Diane Alexis Whipple was born in Princeton, New Jersey. Her hometown became Manhasset, New York on Long Island, where she grew up and attended high school. She was raised primarily by her grandparents, and it quickly became apparent that she was a gifted athlete. As her athletic prowess increased, lacrosse became her sport of choice.
A two-time All-American in high school, and at Penn State, perhaps no other factor more defined Whipple's life than her athletic talent and drive. She was twice a member of the U.S. Women's Lacrosse World Cup team.
Whipple later moved to San Francisco, and came within seconds of qualifying for the U.S. 1996 Olympics team in track and field, for the 800 meters. Failure to make the team was a huge disappointment for her. She became a coach and teacher, assuming the position as the lacrosse coach at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. She was often described as a beloved and memorable mentor. Whipple lived with her long term partner Sharon Smith, an investment banker.
Whipple was killed on January 26, 2001, by two large Presa Canario dogs that attacked her in the hallway of the apartment building. The dogs were owned by neighbors, Marjorie Knoller and her husband Robert Noel, both attorneys. In 2000, Knoller and Noel obtained the two dogs, named Bane and Hera, through their relationship with Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, who was a Pelican Bay State Prison inmate and a leading member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, who were attempting to start a dog fighting business.
Due to his larger size, Robert Noel usually handled Bane, who weighed 140 pounds. Marjorie Knoller was home alone with the dogs on January 26, 2001, and decided to take Bane up to the roof, just one flight up the stairs.Whipple was returning from a trip to the grocery store when Bane and possibly Hera attacked her in the hallway.(Hera's role in the mauling has never been firmly established.) The dog caused 77 wounds to Whipple, with only her scalp and feet escaping harm.Whipple died at San Francisco General Hospital; the cause of death was "loss of blood from multiple traumatic injuries (dog bite wounds).
Bane was euthanized immediately after the attack; Hera was seized and later euthanized in January 2002
A two-time All-American in high school, and at Penn State, perhaps no other factor more defined Whipple's life than her athletic talent and drive. She was twice a member of the U.S. Women's Lacrosse World Cup team.
Whipple later moved to San Francisco, and came within seconds of qualifying for the U.S. 1996 Olympics team in track and field, for the 800 meters. Failure to make the team was a huge disappointment for her. She became a coach and teacher, assuming the position as the lacrosse coach at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. She was often described as a beloved and memorable mentor. Whipple lived with her long term partner Sharon Smith, an investment banker.
Whipple was killed on January 26, 2001, by two large Presa Canario dogs that attacked her in the hallway of the apartment building. The dogs were owned by neighbors, Marjorie Knoller and her husband Robert Noel, both attorneys. In 2000, Knoller and Noel obtained the two dogs, named Bane and Hera, through their relationship with Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, who was a Pelican Bay State Prison inmate and a leading member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, who were attempting to start a dog fighting business.
Due to his larger size, Robert Noel usually handled Bane, who weighed 140 pounds. Marjorie Knoller was home alone with the dogs on January 26, 2001, and decided to take Bane up to the roof, just one flight up the stairs.Whipple was returning from a trip to the grocery store when Bane and possibly Hera attacked her in the hallway.(Hera's role in the mauling has never been firmly established.) The dog caused 77 wounds to Whipple, with only her scalp and feet escaping harm.Whipple died at San Francisco General Hospital; the cause of death was "loss of blood from multiple traumatic injuries (dog bite wounds).
Bane was euthanized immediately after the attack; Hera was seized and later euthanized in January 2002
Diane Alexis Whipple was born in Princeton, New Jersey. Her hometown became Manhasset, New York on Long Island, where she grew up and attended high school. She was raised primarily by her grandparents, and it quickly became apparent that she was a gifted athlete. As her athletic prowess increased, lacrosse became her sport of choice.
A two-time All-American in high school, and at Penn State, perhaps no other factor more defined Whipple's life than her athletic talent and drive. She was twice a member of the U.S. Women's Lacrosse World Cup team.
Whipple later moved to San Francisco, and came within seconds of qualifying for the U.S. 1996 Olympics team in track and field, for the 800 meters. Failure to make the team was a huge disappointment for her. She became a coach and teacher, assuming the position as the lacrosse coach at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. She was often described as a beloved and memorable mentor. Whipple lived with her long term partner Sharon Smith, an investment banker.
Whipple was killed on January 26, 2001, by two large Presa Canario dogs that attacked her in the hallway of the apartment building. The dogs were owned by neighbors, Marjorie Knoller and her husband Robert Noel, both attorneys. In 2000, Knoller and Noel obtained the two dogs, named Bane and Hera, through their relationship with Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, who was a Pelican Bay State Prison inmate and a leading member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, who were attempting to start a dog fighting business.
Due to his larger size, Robert Noel usually handled Bane, who weighed 140 pounds. Marjorie Knoller was home alone with the dogs on January 26, 2001, and decided to take Bane up to the roof, just one flight up the stairs.Whipple was returning from a trip to the grocery store when Bane and possibly Hera attacked her in the hallway.(Hera's role in the mauling has never been firmly established.) The dog caused 77 wounds to Whipple, with only her scalp and feet escaping harm.Whipple died at San Francisco General Hospital; the cause of death was "loss of blood from multiple traumatic injuries (dog bite wounds).
Bane was euthanized immediately after the attack; Hera was seized and later euthanized in January 2002
A two-time All-American in high school, and at Penn State, perhaps no other factor more defined Whipple's life than her athletic talent and drive. She was twice a member of the U.S. Women's Lacrosse World Cup team.
Whipple later moved to San Francisco, and came within seconds of qualifying for the U.S. 1996 Olympics team in track and field, for the 800 meters. Failure to make the team was a huge disappointment for her. She became a coach and teacher, assuming the position as the lacrosse coach at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, California. She was often described as a beloved and memorable mentor. Whipple lived with her long term partner Sharon Smith, an investment banker.
Whipple was killed on January 26, 2001, by two large Presa Canario dogs that attacked her in the hallway of the apartment building. The dogs were owned by neighbors, Marjorie Knoller and her husband Robert Noel, both attorneys. In 2000, Knoller and Noel obtained the two dogs, named Bane and Hera, through their relationship with Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, who was a Pelican Bay State Prison inmate and a leading member of the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, who were attempting to start a dog fighting business.
Due to his larger size, Robert Noel usually handled Bane, who weighed 140 pounds. Marjorie Knoller was home alone with the dogs on January 26, 2001, and decided to take Bane up to the roof, just one flight up the stairs.Whipple was returning from a trip to the grocery store when Bane and possibly Hera attacked her in the hallway.(Hera's role in the mauling has never been firmly established.) The dog caused 77 wounds to Whipple, with only her scalp and feet escaping harm.Whipple died at San Francisco General Hospital; the cause of death was "loss of blood from multiple traumatic injuries (dog bite wounds).
Bane was euthanized immediately after the attack; Hera was seized and later euthanized in January 2002
