Kristin Rita Strouse, a freshman fashion design student a Parsons School of Design in New York's Greenwich Village and a graduate of Towson's Notre Dame Preparatory School, ended her life Thursday in Manhattan. The Cockeysville native was 17.

Miss Strouse had graduated in May from Notre Dame Prep where she had been a member of the varsity tennis team and active in the school's leadership workshop. While in high school, she worked as a counselor at Camp
Umjia and participated in a mentoring program
at St. Vincent's Center at Timonium.

As a small child, she showed an inclination toward the arts. "She began drawing when she was old enough to hold a pencil and would sit there hour after hour drawing," said her father, Douglas A. Strouse of Cockeysville.

From 1988 - 1996, she studied drawing, pastels and pen and ink at the Renate Duncan Art Studio and drawing, oil painting and watercolors at Muse Art Studio. Both studios are in Timonium.

Two years ago, she began taking college-level courses at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and studied privately with Stacey McKenna and Robert Salizar, faculty members of the school.

While at Notre Dame Prep, she completed a senior-year internship at Gamberdella Formal Wear in Towson, where she workind in the sewing and pattern rooms.

She was a member of the National Art Honor Society.

Miss Strouse was a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cockeysville.

A funeral Mass will be offered at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the auditorium of Notre Dame Preparatory School, 815 Hampton Lane, Towson.

In addition to her father, Miss Strouse is survived by her mother, Sharon T. Strouse, also of Cockysville; a brother, Kevin D. Strouse of Philiadelphia; a sister, Kimberly A. Strouse of New York City; paternal grandmother, Nancy Strouse Lederman of Catonsville; and maternal grandmother, Devona R. Toher of Mays Chapel.