On Dec. 22, Shira B. Palmer-Sherman ’02 died after being struck by a car in Harvard Square five days earlier.

Shira’s sudden death shocked the undergraduate community and deeply affected all who knew her.

“She had a level of human realness that is rarely encountered. I think the story which encapsulates her life, ironically, is when she was in the hospital and the way in which everyone who knew her came together,” said Rabbi Shai A. Held ’94.

A Pforzheimer House resident and history and literature concentrator, Shira was active in the Harvard Hillel community.

She spent countless hours at Hillel going to Shabbat dinners, working as a member of the Leadership Council and spending time with friends.

At Hillel she was known for her kindness, her sincerity and her smile.

“Shira’s one of those fun people who continue to draw me to Hillel,” said Robert K. Silverman ’02.

“I know everyone mentions it, but just seeing her smile--which is just about all of the time is enough to brighten your day,” he continued. “It really is infectious, even after a long week of little sleep and lots of school work.”

Her self-confidence and outgoing personality endeared her to everyone she met.

“She was deeply comfortable with who she as and she demonstrated a kind of un-selfconscious kindness which is rare,” Held said.

Shira was also well known for passionate discussions about her favorite topics, such as showtunes, novels or Judaism.

“Anyone who ever talked to Shira about Judaism learned of her love for it in a single conversation,” Naamit M. Kurshan ’02 wrote in an e-mail.

“Shira would fight to the point of tears--and often did! She also knew what it meant to be a committed Jew without alienating those who were not observant or who were not Jewish,” Kurshan continued.

Shira was a native of Englewood, N.J. and graduated from Horace Mann High School in Riverdale, N.Y., where she was active in the school’s drama department.

Paul A. Gusmorino ’02, who attended Horace Mann with Shira, said he has fond memories of performing with her in the school’s production of “Guys and Dolls.”