On Tuesday, June 21, Bennington, IN, experienced a violent storm. Lightning produced by the storm struck a healthy tree at Camp Livingston, causing it to fall on a cabin, killing 11-year-old Jadyn Larky of Bexley, OH. The Jewish Community of Louisville issued the following statement:
“With our deepest sympathies, the Jewish Community of Louisville extends condolences to the family of Jadyn Larky, an 11-year-old camper at Camp Livingston, who was seriously injured around 3 a.m. when a healthy tree was struck by lightning and fell on a cabin at camp during a severe storm and did not survive her injuries.
“We are grateful that no other children or staff were injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
“Camp Livingston is ensuring that grief counselors are available to all campers and staff and that campers will talk with their families today.
“Please join us with thoughts and prayers for the family and the entire Camp Livingston family as they work through this difficult time.”
Camp Livingston, which is affiliated with the Jewish Community Centers of America, is marking its 90th anniversary. It is a popular camp among families in Louisville’s Jewish community, and this summer, 35 children from Louisville are there now for the first session, and several of the counselors are Louisvillians as well.
Clergy from Louisville and Jewish Family & Career Services staff members are among those offering grief counseling to campers and staff at Camp Livingston.
“As a Livingston alum, the outpouring of love and grief from generations of campers and staff has been overwhelming,” said Jewish Community of Louisville President and CEO Sara Klein Wagner. “The entire Livingston family is grieving the tragic loss of this young camper. Our hearts are with Jayden’s family, may her memory be a blessing.”
The family asks that donations go to the Jadyn Larky Camp Scholarship Fund c/o Columbus Jewish Foundation, 1175 College Ave., Columbus, OH 43209.