STILLWATER, Okla. — A Stillwater woman is doing what she can to support her friend who was attacked outside Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last March.

Andrea Duncan, an adult services librarian at Stillwater Public Library, grew up in Oklahoma, but she pursued a degree teaching English as a second language in Santa Cruz, Calif., in 1987.

“I worked as an adult education instructor, but I also had a second job managing an import store in Capitola, which is kind of a suburb of Santa Cruz — a tourist area,” Duncan said.

It was through a friend who owned a business two doors down that Duncan met San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow.

Stow, a father of two, was the subject of national news when he was attacked outside Dodgers Stadium following an Opening Day baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. Stow was punched in the head, kicked and slammed to the ground, causing a traumatic brain injury.

Years before that event, however, Duncan said the two hit it off. She called Stow personable.

“We just struck up a friendship and would socialize,” she said. “(We) went to a couple of concerts up in Berkeley together.”

Even after leaving California, Duncan said she stayed in touch with Stow. Now, 24 years after first meeting, Duncan heard the news of Stow’s beating.

“I don’t remember whether it was the day after or maybe even a couple of days had gone ... and I got a call from a friend in Santa Cruz that told me that somethings happened to your friend, Bryan,” Duncan said.

She went online to research the incident, and the news she learned greatly damaged her,  Duncan said.

“I didn’t come to work for three days,” she said.

People have wondered, she said, why Duncan could be so affected when her and Stow were not close friends.

“Isn’t that the whole meaning of friendship?” she said. “The thing that happened to him shouldn’t happen to anyone, but it certainly shouldn’t happen to a man who has overcome lots of stuff as we all have in the early days, found a career that he thrived at. He loved helping people.”

Duncan said she was horrified to learn of his injuries.

“The extent of his injuries are so awful and, to think, what seemed to make it worse is that nobody did anything ... or in this day and age of let’s take a video of everything, why something more definitive wasn’t captured so they could follow up and find the attackers in a more timely fashion,” she said.

Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, were arrested and charged in the incident following a Los Angles police investigation. Both men pleaded not guilty to mayhem, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury.

After learning of the attack, Duncan decided she wanted to help in any way she could.

“I donated about $80 or $100 to get bracelets,” she said. “I rallied my Facebook friends, and I told them for every dollar that they were willing to donate, I would match that dollar.”

Her friends were able to raise $400. With a matching donation, Duncan was able to give $800 to Stow’s family.

Duncan said she actively participates in two Facebook groups that support Stow, including one named “5 Minutes to Honor Bryan Stow.” Duncan recently suggested to the two women who run the group that everyone could submit a decorated quilt square to her, which she would assemble and have someone finish it in time to send to Stow for his upcoming birthday. Requesting the squares before Christmas, along with the 10 she produced, people sent 25 personalized squares.

“It’s very empowering and really moving to witness the enthusiasm, undying support and unconditional love for Bryan and his family,” she said.

Most of the contributors have a connection with Stow, a Giants fan, even though they don’t personally know him.

“I made a square with Barry Bond’s picture,” she said. “Barry Bonds has committed to providing Bryan’s children with their college education. He deserves a square. I made a square of Tim Lincecum, who is one of the San Francisco Giants players. He’s visited Bryan in the hospital as well as personally donating $25,000. I made another square for Jeremy Affeldt, number 41, the relief pitcher for the Giants. ... He also has visited Bryan and certainly those two guys are some of Bryan’s favorite players, so I found it only fitting to commemorate that.”

Duncan finished each square by sewing them together. She also bought an orange and black fleece, the Giants’ colors, to match. A local quilting company helped finish it. Duncan sent the 8’ by 6’ quilt Friday. Stow’s birthday is next Sunday.

Stow spent months in a medically induced coma. Stow’s rehabilitation progress can be found through his family’s blog. He is still working to regain his ability to move and speak.

Duncan has arranged to see Stow for the first time in five years this upcoming April. She encouraged anyone to promote Stow’s cause and the treatment of traumatic brain injury as well as bring awareness to sports violence is needed.

For more information on Stow, visit his website at www.support4bryanstow.com.



The Associated Press contributed to this story.