Rohnert Park woman among 6 killed in Berkeley balcony collapse
BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- One of the victims killed in the deadly balcony collapse in Berkeley was from Rohnert Park and is being remembered as someone who made a difference in a lot of people's lives.
PHOTOS: Several killed in balcony collapse in Berkeley
Ashley Donohoe, 22, will always be remembered for her bright smile.
Donohoe played soccer and later became an assistant coach for the local club team. She was loved by all those who knew her for her passion, spunk and sense of humor.
A family friend told ABC7 News the young woman's family is devastated.
In a matter of weeks they went from celebrating their youngest daughter's high school graduation to mourning the death of their oldest child. "She was wonderful, she was upbeat, she was always happy, always a go getter, just a great kid," a family friend said.
Donohoe and her cousin Olivia Burke, 21, from Ireland were among the six college students who were killed Tuesday morning when an apartment balcony suddenly collapsed from the fourth floor.
READ MORE: A look at past US accidents involving balcony collapses
Donohoe was a senior at Sonoma State where she studied biology and was part of the health professions club. "She was very smart, very driven, she had the world by the tail. I mean she was going to do anything she wanted to do in life, she was that kind of kid," Dennis Holmberg said.
Holmberg was Donohoe's soccer coach at Rancho Cotate High School. "I watched how she had played and how her passion for the game and her love of Rancho Cotate High School, so after high school was over I went to her and asked her to be an assistant coach for my club team in Rohnert Park, which is called the Rohnert Park Storm," he said.
The Rohnert Park community is mourning and expressing their deep grief on her Facebook page. "The girls in this community are devastated that's how much Ashley meant to them," Holmberg said.
Messages of love and admiration continue to pour in honoring a young woman who lived life to the fullest, but one who's life was taken too soon.
The Cathedral of Christ the Light held a mass to honor the balcony collapse victims Wednesday evening.
Click here to find out how you can support the Irish students currently in Berkeley during this difficult time.
RAW VIDEO: Berkeley officials held press conference about balcony collapse
Click here for full coverage on the deadly Berkeley balcony collapse.
