Family, friends share stories of wounded women

DAYNA KLEIN

When Dayna Klein took a job doing fundraising and community organizing at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, she was following in a long family tradition.

Her 88-year-old grandfather spent his entire career working for the United Jewish Appeal in New York, said Klein's sister, Alyssa Maltz.

Klein, who is 17 weeks pregnant, was listed in satisfactory condition at Harborview on Saturday afternoon.

She grew up on Long Island. Matthew Klein, Dayna's brother, lives in Seattle and is a surgeon at Harborview.

Klein, 37, moved to Seattle a few years ago with her husband, Erez. She quickly threw herself into her work at the Jewish Federation, said Robin Boehler, chair of the federation board.

"She's dedicated to the Jewish community, both professionally and personally," Boehler said.

Her sister described her as an "outgoing people person," who had celebrated her bat mitzvah last month, not long after she found out she was pregnant. She was inspired to start studying the Torah after joining a study group with friends from work, Maltz said.

In April, Klein traveled to Sicily, where she helped organize a Passover Seder for the Jewish community there.

"Dayna has spent her whole career as a social worker helping the underdog," Maltz said. "She's always able to find the good in every person. It's so jading to her that someone could be that hateful."

— Joe Mullin

CHERYL STUMBO Cheryl Stumbo, 43, worked as marketing director at the Jewish Federation for the past year and a half.

Stumbo, who is not Jewish, left a position with Parker LePla, a brand consulting company, to take the job, according to Tana Senn, a member of the federation board.

"She wanted something personally fulfilling and she found a home at the federation and is making a big contribution." said Senn. Stumbo helped coordinate last weekend's Israel rally involving 40 organizations. "She's the kind of person who is there to lend a hand and do the big and small picture," Senn said.

Stumbo was in serious condition Saturday at Harborview.

Joe LePla, who spent much of Friday night at Harborview awaiting word on Stumbo's condition, met Stumbo at an advertising company where they both worked. Later she came to work at his company, where she was chief executive officer.

LePla said Stumbo grew up in a military family, but went to school in Bremerton and graduated from the University of Washington in 1984. Her parents live on Bainbridge Island.

"She's a very genuine, down-to-earth person. You always know where you stand with Cheryl," LePla said.

He said she's an avid reader and her home is filled with books. She also likes to participate in triathlons.

Senn said she is in a Scrabble club with Stumbo, who is a good player. Stumbo is also a member of the board at Seattle's University Unitarian Church and the Seattle Crisis Clinic, according to friends.

"She's very outgoing and very friendly," said Stephanie Malek, Stumbo's neighbor at her West Seattle home. She said Stumbo loved to travel and she'd often see her with a kayak sticking out of her car.

"She has so many friends; you would always see them coming and going," Malek said.

— Susan Gilmore

CHRISTINA REXROAD

Christina Rexroad, 29, is the mother of a young boy and lives in Everett. Her neighbors described her as a private woman who didn't drive but instead got picked up regularly by a woman who appeared to be Christina's mother.

Rachel Hynes, the Jewish Education Council Associate for the federation, said that Rexroad works in accounting for the federation. She described Rexroad as quiet but with a dry sense of humor.

Rexroad was listed in serious condition at Harborview on Saturday.

— Florangela Davila and Cheryl Phillips

CAROL GOLDMAN

Even as she lay in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound in the knee, Carol Goldman was in good humor.

"She's doing awesome," said Suzy Gough, who brought Goldman banana muffins Saturday afternoon. "She's really upbeat for the situation, making jokes, and she's just fine."

Goldman was listed in satisfactory condition at Harborview early Saturday.

Robin Boehler, chairwoman of the Jewish Federation's board, said Goldman had been with the Jewish Federation less than a year and was executive assistant to Pam Waechter, the campaign director killed by the gunman.

Boehler described Goldman, 35, of Seattle as confident in her work, someone who "really threw herself into her job."

Goldman, from Minnesota, moved to Seattle several years ago. During that time, Goldman has developed a love for the Mariners and for walks around the city.

Gough, an insurance agent from Everett who organizes a weekly knitting group Goldman attends, said Goldman is outgoing and laughs easily.

Elizabeth Bray, another friend, described Goldman as "the most peaceful person I know."

Bray, a caterer, said she spoke with Goldman on Saturday morning, and that her friend was doing well and had been watching the news.

"She has a great, great love for people," Bray said "Even this morning, she was very open and gentle and kind, no anger."

— Charlotte Hsu

LAYLA BUSH Having her only child, Layla, move 3,000 miles from home nearly broke Kathryn Bush's heart.

But Layla Bush, with a sociology degree from Florida State University in hand, packed up and moved to Seattle last year with her boyfriend.

They picked the Northwest because "they wanted to move to a blue state rather than a red state," her mother said.

Bush, a 23-year-old office manager, was in serious condition at Harborview on Saturday.

Kathryn Bush said she received a telephone call around 7:20 p.m. Friday at her home in Panama City, Fla., notifying her that her daughter had been shot.

She was in "shock and horror" but "blessing the Lord" that her daughter survived. Kathryn Bush flew to Seattle on Saturday.

As of Saturday afternoon, Layla was still on a breathing machine and was sedated, according to her mother. She woke up from time to time and would squeeze her mother's hand.

Layla's father, Brad Bush, is a merchant marine and is flying to Seattle from the small Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

Kathryn Bush described her daughter as very bright, and said she enjoys Internet gaming clubs. She also is interested in nature and likes animals.

Layla, 23, initially worked for a ferry company but wanted to work for a nonprofit or foundation. She's not Jewish, but really enjoyed working at the federation and "really liked the people," Kathryn Bush said.

"She's my daughter; she's the best," Kathryn Bush said quietly. "I'm taking it one step at a time."

— Jennifer Sullivan and Cheryl Phillips

Five employees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle were wounded in Friday's shooting. All five were still at Harborview Medical Center as of Saturday evening.