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Tornado anniversary to be marked April 16 at east Nashville church

Posted 4/14/2008

It’s been almost 10 years since violent weather ripped through Nashville on April 16, 1998, damaging property in downtown and East Nashville. After battling for 17 days in Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt senior Kevin Longinotti died of injuries suffered when a tree fell on him in Centennial Park because of the tornado.

Longinotti, 22, of Memphis, an ROTC student, was days away from receiving his bachelor’s degree and being commissioned as an Army officer. He had hoped to eventually to be a teacher specializing in students with profound disabilities.

On Wednesday, April 16, Vanderbilt officials will participate in a community observance of the damage caused by the tornados at East End United Methodist Church, 1212 Holly St. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Michael Schoenfeld, vice chancellor for public affairs at Vanderbilt, will speak.

A video and photographic display about the tornado and subsequent relief efforts opens at 5 p.m. The world premier of “The Gardener” follows at 7 p.m. This is a new composition for chorus and chamber orchestra by David Childs, assistant professor of choral studies at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music.
 
The public is invited to the ceremony and concert, which is being organized by the community group Rediscover East!

Contact: Jama Bowen, (615) 477-8948
                jama.bowen@bellsouth.net

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