“Choose to be happy!”
They say you can tell how well-liked someone is by how many nicknames they have. Vanessa Hunt had many. Some called her “Ness” or “Nessa.” Some went the other way and called her “Vana” or just “V.” There were weird ones, like “Little Beefy” (because she was born during our church’s beef dinner). Sometimes people teased with nicknames like “Savanah,” or “Rummy” because of her love of card games. More often than not, to the HFF she was “Brandon’s Little Sister.” Over the years she became “Tech-Support” and then, most importantly, “Friend.”
Vanessa’s life was tragically cut short from a cardiac event while on a hiking trip with her brothers and their spouses. Her family and friends choose to focus instead on the way she lived and the impact she made.
After graduating high school, she earned an informatics bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. She started her career in downtown Chicago, quickly finding her place with RSM – a global audit, tax and consulting firm. In her successful career, she was promoted several times within their IT Support department. Her career took a substantial pause when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Her battle with cancer culminated with an extended stay at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for a bone marrow transplant for which, she was her own donor.
She beat cancer with courage and strength and immediately became a big supporter and fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org) — an organization which had offered support during her battle.
After beating cancer, she stepped WAY out of her comfort zone and went on a kayaking experience in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with a group of cancer survivors. It was an experience she was very proud of that clearly made a big impact on her.
While she certainly worked hard, Vanessa enjoyed her down time. She was an avid crafter and was always making something new, surprising family and friends with unique gifts. She loved watching reality TV or going to the theatre. She was just as surrounded by friends at a swank cocktail party as she was at a dive bar. She loved catching the game whether it was the Hawks or the Cubs, but she probably loved playing games with her family and friends the best.
Eleven years younger, “Brandon’s little sister” was always wanting to tag along with the Happy Fun Friends, trying to be a part of the fun. Most of the time, we humored her and let her hang around. Over the years, many of us became good friends with her. She was often playing games, crafting, going to movies, going to dinner and introducing new technology to her “aging” friends. Even then, she was still everyone’s little sister, relentlessly getting teased and loving it.
Vanessa valued honesty, kindness and humor. She cared deeply for her friends and appreciated those who worked hard for their dreams. She loved technology and especially enjoyed seeing more women enter the industry. She proudly believed, “the future is female!” She lived by the saying, “Don’t judge someone else because you don’t know what they are going through” – and reminded those around her of it. Above all, she loved her family. We hope to award this scholarship to someone who shares these same values.