Lives Of Man, Woman Who Died In India Shone Brightly, Briefly -- Investigation Finds Two UW Graduates Were Swept To Deaths In Flooding River

The big shooting star that Tyler J. Mondloch drew next to his and Ashley K. Palumbo's names in the hotel register in India is a fitting reminder of two short but bright lives.

The star was one of the few traces the couple left behind, discovered when their fathers traveled to India in November to search for the 22-year-olds, missing since September.

Wednesday, the families finally learned the two were swept away in a flooded river while trekking in the Himalayas in northern India on Sept. 4.

"A shepherd had apparently witnessed the whole thing," said Mr. Mondloch's sister, Katie Mondloch of Seattle, who said the families had held out hope the two would turn up alive. "It wasn't rational, but you figured, `Oh, sure, they'll be here,' " Katie Mondloch said.

Ms. Palumbo and Mr. Mondloch had traveled to India together after graduating from the University of Washington. Their families describe them as fun-loving free spirits who lived each moment fully.

Ms. Palumbo, a journalism major and member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, was an avid runner and skier who loved children, good literature and was "wise beyond her years," said her mother, Jane Ashe of Seattle.

"My friends would go and ask her for advice," she said. "They learned from her."

Ms. Palumbo and Mr. Mondloch met while students at the UW, where he majored in English and belonged to Sigma Chi fraternity.

Katie Mondloch described her brother as an adventurous soul and loyal friend who loved the Grateful Dead, skiing, snowboarding and reading.

"You always knew that he would be the one person who'd stand up for you no matter what," she said. "He didn't worry about tomorrow. If something great came up, he would just do it."

She said Ms. Palumbo and Mr. Mondloch planned to move to Vail, Colo., and work as ski instructors.

After months of uncertainty, investigators hired by the couple's families finally confirmed that the pair had died in India. The investigators, Kroll & Associates of London, had been searching since Dec. 10 and were finally able to confirm their deaths through a shepherd who they say had been an eyewitness.

The families became concerned after the couple failed to show up at the home of Ms. Palumbo's aunt in Katmandu, Nepal. But it wasn't until the couple failed to return to the United States as planned on Oct. 30 that they became alarmed. The fathers rushed to India to try to locate their children and began soliciting the help of embassies and governments.

"We had tons and tons of help. We can't thank them enough," Katie Mondloch said.

Ms. Palumbo also is survived by her father and stepmother, Ralph and Marlys Palumbo of Seattle; a sister, Anna of Colorado; a brother, Andrew of Pullman; grandparents John and Doris Ashe of Bothell; and her great-grandmother Mae Miller of Bellevue.

Mr. Mondloch also is survived by his parents, Kurt and Patricia Mondloch of Port Orchard; grandmother Mildred Mondloch of Bremerton; and grandparents Margaret and Luther Keithly of Shelton.

A memorial service for Ms. Palumbo and Mr. Mondloch will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral at 1245 10th Ave. E. in Seattle.

The families have asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to the American Red Cross or the Ashley Palumbo/Tyler Mondloch Memorial Fund, c/o 6100 Columbia Center, 701 Fifth Ave. Seattle, WA 98104. The fund will be used to create a scholarship or charitable foundation in the couple's names.