the club's fund an
individual check from you can be sent to:

Cassidy Lynn Flowers Memorial Fund
Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Services
2720 Muscatine Ave.
Iowa City, Iowa 52240

You may also want visit the memorial page for Cassidy at the Gay and Ciha Funeral Home website at the link, below.

Cassidy's memorial page at Gay & Ciha Funeral Home

News Link

Iowa City Press-Citizen article

Iowa Sailing Club Homepage