BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – The father of one of the victims of a plane crash in Afghanistan says his daughter lived a full life.

Cristin Gadue, 26, was on the Kam Air Boeing 737-200 that took off Thursday from Herat, a city in western Afghanistan.

Gadue, known as Cristi, was working for Management Sciences for Health, a non-governmental organization from Cambridge, Mass., and was trying to improve the Afghan health care system.

“All I can say is the life of my daughter was fully complete,” said her father, Mike Gadue, who lives in Burlington. “Not to say I wouldn’t want it much more complete by it being extended, but she’s a good example of what can be done. I’m very proud of her.”

Cristi Gadue grew up in Burlington.

“She had a quiet demeanor, but her heart was huge,” said Caitlin Falzone, who grew up two doors down from Gadue. and now lives in Tempe, Ariz. “She was always out to help people.”

Gadue was a good student who was often very serious, said Tufts classmate Tamar Agulian, who met Gadue while on the fencing team together.

As serious as Gadue could be, she also had a wildly fun side.

“There aren’t many people in college who would play fight,” Agulian said. “She loved to play wrestle and chat. Silly stuff.”

Gadue worked as a reporting and communication officer with the rural expansion of Afghanistan’s community-based health care program. The program tries to bring health care to 15 rural provinces in Afghanistan.

Gadue first went to Afghanistan in September 2003 on a fellowship.

Management Sciences for Health had given her a two-year position.

Cristi Gadue was the only child of Mike Gadue and his wife Nancy.

“For a father to be able to say he has no regrets,” Mike Gadue said, “that’s a big thing. An important thing.”

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Information from: The Burlington Free Press, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com

AP-ES-02-05-05 0802EST