...She was a shooting star that lit up our lives for too short of a time. But, man, what a light. My wish is to be more like her.

Forever in our hearts, we will be spreading your light everywhere we go.

Some people talk about justice; others live it. Lara lived it. Lara was a leader in the Washington & Lee Innocence Project (formerly the Southwest Virginia Innocence Project), an organization that fights to exonerate innocent prisoners...

"Lara took a course I taught on the death penalty. She chose to write about a case the Supreme Court of Virginia was about to hear. Lara's Note is the latest and best discussion of the most serious single defect in Virginia's system of capital punishment. As a lawyer - and she had what it takes to be good - Lara would have spotted many more things that were wrong. And she would have worked hard to change them.

"Lara's death is an immeasurable loss. In regard to Lara's talents as a young legal professional, the best tribute I can make is to say that as a student in my class and as a colleague in putting on the Roe Symposium,she never gave me a single reason to complain. In regards to her attributes as a human being, we all know how special Lara was. Her enthusiasm for life and positive spirit were uplifting to all who were fortunate enough to know her. We were blessed to have her in our lives for a time that was far too short. She will be sorely missed."

"Lara Gass is unique - in life and in death. She brought out the best in all of those around her during her - much too short - life and upon her death. Only a few can claim such an achievement. The statement I heard most frequently upon the announcement of her tragic death was that Lara was a young person "who would go places". She impressed everyone she met with her presence, her great sense of humor, and her enjoyment of life. She truly lived her life to the fullest - filled with projects she enjoyed, devoted to her family and friends. Her memory will live on and inspire those who knew her. I wish for her spirit to animate the halls of the Law School."

"At moments like this, there is nothing one can say to make the premature passing of a friend and colleague less tragic. Lara stood on the cusp of life that portended only success. Ours is a felt loss - and the world is diminished by all Lara did not get to do. Like every good leader I have known, Lara accomplished so much by making it almost unthinkable to disappoint her. In his final months, Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch, facing terminal cancer, asked an Eastern spiritual leader , "What is the most appropriate thing to say to a friend who is about to die?" The mystic answered: "Tell your friend that in his death, a part of you dies and goes with him." Now, if a little piece of those impacted goes with every person who dies, they are going to need a lot of room in Heaven for Lara.

"Words alone cannot capture the life of Lara, her infectious personality, or what she means to me. Alas this tribute must fail to do her justice. Sadly, it has taken the loss of my true counterpart and best friend to fully appreciate how Lara indelibly changed me, how she inspired me to be a stronger lawyer, a more conscientious citizen, and a better man. Most importantly, she impressed upon me her belief that nothing we accomplish in this world means anything if we forge ahead alone and fail to appreciate the opportunities to experience new people and places along the way.