By Brian Messenger
Kristin Kearins, 26, a graduate of Andover High School and former captain of its swim and dive, and gymnastics teams, died last week from head injuries suffered in a bicycle accident.
Kearins had been living in Charlestown and was not wearing a bike helmet at the time of the accident, according to her mother, Dove Lane resident Pam Sheehy. Kearins was the youngest of four siblings, who remembered her for her smile and laugh.
There is already talk of naming an annual diving series after Kearins, a standout diver who helped Andover win its first of nine consecutive state titles in 1999, according to head coach Marilyn Fitzgerald.
She said Andover and Central Catholic host a diving series at Greater Lawrence Technical School every year. Kearins coached the dive team at Central Catholic High School for two years after graduating from college.
Scott Young, head coach of the boys and girls swim and dive team at Central Catholic, said there are five seniors on his team this year who had Kearins as a coach.
Kearins also coached diving at Indian Ridge Country Club, Sheehy said.
Kearins was found Sept. 12 without a pulse by a pedestrian on the Charles River Dam Bridge in Boston and transported to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she remained in a coma until passing away early Sept. 19 with her family by her side.
It is possible that Kearins, who had been on life support, hit her head on the bridge railing, according to Sheehy.
The incident has been deemed an accident by the Suffolk County district attorney's office, according to office spokesman Jake Wark.
After graduating from Andover High in 2000, Kearins, whose friends called her "Krit," attended Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and earned a degree in early childhood education. She had been working as a clinical nurse's assistant in the emergency room at Children's Hospital in Boston before the accident.
The athletes presently on the high school swim team planned to attend Kearins' funeral together Wednesday morning at St. Augustine Church, Fitzgerald said.
Members of the team also plan on holding a short ceremony for Kearins before their Sept. 26 meet against Central Catholic, Fitzgerald said.
Sheehy said Kearins will be buried next to her father in Spring Grove Cemetery.
William Kearins died 13 years ago from a sudden heart attack, she said.
Sheehy said a constant flow of supportive family and friends has helped her through the tragedy, something her daughter would have appreciated.
"If Kristin was ever to see what was going on down below, she'd just be loving it," said Sheehy. "She'd just love it. The support is great."
Fitzgerald said she'll remember Kearins for her smile, constant positive demeanor and athletic ability.
"Everybody is affected by this," said Fitzgerald. "It really has been overwhelming, the people that stop you and let you know how sad they are."
