Rest in peace: Assistant Athletic Trainer Stana Landon passes away, leaves her legacy on Puget Sound’s athletics

The role of a college athletic trainer is not always a glamorous one, particularly at a small school like Puget Sound. There is a great deal of hard work involved, and very little acclaim from the student body at large.
So it is that much more impressive that Assistant Athletic Trainer Stana Landon was able to make such a positive impression on the campus community, and indeed, it is that much more heartbreaking that she is gone.
Landon passed away on Thursday, Nov. 22 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. She was just 35 years old.
Landon came to Puget Sound in 2008, three years after earning her Master’s degree in Environmental Science/Biology and Athletic Training.
While she was clearly passionate about athletic training, becoming a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist in 2007, she had her sights set even higher.
Around the time Landon came to Puget Sound, she began working toward her Ed.D at Walden University’s online program, and was in the process of finishing her dissertation  before her passing.
In her all-too-brief time on our campus, Landon solidified herself as a vital member of Puget Sound’s athletic community.
In her role as Assistant Athletic Trainer, she ensured and improved the health, strength and conditioning of countless student athletes, making many important connections during her time in the position.
However, Landon’s devotion to the school went far beyond her role as a trainer. According to Logger Athletics, she worked with other faculty members to build a fitness club for faculty and staff on campus, and also served on the Staff Senate for the school.
And of course, Landon was an avid supporter of campus athletics even outside of her job description; it was not uncommon to see her in the stands, cheering on the team in maroon and white.
A Celebration of Life ceremony was held on Thursday, Nov. 29, and The Trail wished to take this moment to once again commemorate a woman who was beloved by many members of the campus community during her time at Puget Sound.
Rather than flowers, the Landon family asks that any memorial contributions be sent to St. Joseph Hospital Tacoma Inpatient Oncology. Their address can be found here: PO Box 1502 Tacoma WA 98401. (253) 428-8411.
For more information, please visit http://loggerathletics.com/information/releases/2012-13/stana.
Rest in peace, Stana. You will be missed.