Former Mendocino resident remembered at candlelight vigil

RENO -- More than 500 teddy bears and stuffed animals, hundreds of blue ribbons and dozens of flowers were piled beside a white cross in a field in south Reno as hundreds of candle-holding mourners paid tribute Friday to slain college student Brianna Zunino Denison.

The body of the former Mendocino County woman was found Feb. 15 in a field in a south Reno industrial area. The discovery followed the 19-year-old's disappearance Jan. 20, when she was abducted from an apartment near the University of Nevada, Reno, campus, the apparent victim of a rapist linked by DNA to three other sexual assaults.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Friday night Reno Mayor Bob Cashell joined the father of slain Petaluma girl Polly Klaas and hundreds of others at the vigil held near the field where Brianna was discovered. They paid tribute to Brianna and to the community that came together first to search for her, then to mourn her loss.

"This is a great showing that this community is not going to cower to a monster like this," Cashell said.

Marc Klaas, the father of 12-year-old Polly who was kidnapped in 1993 from her home and murdered, told the crowd they should be proud for coming together as a community.

"You came out to take a stand against injustice and look evil in the face," Klaas said. "Everyone across the country is watching how Reno has reacted to this."

The groundswell of care has been comforting, said Brianna's aunt, Lauren Denison, of Reno.

"It's just so overwhelming," she said.

"Here you have this horrible person who is still on the loose and you just pray to God he won't hurt or kill anyone else. On the other hand, you have this phenomenal outpouring from people. How wonderful."

Thousands more are expected tonight at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in "Celebration of Life for Brianna," scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Denison's mother, Bridgette, and brother, Brighton, were to attend that service but stayed away from the Friday night vigil due to the large crowd, family spokeswoman Jennifer Bushman said.

But they surely felt the expressions of love for their daughter: "You changed a community. You changed a nation. We will never forget you," read a sign schoolchildren placed at the memorial.

Denison was born March 29, 1988 in Reno to Jeff and Bridgette Denison.

Her mother called her Breezy because she reminded her of a breath of fresh air on a cool summer day.

The family moved to Mendocino, her mother's home town, following the death of Brianna's father when she was 6 years old, Lauren Denison said.

She recalled Brianna as a strong-willed, feisty youngster who convinced her friends and cousins, male and female, to dress up in girl's clothes for her tea parties.

The boys hated dressing up but adored Brianna nevertheless, Lauren Denison said.

Brianna attended elementary school in Mendocino before the family returned to Reno about six years ago.

She graduated from Reno High School in 2006.

The teenager then moved away from home to attend Santa Barbara City College, where she was a sophomore studying child psychology. Brianna was inspired to become a child psychologist by the experience she'd had with art therapy following the death of her father, Lauren Denison said.

Her family also described her as spiritual, respectful and trusting with a love of children and animals, especially her dog, Ozzy, a sheltie.

Brianna always thought of others, and, if she had a fault, it was worrying too much about family and friends.

"She never forgot a birthday or anniversary," Lauren Denison said. "Even when she went away to college, she really kept in touch."

As much as she loved her family, Denison said she doubted Brianna would have moved back to Reno following college graduation.

"She loved the beach and the sun and the water. She hated to be cold" Denison said.

Brianna also loved to travel and had a passion for world cultures.

She had been to Hawaii, New York, Mexico, Jamaica, Japan, Egypt, Hungary, Austria and France.

During high school, Brianna spent a year studying in Italy while living abroad with her family, Denison said.

Brianna Denison is survived by her mother, Bridgette Zunino-Denison and her younger brother, Brighton Denison, of Reno; grandparents Bob and Barbara Zunino of Mendocino, and Carol Pierce of Reno; uncles John Zunino, of France, Mark Denison of Reno and Steve Terry of Reno; aunts Lauren Denison of Reno and Rena Denison Terry of Reno; 14 cousins.

The family suggests that donations be made to the foundation created to help bring Brianna's killer to justice: "Bring Bri Back."

Additional information about today's memorial and the foundation can be found on www.briannadenison.com

Press Democrat Staff Writer Glenda Anderson and the Associated Press contributed to this report. You can reach Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@

pressdemocrat.com.