Loss of a great friend and member of Delta Tau Delta
 

At 2:58am on October 20, 2005, a member of the Theta Lambda chapter of Delta Tau Delta passed away. Jeremy Harrison had been diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago and, although in remission, developed an infection in his heart and his immune system could not take it any longer.

Jeremy was an exemplary member of Theta Lambda, a face that was well known at UC Riverside, and an amazing friend to all who knew him. A candlelight vigil will be held in Jeremy's honor tomorrow evening at the Belltower on the UCR campus. Jeremy's family, who currently reside in Florida, will be laying him to rest on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 in Riverside, California so that he will be near his friends.

Jeremy will truly be missed by all that knew him.

A sad day for a young brother to pass into the Chapter Eternal.

We will be thinking of him, his family and his chapter.

It's sad to hear of someone dying way before their time. I know what the chapter members must be going through. I had a fraternity brother who died from a drowning a semester after initiating in 1999. He was 19.

Every year since, the chapter has taken the pledges to the grave of our fallen brother. They do a small candle passing ceremony. It kind of exhibits how short life is, how you never know what is going to happen, and to live each day to its fullest.

Last week I was asked to attend this ceremony and give some words about who our brother was. It was pretty emotional for me. It was the first time I had been there. It was difficult to speak. It's out in the middle of no where in a small field away from any significant town. Not too many graves there. Brian had the largest headstone. His face, the logo of his favorite football team, and the letters of our great fraternity were all etched into the stone. It was a cool, moonless night, where you could see every star in the sky. One of the young undergrads said that when I was speaking of Brian, a shooting star flew above and behind me. I do not doubt it was Brian in the chapter eternal.

I hope this chapter mourns and then celebrates their brother and learns something from him.

Jeremy was a great guy to know. I had the honor of being able to live next door him in the dorms Freshman year. He became a Delt that year and I did not join the Greek system till my Junior year.

He was a really cool guy to hang with and he will be missed.

Jeremy passed away when I was a pledge. I was amazed at the brotherhood when it all happened-- I hear that most of the TL chapter was at his bedside, wearing letters. I think that was the moment in my pledgeship I felt most proud of rushing Delt.